10 Outrageous Vehicles and Eccentric Drivers

Let’s just cut to the chase: people are weird, and they do weird stuff. They design oddly shaped vehicles, they do bizarre things in their vehicles, and it makes life a lot more interesting for the rest of us. Imagine how boring the world would be if everyone were “normal” all the time. The funny and quirky things people do surprise us, entertain us, and keep us on our toes.

Cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles play a huge role in human culture, and they showcase our creativity. We build ridiculously large cars, motorcycles that are absurdly fast, and vehicles that nostalgically transport us back to our youth. In this list, we’ll take a cruise down Weird Drivers and Cars Avenue, a winding road through Unusualville, a small town in Anycountry, Planet Earth. Ladies and gentlemen, please start your engines as we roll through this thrilling, entertaining, and unusual list!

Related: 10 of the Weirdest Things Held in Libraries and Archives

10 Rivian Electric Vehicles Get a Knight Rider KITT Makeover

Knight Rider was a popular science fiction show during the 1980s. It was a Friday night staple on NBC, and it was way ahead of its time. The show featured Michael Knight (played by David Hasselhoff), a former police officer paired with a state-of-the-art, AI-powered supercar known as KITT: Knight Industries Two Thousand. KITT’s AI could think, speak, and perform high-tech tricks, making it one of the best early foreshadowings of modern AI technology on small 1980s television screens.

Rivian, an American electric vehicle manufacturer, is capitalizing on the lasting popularity of Knight Rider by giving its vehicles a special “Knight Rider” makeover. Owners of the R1T and R1S can now transform their car displays into modern interpretations of Knight Rider and Back to the Future. The Knight Rider mode lights up the front of the car with a pulsing red scanner, bringing KITT back to life. Inside, the screens mimic KITT’s diagnostics, and Gen 2 owners can play the original Knight Rider theme song.

The new Rivian vehicles also offer a nod to fans of the 1985 Robert Zemeckis film Back to the Future. By activating this mode, fans of Doc Brown’s DeLorean can recreate the Time Machine’s screen interface. The car’s displays come alive with sounds from the movie, including the famous acceleration sound effect. What Rivian is doing makes a lot of sense: the people who grew up in the 1980s are now middle-aged, and they want to buy reminders of their favorite memories from their childhoods.^[1]

9 The Fiat Multipla: The Bulbous Automotive Oddball

Let’s be honest: the Fiat Multipla is probably one of the most unattractive automobiles ever made. Its bulbous passenger cabin design certainly wasn’t going to win any beautiful design awards. The Multipla was introduced in 1998, and its highly unique design defied almost all of the design norms of the time.

Fiat’s approach prioritized interior space and functionality over traditional car aesthetics. The car’s wide body and unconventional front made it a frequent entry on “ugliest car” lists, but for design enthusiasts, the Multipla was genius. With two rows of three seats, it maximized space in a compact footprint, making it a one-of-a-kind vehicle that could comfortably seat six passengers with plenty of legroom.

The Multipla’s interior was actually very cleverly designed. The gear shift was mounted on a central pod, creating additional dash space, while vibrant colors and quirky elements, like air vents resembling a robot face, gave the car a playful vibe. Unfortunately, the Multipla didn’t sell well, so Fiat later toned down its design. People still remember the Multipla because, even today, it’s one of the most unusual car designs ever released.^[2]

8 The Citroën CX: Advanced but Quirky French Automotive Engineering

Is it possible that there was a car even more unattractive than the Fiat Multipla? The Citroën CX is a strong candidate for this dubious “honor.” However, some view the Citroën CX as a masterpiece of quirky design. Citroën is a French car manufacturer founded in 1919 by industrialist André Citroën. The company has a long-standing reputation for innovative and unusual car designs. The CX continued driving in the direction of this long tradition.

When the CX was released in the 1970s, it looked like something straight out of a sci-fi novel. It had odd features, like a single-spoke steering wheel and a hydropneumatic suspension. The single-spoke steering wheel improved visibility and allowed for hand placement at any angle. Another unique feature was its self-centering steering, giving drivers the experience of the wheel snapping back to center faster than in typical vehicles.

The CX may not have been the most attractive car on the road, but its comfort and styling were way ahead of their time. Its self-leveling suspension gave drivers a smooth, almost floating experience on the road. Today, 50 years after its introduction, the Citroën CX still has a lot of fans who appreciate its unusual features.^[3]

7 The Futuristic Car That Looks Like a Wi-Fi Router

In 2021, one of the weirdest cars ever created was auctioned off for $111,111. The futuristic Lo-Res Car resembles a high-end Wi-Fi router more than an actual vehicle. Developed by footwear brand United Nude and designed by Rem D. Koolhaas, nephew of the famed architect Rem Koolhaas, this peculiar vehicle was crafted by lowering the 3D resolution of the Lamborghini Countach. United Nude originally created the Lo-Res Car as a promotional piece, showcasing it in art exhibits and music videos. It was designed as a sculptural art piece rather than a practical car.

The Lo-Res Car isn’t built for daily driving: it maxes out at a tortoise-like 31 miles per hour (50 kilometers per hour), and it isn’t street-legal. You won’t find the Lo-Res Car at any dealership, but you might encounter it as a showpiece at a museum or art gallery one day.^[4]

6 The Triple-Decker Limo Bus with Car Doors

When you think of high-end buses, Pakistan probably isn’t the first country that comes to mind. But Pakistan is home to a limousine/bus that you have to see to believe. The Al Munir Super International Limousine Plus is a highly unconventional sleeper bus: it has three decks, car doors, and limo-styled sleeping berths. The vehicle was originally a Yutong Master NOVA bus, but the coach was heavily customized to create an unforgettable travel experience between major Pakistani cities like Karachi and Quetta.

The lower deck sports fully functional car doors that open into private two-person sleeping compartments. Each berth comes with a bed, TV, refrigerator, and power outlets. The lower deck also has windows that can be raised and lowered.

The upper decks provide open sleeping spaces with an exotic touch: Ferrari logos. While Pakistan isn’t known as a hub for luxury travel, the Al Munir Bus/Limousine might slowly change perceptions. [5] ^[5]

5 Doordash Driver Loses It Over a $5 Tip

Throwing the infamous “F” word at a paying customer is probably the easiest way to get banned from your workplace. A DoorDash driver recently learned this lesson the hard way. That being said, it’s typically pretty hard to get banned from delivering food as a Dasher. Stealing a customer’s food, consistently delivering late, and, of course, cursing out a customer all cross the bright red line.

An audacious former DoorDash driver was recently caught on video cursing out a customer who tipped him $5 on a $20 pizza delivery—a 25% tip, generally considered quite generous. The “gentleman” Dasher commented, “It’s a nice house for a $5 tip,” before dropping an F-bomb that was clearly captured on video.

Needless to say, not only will this man never receive a tip in the future as a DoorDash driver, but DoorDash will never again let him anywhere near their service.^[6]

4 The $500,000 Six-Door Monster Truck

“Bigger is better” can be taken to outrageous extremes. Imagine a massive beast of a truck with 65-inch tires, twin 70-gallon diesel fuel tanks, and a half-a-million-dollar price tag. The custom-made International 7500 truck has six doors and is the ultimate dream machine. Its size can intimidate even the drivers of the largest trucks that share the road with it.

The courageous person who decides to buy this truck had better have a large pocketbook. Filling its two massive fuel tanks costs about $400 per fill. However, a person who can drop $500,000 on a truck can probably handle the fuel expenses.

Despite its incredible size, the truck is surprisingly functional: it has three rows of seats, with the last row folding down into a bed, making it a great place to seek shelter during a storm or a camping trip. Other features, like a hydraulic bed and a heavy-duty roll bar, make this colossal vehicle ready to haul large payloads and tackle rough terrain.^[7]

3 Dan Gurney’s Low to the Ground Alligator Motorcycle

Dan Gurney (1931–2018) was an American engineer, race car driver, and motorsport executive, and he’s recognized as a racing legend. Competing in Formula One from 1959 to 1970, Gurney brought his expertise in speed and stability to the motorcycle world with his unusual Alligator motorcycle. He designed the Alligator to have unmatched handling and stability, addressing what he saw as a critical flaw in traditional motorcycle designs. The Alligator’s seat sat just 18 inches (45.7 cm) off the ground, giving riders a close connection to the road and reducing the risk of being thrown off during sharp turns.

This unique design especially suited taller riders who often find standard motorcycles uncomfortable. With a stretched frame and low center of gravity, the Alligator allowed riders to sit comfortably without sacrificing performance. Its stability at high speeds sets it apart, blending power with practicality in a way that few bikes achieve.

Only a limited number of Alligators were produced, making them a sought-after collector’s item today. The Alligator is an innovative motorcycle whose creator took a design path unlike any other bike ever produced.^[8]

2 The Rainbow Sheikh’s Apartment-Sized Hummer

There’s only one vehicle on this list that could intimidate the driver of the International 7500 six-door megatruck we discussed earlier: the world’s largest Hummer H1. Not only is this car the biggest Hummer ever built, but it’s also the world’s largest car. Weighing about 132,000 pounds (over 60,000 kilograms), it sports 6.5-foot-tall (2-meter-tall) tires that cost $25,000 each. Its tires are taller than some trucks.

Sheikh Hamad Al Nahyan, famously known as the “Rainbow Sheikh,” is the mastermind behind this behemoth of a vehicle. Standing at an astonishing 21 feet (6.4 meters) tall—three times the height of a normal Hummer—it’s taller than three fully grown men stacked on top of each other. The Sheikh, an avid car collector, designed the giant Hummer to be fully drivable, though the owner of this Goliath vehicle needs a hefty bank account to cover fuel and maintenance.

Inside, this Hummer is highly atypical: it features a fully functional apartment. A staircase leads up to a lounge, kitchen, bathroom, and even a penthouse suite, transforming the vehicle into a home on wheels. Powered by a 1,000-horsepower engine, this gargantuan machine reaches speeds up to 20 mph. While it’s not built for speed, the Rainbow Sheikh’s Hummer redefines oversized cars: it’s a highly sought-after collector’s item and an engineering marvel.^[9]

1 Something You’ll Only See in Nebraska: A Bull Riding Shotgun

At least once in every person’s life, they see something so unbelievable that many wouldn’t believe the story, no matter how convincingly they told it. Imagine driving down the highway and seeing a fully grown bull sticking out of the passenger side of a mid-sized sedan. Would you pull out your smartphone and start posting pictures on social media? As hard as it is to believe, this actually happened in Nebraska: a man was recently pulled over for driving with a massive bull in the passenger seat of his car.

Lee Meyer, the bull’s owner, modified his 1996 Ford Crown Victoria retired police cruiser specifically for his bovine companion. To make room for the giant passenger, Meyer removed the roof on the passenger side and reinforced the car’s frame and suspension. This customization allows the bull to sit comfortably, his horns towering out of the car as he rides alongside Meyer. Though initially skeptical, Meyer’s granddaughter motivated him to go through with the project after she doubted his ability to pull it off.

Unbelievably, Meyer didn’t break any Nebraska laws. Officers simply asked Meyer to be careful, letting him continue on his way.^[10]