Unusual cars that even the manufacturers themselves want to forget

Do you still remember when you and your friends spotted an off-the-shelf car, like a Ferrari, a Porsche or something similar, and at first you just silently admired the beautiful lines of the body. You took a closer look at every corner, stunned by the size of the tires and the speed displayed on the speedometer. Some cars are masterpieces, but unfortunately there have to be failures that also make us stand still, but for different reasons.

However, automotive masterpieces and polemics have something in common - they put a smile on our faces. Let's take a look at which cars regularly appear on the ugliest list.

Fiat multiple

Italian cars are usually synonymous with beauty, extravagance and elegance. At the same time, they are not known for their reliability, but we forgive them for that, because it is part of their Italian charm. The Fiat Multipla was a huge achievement for Fiat. Not only did they put together a car that turned all the trump cards into practicality, they also managed to unite the entire automotive world. Fans, experts, even owners of the fiat multiple are of the same opinion that it is an ugly duckling.

Headlights placed just below the windshield, massive windows, a hood that stretches to infinity... The story inside is no better. All the controls are squeezed onto the driver-facing center console for easy access, but that's poor consolation. The Fiat Multipla is a phenomenon of Italian production. A nation best known for its aesthetics produced a car that otherwise drives well, but many were willing to walk to the finish rather than be spotted behind the wheel of a multiple by a potential acquaintance.

Nissan cube

Nissan cube lives up to its name – a box on wheels. Like the multipla, it is very practical, but potential buyers were put off by the asymmetry in the first place. Surprisingly, its quirkiness fell on fertile ground in Japan, where it proved to be a good truck. The interior was quite attractive compared to the exterior and above all comfortable. A drawer for storing equipment was hidden in every corner. Although it had 122 horsepower, these horses were very lazy.

Nissan S cargo

Another failed attempt by Nissan, which wanted to create a practical van towards the end of the eighties. It was driven only on Japanese roads, and the inspiration for the design was drawn from another strange delivery vehicle - it was the citroën 2CV fourgonnette, which caught the nickname "snail". Only 8,000 examples were made, and at the start of production it was only available by advance reservation.

The lucky ones who managed to buy a Japanese snail could choose between two accessories: an electric canvas roof and two round windows on the sides of the car.

Ssangyong rodius

Minivans have never been known for their attractive design, but they are not ugly cars. The exception is the ssangyong rodius. Many elements stand out, but most notably the idea of designer Ken Greenley, a former professor of automotive design at the Royal College of Art and Design, who wanted to recreate the feeling of a luxury yacht on four wheels.

Needless to say, his attempt backfired.

Volkswagen type 181

The VW Type 181 was designed for the German military in the late 1960s, but was sold to the public from the 1980s under a number of names, including the Trekker in Great Britain and the creature (The Thing) in America.

Renault avantime

Avantime was aimed at parents who were used to the spaciousness of MPVs and had recently been left alone in the nest. We can see quite a few similarities with the minivan espace and also quite a few strange decisions that did not prove to be very popular among potential buyers. The bold design was also reflected in the sales figures. They sold only 8,000 cars in two years.

Chevrolet lumina / silhouette / pontiac trans sport

Minivans stirred the spirits of many designers who wanted to spice up the plain design in their own way. Chevrolet set itself a mission to create a futuristic minivan. Admirable, but in the end, chrevoleta lumina didn't catch the nickname future, but box van. The most popular comment was the complaint that the front end of the car resembled the nose of an anteater.

Complaints about the ride ranged from the car being driven from the back seat to the dashboard being like a black hole. Whatever slid across the dashboard was gone forever.

Corbin sparrow

The manufacturer named it ruler of the city streets (The Ruler of the City Streets), which was very optimistic considering the fact that the average driver could barely squeeze into the cabin. Sparrow was actually a battery electric vehicle on three wheels, which does not justify its appearance and functionality.

Smart fortwo

Some cars ended up on the infamous list of ugly ducklings due to a designer's mistake, while some were a deliberate decision by the manufacturer. The Smart fortwo is an extremely unusual car and definitely not attractive. Quirky for sure, maybe even endearing, but not a beautiful example of motoring. But unlike the others, he has a reason for it. Smart wanted to create a small car with a focus on safety. The so-called Tridion cell, or steel hemispherical safety cell, made up the entire platform of the car and a large part of the outer body, providing the dwarf with impeccable safety in the event of accidents.

Aston Martin Cygnet

At first glance, you would say that it might be a cute French car that would do well on congested city roads. If it was a Renault or maybe a Citroën, it would be less harshly condemned. However, as it is an invention of the Aston Martin company, it is a little more difficult to understand what was going on in the minds of the managers and designers. Cygnet was created due to the need to meet new emission standards. Even Aston Martin joked about its creation. They made a V8 powered version and as you can imagine the little one turned into a road rocket.