Buzz
Over time, automakers have experimented with vehicle designs in search of the perfect automobile. This often leads to the creation of totally bizarre vehicles that would astonish even the most casual observer.
10. Cybernetic Anthropomorphous Machine
In the 1960s, the US Army initiated a project to develop an all-terrain vehicle capable of transporting both personnel and equipment across the harshest landscapes. The result was the pedipulator, a strange four-legged vehicle that walked instead of driving.
Further refinement of the pedipulator led to the development of a similar walking machine known as the Cybernetic Anthropomorphous Machine (CAM). A driver inside the CAM controlled its four legs, each 4 meters (12 feet) in length. The rear legs mimicked the movements of the driver’s legs, while the front legs imitated the movement of the driver’s hands.
The CAM didn't feature a passenger seat or storage compartment. Instead, personnel and equipment were transported on a bridge connecting two CAMs. The project was eventually discontinued after the US Army transitioned to using helicopters for navigating difficult terrains.
However, the US Army is far from finished with four-legged walking machines. Together with DARPA, the army is financing a smaller initiative to develop a four-legged, all-terrain robot dog.
9. Dynasphere
The Dynasphere, invented in 1930 by John Archibald Purves, was a single-wheeled vehicle. Its name came from its spherical design with the sides cut off, resembling a massive moving tire with a driver inside. The vehicle measured 3 meters (10 feet) in width.
The driver was positioned in the center of the Dynasphere, with passengers seated behind. The vehicle ran on a 2.5-horsepower gasoline engine. Later, Purves unveiled a much smaller, single-seat version that operated on electricity.
Purves envisioned his Dynasphere as a competitor to cars on the roads, much like today's motorcycles. However, his concept never gained traction. Additionally, the Dynasphere wasn’t the first of its kind; it belongs to a category of single-wheeled vehicles known as monowheels.
The history of monowheels is hard to trace due to the scarcity of records, although it is known that several were created before the Dynasphere. In fact, Purves drew inspiration for his Dynasphere from one of Leonardo da Vinci's sketches.
8. Constantini Motor Skates
The Constantini motor skates, invented in the early 20th century by M. Constantini, resembled and functioned like regular roller skates, except each skate was equipped with a 1.5-horsepower engine, battery, fuel tank, and ignition.
The small engines were connected to a belt worn around the rider's waist. The front of the belt housed the ignition to turn the engines on or off, while the back contained a fuel tank that held less than a gallon of fuel.
Constantini motor skates never reached mass production and gradually faded from the public's attention. Another inventor, Mercier, also created a motorized roller skate, but only one of Mercier’s skates was equipped with an engine.
Though little is known about the skates, Mercier claimed that they could reach speeds of about 30 kilometers per hour (20 mph) and travel approximately 50 kilometers (30 miles) before running out of fuel.
7. Ford Soybean Car
Henry Ford’s fascination with using plants, particularly soybeans, in vehicle production led him to establish a lab specifically for soybean research. Initially, Ford used soybeans to make parts for his cars, but he eventually decided to construct an entire car out of soybeans. Though the car had a steel frame, its body was covered in a plastic made from a blend of soybeans, wheat, hemp, and other plant materials.
In addition to his desire to combine the agricultural and automotive industries, Ford was compelled to build a car from soybeans due to a metal shortage during World War II. He asserted that his soybean car was stronger and more durable than a regular steel car and could perform a somersault without sustaining damage. However, the project was canceled during the construction of the second prototype.
6. Tucker Car
Often referred to as the 'Tucker Torpedo,' this car was developed just after World War II by Preston Tucker, a former policeman turned carmaker. It featured several groundbreaking innovations, including a windshield that ejected during accidents, a third headlight that turned with the steering, and a sleek, futuristic design that made it appear as if the car was in motion even while stationary.
Due to the political climate at the time, only 51 units of the car were produced before production was halted and the Tucker car company was liquidated. The saga began when Preston Tucker leased a manufacturing facility from the War Assets Administration. They required him to raise a certain amount of capital by a specific deadline, or they would seize the facility.
Tucker, determined to avoid partners in his business, raised funds by selling dealership rights, despite the fact that the car hadn’t been built yet. This prompted the SEC to launch an investigation into his company. Tucker eventually managed to settle with the SEC and launched a prototype, which became known as the 'Tin Goose,' though it was far from stable.
Following this, Tucker began selling shares in his company. However, he did not raise enough capital to begin production, so he resorted to selling accessories for a car that didn’t exist. This led to another round of investigations by the SEC and the Department of Justice. Tucker and some of his partners were put on trial for fraud and violations of SEC regulations.
The trial fixated on the problematic Tin Goose prototype, while the 50 more refined vehicles Tucker had designed for the market were purposefully overlooked. Even though Tucker and his associates were eventually cleared of charges, it was too late to salvage the car or the company.
5. Schilovski Gyrocar
The Schilovski Gyrocar was a six-passenger vehicle that ran on two wheels: one in the front and the other at the back, similar to a motorcycle. The six seats were arranged in three rows, and it was powered by either a 16- or 20-horsepower engine.
This gyrocar was designed to stay balanced on its two wheels without tipping over when it turned, when people leaned on it, or when passengers boarded or exited. This stability was achieved with the help of a pair of gyroscopes.
Although the Schilovski Gyrocar never gained widespread popularity, it was not the final two-wheeled gyrocar ever created. In 1967, Gyro Transport Systems developed a single-seater gyrocar called the Gyro-X. However, the Gyro-X remained a prototype as its parent company went bankrupt before it could be produced.
Despite being smaller and more compact than conventional vehicles, gyrocars have never gained widespread popularity because the gyroscopes essential for their stability are costly and intricate to construct and maintain.
4. Prop Cars
Throughout the 20th century, several propeller-powered cars were created, but none made it into mass production due to safety concerns. These included the French-made Helica and Helicron, the German Maybach Experimental, and the Argentine Aerocar.
The French Helica was quite successful, while the Argentine Aerocar struggled with acceleration issues, particularly when reaching speeds of 65 kilometers per hour (40 mph). Despite these challenges, a US car manufacturer showed interest in acquiring the Aerocar to produce and sell it in the US.
A key advantage of propeller-driven cars is that they lack the need for gears and brakes. They are also more stable than typical cars and can run on airplane engines. However, their major drawback is the propellers, which pose a serious danger to any person or animal who comes too close, potentially causing severe injury or even death.
3. OctoAuto
The Overland Autocar, designed by Milton Reeves in 1911, featured eight tires: four in the front and four in the back. While it wasn’t a completely new design, Reeves had taken a conventional car and added additional wheels to it.
This vehicle was equipped with two-wheel drive, with power directed to the second set of wheels in the front. However, all four front wheels were used to steer. Reeves argued that his eight-wheeled design was superior to traditional four-wheeled cars because the tires wore down more slowly and the vehicle offered greater stability.
The car failed to attract investors, but Reeves was undeterred. He simply trimmed the eight tires down to six: two in the front and four in the back. He dubbed the updated car the SextoAuto. However, like Fuller’s Dymaxion Car, the SextoAuto did not bring anything new to the table and earned a spot on Time magazine’s list of 50 worst vehicles ever made.
2. Pininfarina X
The Pininfarina X, also known by its code name “Pf-X,” was one of the pioneering aerodynamic cars of its time. While Batista “Pinin” Farina is often credited with designing the car, a number of other influential figures contributed to its development.
Constructed on a Fiat 1100 chassis, the Pf-X featured a unique diamond tire configuration: one tire at the front, two in the middle, and one at the rear. The engine was mounted at the back, powering the rear wheel, making the car a one-wheel drive vehicle.
The car was capable of reaching an average speed of 145 kilometers per hour (90 mph), which made it 20 percent faster than the Fiat 1100 chassis on which it was based. Farina approached multiple car manufacturers, but none were willing to take the car to market for consumers.
Later, Farina introduced the Pininfarina Y, which kept the general shape of the X prototype but featured a more traditional four-wheel configuration.
1. Dymaxion Car
The Dymaxion Car, created by Buckminster Fuller in 1933, was a three-wheeled, 11-seat flying vehicle. The name ‘Dymaxion’ was a blend of the words “dynamic,” “maximum,” and “ion.” Shaped like a zeppelin, the Dymaxion Car had wings that automatically inflated, allowing the vehicle to take off and fly at full speed. However, it proved to be highly impractical, especially when it came to controlling the vehicle while airborne.
The Dymaxion Car also struggled with stability on the ground, even with the addition of a top fin on the third prototype for better control. Although initial investors showed interest in mass production, they pulled out after one prototype was involved in a fatal accident. Development of the vehicle was halted, and it eventually earned a spot on Time magazine’s list of the worst vehicles ever made.
