The 1960s gave us some of America’s most-loved classic cars, but alongside icons like the Mustang and Corvette, there were vehicles that looked truly unusual. Car makers were chasing the space age aesthetic and experimenting with bold new ideas, testing anything that felt futuristic. What made these cars so strange wasn’t just their appearance, it was the daring concepts behind them. Engineers tried everything from jet-style engines to cars that could float. Looking back, these forgotten models show just how willing automakers were to push the boundaries. The ’60s weren’t only about style, it was a decade when almost any idea could end up on four wheels.
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Peel P50 (1962-1965) Built by the Peel Engineering Company, this three-wheeled microcar was later recognized by Guinness World Records as the smallest production car ever made. Designed to carry one adult and a single bag of groceries, it famously had no reverse gear. |
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Amphicar Model 770 (1961–1968) Manufactured in Germany, the Amphicar was both a road vehicle and a boat. It used propellers and its front tires as rudders to cruise on water at up to seven knots. Nearly 4,000 were built, making it the most commercially successful amphibious civilian car in history. |
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Reliant Regal (1962–1973) This three-wheeled British car was built to dodge stricter tax and licensing rules. It leaned alarmingly in corners and later gained fame as Del Boy’s car in Only Fools and Horses. |
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Subaru 360 (1958–1970) Nicknamed the ladybug for its rounded shape, this tiny Japanese car weighed under 1,000 pounds. Its rear-mounted two-stroke engine made it surprisingly popular in the U.S. during the late 1960s. |
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Messerschmitt KR200 (1964) Built by a company once famous for fighter planes, the KR200 featured a bubble canopy, tandem seating, and handlebar steering. Its narrow design made it exceptionally fuel-efficient. |
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Studebaker Avanti (1962–1965) With a fiberglass body and airplane-inspired dashboard, the Avanti was Studebaker’s bold attempt to survive. Though it didn’t save the company, its futuristic styling lived on through hand-built versions for years. |
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Zündapp Janus (1957-1958) The Janus seated passengers facing opposite directions, split by a mid-mounted engine. Entry was through doors at each end, creating one of the strangest layouts ever. |
