41. Daihatsu Mira Walkthrough Van
Year Made: 1991
Estimated Cost: Unknown
Is it a bus? Is it an ice cream van? No one knows. This boxy car is the squarest car one could imagine. The thing that confuses the eye though is the doors. It has the body of a truck (kind of) but the doors of a bus.
Daihatsu Mira Walk Through Van @scatterkeir / Twitter.com
The upright doors give the impression that one would stand in the back, like in a regular size bus. But the windows look quite like a police escort van so, rather uninviting. The two-meter height is the maximum height allowance for this type of car and the name, walkthrough van, begs the question: Walk through to where?
42. Toyota RV-2
Year Made: 1974
Estimated Cost: Unknown
The year is 1974, hippies are in full bloom and the camper van was desired by all. This two-door Toyota RV-2 made some big claims, saying that it could sleep six people. The back of the care opened up into a tent, which looked rather unhappy in the pictures when opened.
Toyota RV-2 @skunkgod1 / Twitter
Allegedly the back could sleep four people and the front two. Not sure who would be happy with those arrangements – that seems a little too snug for most people’s preferences. Though it seems like it could be quite fun as a pair or even three people who want to do a bit of a cross country trip.
43. Toyota COMS Connect
Year Made: Unknown
Estimated Cost: Unknown
The Toyota COMS Connect is at first glance reminiscent of a Smart Car, or tiny-two seater Fiat. They are currently being rolled out for use as part of a comprehensive car-sharing program in Japan, in which the vehicles can be rented for short distances when public transport would be less efficient.
Toyota Coms Connect @thevergem / Pinterest
The all-electric cars are meant solely for city trips, as the smaller size would be less safe on the highway, and better lends itself to city travel. In addition, they need to be recharged rather frequently due to their smaller batteries. Regardless, they make for affordable and efficient transport in the 21st century!
44. Bambgoo
Year Made: 2017
Estimated Cost: Unknown
Bamboo is considered to be one of the most sustainable woods on the planet simply because it grows incredibly quickly. While this Bambgoo is not very safe considering that bamboo is not nearly as tough as steel and aluminum, it does move in a sustainable direction and inspire future possibilities.
Bambgoo @lenalundqvist58/Pinterest
Weighing a meager 60kg, the single-seated car could perhaps work within a small town or village. It is limited to just 30 miles on a charge so if you had to go back and forth within a 30-mile radius and the roads were fairly quiet and safe, this could work for you.
45. Swarovski Covered Lamborghini
Year Made: 2016
Estimated Cost: Unknown
Tokyo Auto Salon is Japan’s answer to Pimp My Ride. They hold an annual car show featuring everything from wild body kits, Swarovski covered Lamborghini’s to vintage Bentley’s. Most of the cars look like they are straight out of Fast and the Furious, and of course there are plenty of scantily clothed models posing next to the cars for effect.
Swarovski Covered Lamborghini @brownashlynr / Twitter.com
This is not the only time a Lamborghini has been covered in crystals. Russian model Daria Radionova commissioned her GBP270,000 Lamborghini Aventador to be covered in two million Swarovski crystals which took 700 hours to complete.
46. Toyota Gosei Fresby
Year Made: 2017
Estimated Cost: $*
While road safety in car design is usually focused on the drivers and passengers of the vehicle, this Toyota Gosei Fresby is also protecting pedestrians. The creators of this rubbery roadster are a firm that supplies rubber and plastic to the automobile industry.
Toyota Gosei Fresby @argenisdlspress / Pinterest
It is manufactured using the company’s next-gen material called e-rubber. It is specially designed to absorb impact, protecting both the driver and any pedestrians who may be involved. The rubber features LED lights which are designed as a communication tool.
47. JPN Taxi
Year Made: 2017
Estimated Cost: Unknown
While the JPN Taxi only makes up around 10% of Japan’s total taxicabs on the streets, it sure does help passengers ride in comfort. After its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2013, it first went into production years later, in 2017, and is still being produced today.
JPN Taxi @Javier Örero / Pinterest
Unlike many taxis here in the United States, the JPN Taxi is wheelchair accessible, meaning passengers of varying abilities are able to ride. It came as a successor to the Toyota Comfort, though the Comfort has remained the primary taxicab on the road, occupying 70% of the market in 2018.
48. Daihatsu Copen XPlay D-Sport
Year Made: 2020
Estimated Cost: $24,000*
The Daihatsu is the sportiest of the Japanese Kei cars. Daihatsu, which translates to ‘Community of open car life’ has manufactured three different versions of the Copen with more success than they had originally anticipated.
Daihatsu Copen XPlay D-Sport @copen.jp.official / Facebook.com
A front wheel roadster, this sporty car comes in various colors and is the latest of the Copen models. The body, as well as some parts of the interior trim, are totally interchangeable. Meaning you can switch colors and designs as often as you like with ease. Easy to drive and practical, there is more space inside when the roof is up than one would anticipate.
49. Toyota GR Super Sport
Year Made: Not yet made
Estimated Cost: Unknown
Two years ago, Toyota announced they would also compete in the new ‘Hypercar Class’, a set of rules and standards for sports prototype race cars for the FIA World Endurance Championship. The plan is also to release a road car, though details are still unclear.
Toyota GR Super Sport @24heuresdumans / Instagram.com
The new concept is the current Toyota TS050 LMP1 car with a new body. It’s powered by a 2.4-liter twin-turbo V6 supported by several electric motors, giving a total output of 986bhp. This has created a lot of excitement amongst car enthusiasts and we are anxiously awaiting its arrival.
50. Subaru Sambar
Year Made: 1961
Estimated Cost: Unknown
Back in the swinging 60’s and the hippie ’70s, the VW Type 2 bus was the car of the generation. Images of the flower power bus are truly synonymous with the times, Jimi Hendrix, The Stones, Van Morrison, and a VW.
Suburu Sambar @AmaMotor / Youtube.com
This Subaru Sambar is basically a tiny version of the same car. Same shape, wheels placed similarly and tiny seats. Weighing just 470kg which for a van is really not very much, this mini bread loaf van was in production from 1961 till 1966, though you might still catch a glimpse of one of these today.