Australia is known for its wide open roads, breathtaking coastal drives, and a love of big, tough cars. But it’s not just the sleek and powerful vehicles that define the Australian automotive scene. Over the years, Australia has witnessed some truly bizarre and odd cars make their way onto the roads – and even into the hands of enthusiastic buyers.
From funky custom designs to strange engineering, these weird cars have captured the attention of car enthusiasts and collectors alike. If you’ve ever been curious about the oddest rides ever sold in Australia, you’re in for a treat. Here’s a deep dive into the weirdest cars that have found their way onto Aussie roads.
1. The 1950s FJ Holden with a Twist
Holden’s FJ was an icon in the 1950s and remains a beloved model in Australian automotive history. However, some brave and quirky car enthusiasts decided to take the iconic FJ and make it… well, weird. One of the most bizarre modifications was the conversion of an FJ into a hearse that featured a long, coffin-like rear cabin – a truly unusual take on an already memorable car. This custom job attracted attention for its bizarre look and unique engineering.
Why it’s weird: The FJ Holden is typically seen as a classic Aussie family car, but turning it into a funeral car with a long, boxy rear end felt like a design that was miles apart from the original.
2. The Toyota Corolla Van – A “Utility” for the Unusual
While the Toyota Corolla has a reputation for being a practical and reliable sedan, some Aussie car enthusiasts decided to give it a whole new purpose – they turned it into a van. The Toyota Corolla Van became a bizarre sight on the road with its compact size, but with a larger cargo space in the rear. It made no sense as a van, yet people bought them.
Why it’s weird: A compact sedan being transformed into a van, with limited practicality for those requiring the space, yet strangely appealing for the novelty of a small utility vehicle.
3. The Oz-Opel – Australia’s Unlikely Supercar
Back in the 1980s, an Australian manufacturer decided to take the already weird and quirky Opel Manta and turn it into a local supercar. Known as the Oz-Opel, the car sported high-performance specs that were too ambitious for the average Aussie driver. Think bright neon colors, bold graphics, and a sleek design that screamed “look at me!”
Why it’s weird: The car looked like a race car, but in reality, it had the same engine as a regular road car. Its outrageous styling didn’t match the performance, making it stand out for all the wrong reasons.
4. The Ford Cortina 4×4 – Off-Road Crossover Gone Wrong
Ford’s Cortina was always a popular sedan in Australia, but a few strange individuals decided to experiment by converting this sedan into a 4×4 off-road vehicle. The result? A mismatched off-road Cortina that was highly impractical for rough terrain but had an undeniable quirky charm. Its raised suspension, rugged wheels, and adventurous spirit made it one of the strangest, yet intriguing, vehicles sold in Australia.
Why it’s weird: The Ford Cortina, known for its low-slung body, was never meant to tackle rugged outback roads, but some daring souls made it happen anyway. The result was a vehicle that looked ridiculous but had a fun factor that intrigued off-road fans.
5. The Peel P50 – The Smallest Car Ever Sold in Australia
Enter the Peel P50 – a car so tiny it barely qualifies as a car at all! Hailing from the Isle of Man, the Peel P50 is regarded as the smallest car ever built, and it found its way onto Australian shores. Weighing only 59kg and measuring a mere 1.37 meters in length, the Peel P50 could fit in a normal car boot. Its single door and three wheels made it more of a rolling novelty than a functional car.
Why it’s weird: The Peel P50 was essentially a glorified golf cart, but it was registered as a roadworthy car, and Australians could legally drive it. Its compact size, lack of speed, and minimalistic design made it one of the oddest cars ever to be sold.
6. The Chrysler Sunbeam – A Hot Hatch from the 80s
While the Chrysler Sunbeam may not be considered an oddball in every country, it definitely stood out on Australian roads. Manufactured by Chrysler UK, this quirky hot hatch had a reputation for being both a sporty compact car and an unreliable mess of engineering. Australians who bought it found themselves dealing with its frequent breakdowns, poor handling, and offbeat styling.
Why it’s weird: The Sunbeam was far more ambitious than it could handle. Its sporty aspirations clashed with the realities of poor engineering, making it one of the most memorable failures in the Australian car market.
7. The E61 BMW 5 Series Shooting Brake – A Strange Luxury Wagon
When BMW unveiled the E61 5 Series Shooting Brake, the car quickly caught the eye of wealthy Australians who were after something truly bizarre. This vehicle, which was a mix of a luxury sedan and an estate wagon, had a design that was neither here nor there. It wasn’t sporty enough to be a sedan and wasn’t practical enough to be a wagon, making it a weird and niche choice for a luxury vehicle.
Why it’s weird: The Shooting Brake had an odd blend of luxury and utility, and its strange silhouette didn’t appeal to many. However, for those who liked it, it became a truly unique and interesting option in Australia’s automotive landscape.
8. The 1990s Subaru Outback (Before It Was Cool)
Before the Subaru Outback became a household name, it was just another quirky station wagon in the early 90s. The 1990s version of the Outback was less about adventure and more about unusual design. With its oversized roof rails, odd color schemes, and clunky off-road aesthetic, the Outback stood out for all the wrong reasons in urban Australia.
Why it’s weird: Before becoming a global hit, the Subaru Outback was a niche vehicle with strange styling that did not appeal to the masses. It was a bit of a trendsetter, but not in the way most car manufacturers envisioned.
9. The Ford Maverick – A Vehicle That Shouldn’t Have Been Made
The Ford Maverick in Australia was a unique vehicle that combined the power of a muscle car with the design of a four-door sedan. It was large, boxy, and loved by those with an appreciation for strange and unconventional designs. Unfortunately, it lacked the refinement to appeal to mainstream car buyers, leaving it as a cult classic.
Why it’s weird: The Maverick was a car caught between two worlds: the muscle car world and the sedan world. Its mismatched styling and somewhat underwhelming performance made it one of the weirdest rides to roll out of Ford’s manufacturing plant.
10. The Suzuki X-90 – A Strange SUV-Coupe Hybrid
The Suzuki X-90 was one of the most unusual cars ever sold in Australia, blending the look of a convertible SUV with the dynamics of a small coupe. Its boxy, chunky exterior, combined with a tiny two-seater cabin, made it a perplexing choice for those looking for an off-road vehicle. But for others, its eccentricity was what made it so memorable.
Why it’s weird: It’s hard to understand what Suzuki was trying to achieve with the X-90. A small, convertible, two-seater SUV hybrid, it offered little in terms of practicality or performance but stood out as one of the quirkiest cars ever.
Final Thoughts
Australia has seen its fair share of weird cars that left an indelible mark on the country’s automotive landscape. While some were strange due to their quirky designs, others were the result of odd modifications that redefined what we thought cars should be. Regardless of their performance, these vehicles continue to be remembered for their uniqueness, proving that sometimes, weird is better.
If you’re a fan of quirky cars, you might just find one of these oddities for sale in Australia. And who knows? You could be the proud owner of the next weirdest ride on Aussie roads.
