5 Cars which didn’t fit with their manufacturer

Most car manufacturers have an overall theme to their vehicles. Whether that’s a similar style across their range – a good example of that would be the current Audi line up in which the various models are only distinguishable if you happen to have a tape measure handy. Or whether it’s just something they happen to excel at, Volvo and safety for example.

But every now and then car companies, or more specifically, car designers go a little “off-piste” with their designs. Often it results in failure. But equally it regularly ends up producing  a little gem. Something a bit different. Vehicles which in many cases go on to become iconic, or at the very least, memorable.

Here are 5 vehicles which really don’t look like they belong to their manufacturer.

1. Alfa Romeo SZ

The Alfa Romeo SZ, or Sprint Zagato, was a limited production sports car built from 1989 to 1991. It was originally conceived as a concept car by Zagato for Alfa Romeo and debuted at the 1989 Geneva Motor Show. Based on the humble Alfa Romeo 75 platform, the Alfa Romeo SZ looked like nothing else on the road. It certainly didn’t look Italian. Put a BMW badge on the front and most people would be easily fooled this was something the Germans came up with. To this day the Alfa Romeo SZ, and its convertible alter-ego, the RZ are one of the most sought after Alfa Romeo models for collectors.

2. Nissan Figaro

The 1991 (it was only manufactured for one year) Nissan Figaro was a retro-inspired compact car originally designed to be sold only in Japan. However it soon became a fairly common sight on both UK and Irish roads thanks to a healthy import market. It was based on a Nissan Micra platform, but looked nothing like the Micra, or anything else Nissan was producing at the time. The Nissan Figaro still retains a popular following, including a number of celebrity owners.

3. Lamborghini LM002

How could this one not be on the list. Lamborghini may have started out producing agricultural machinery and tractors, but of course nowadays they are known for making outrageous supercars. But back in the mid-’80s and early ’90s they also tried their hand at producing military vehicles. Lamborghini hoped to tap into the lucrative market and sell to the US army. However the original Chrysler V8 powered rear-engined prototype proved to be less than spectacular, and it was back to the drawing board. After some serious re-engineering the Lamborghini LM002 emerged at the 1986 Brussels Auto Show in its final form, powered by a front-mounted V12 taken directly from the Lamborghini Countach.

4. Volvo P1800

The Volvo P1800 was a stylish sports coupe produced from 1961 to 1973. Despite its sensible Swedish origins, the P1800 looked more like a British-built sports car. It was curvaceous with a long low hood and a sloping roofline. Somehow Volvo managed to fuse the looks of a Brit sports car with the reliability of a German machine. A P1800 holds the world record for the highest mileage private car – over 3 million miles and counting!

5. Mazda Cosmo

The Mazda Cosmo was a stylish sports coupe which first appeared in 1967. It was produced up until the mid-nineties, but it’s the first generation car which we’re talking about here. It was the first production vehicle from Mazda to use their now trademark Wankel rotary engine. To test the reliability of the car, Mazda entered it in a grueling 84 hour endurance race at the Nurburgring in 1968. Two virtually stock Mazda Cosmos competed, one had to retire just 2 hours before the finish due to axle damage, while the other car just missed out on the podium coming fourth. Appearance-wise the Mazda Cosmo looked more European than Asian in origin, managing to look like a cross between a German, Italian and British sports car all at once.