The Weirdest Concept Cars That Almost Made It

Concept cars have always been a fascinating glimpse into the future of automotive design. They push boundaries, challenge conventions, and sometimes venture into the downright bizarre. While many never make it past the prototype stage, a few have come tantalizingly close to production—only to be shelved due to impracticality, high costs, or sheer oddity.

From amphibious vehicles to bubble-shaped cabins, the history of concept cars is filled with wild ideas that almost became reality. Here’s a look at some of the weirdest concept cars that nearly made it to the streets—and why they didn’t.

1. The Amphicar (1961-1968) – A Car That Could Swim

Why It Was Weird: Imagine driving your car straight into a lake—and it actually floats. The Amphicar Model 770 was a German-made amphibious vehicle that could function both on land and water. It had a rear-mounted engine and twin propellers, allowing it to “sail” at speeds of up to 7 knots.

Why It Almost Made It: Unlike most concept cars, the Amphicar actually entered limited production, with around 3,878 units built. It was marketed as the world’s only “sports car that swims,” and even U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson owned one (famously terrifying guests by pretending it was malfunctioning in water).

Why It Failed: Poor performance on both land and water doomed it. On roads, it was sluggish, and in water, it was no match for actual boats. Maintenance was also a nightmare—rust and leaks were common.

2. The GM Firebird III (1958) – A Jet-Powered Dream

Why It Was Weird: The Firebird III looked like something out of The Jetsons. Designed by General Motors, this concept car featured a gas turbine engine, a bubble canopy, and even an early form of autonomous driving via an “electronic guidance system.”

Why It Almost Made It: GM was serious about turbine-powered cars in the 1950s and ’60s, and the Firebird III was the most advanced of the series. It had futuristic touches like touch-sensitive controls (predating modern touchscreens by decades).

Why It Failed: Jet engines were impractical for everyday use—they guzzled fuel, produced extreme heat, and were prohibitively expensive. The public wasn’t ready for such a radical departure from traditional cars.

3. The Ford Nucleon (1958) – A Nuclear-Powered Car

Why It Was Weird: The Ford Nucleon was designed to run on a small nuclear reactor, theoretically allowing it to travel 5,000 miles before needing a “refuel.” The design featured a sleek, cab-forward body with a shielded reactor in the rear.

Why It Almost Made It: In the atomic age, nuclear power seemed like the future. Ford even filed patents for the design, suggesting they seriously considered it.

Why It Failed: Radiation safety concerns, the sheer weight of shielding, and the risk of catastrophic accidents made it a non-starter. By the 1960s, the idea was quietly abandoned.

4. The Lancia Stratos Zero (1970) – A Wedge on Wheels

Why It Was Weird: The Stratos Zero looked like a doorstop with wheels. Designed by Bertone, it was so low (just 33 inches tall) that the driver had to climb in through the windshield.

Why It Almost Made It: Lancia loved the design so much that it inspired the legendary Stratos HF rally car, one of the most successful race cars of the 1970s.

Why It Failed: The Zero was purely a design study—its extreme shape made it impractical for production. Visibility was terrible, and entering the car was a circus act.

5. The BMW GINA (2008) – A Car Covered in Fabric

Why It Was Weird: The BMW GINA (Geometry and Functions In ‘N’ Adaptations) had a body made of stretchable fabric over a movable metal frame. The car could “change shape”—its headlights “opened” like eyelids, and the rear spoiler extended seamlessly.

Why It Almost Made It: BMW showcased it as a vision for adaptive design, proving that materials like fabric could be used in automotive manufacturing.

Why It Failed: Durability and safety concerns (imagine a fabric car in a crash) kept it from production. Still, some of its ideas influenced later BMW designs.

6. The Volkswagen GX3 (2006) – A Three-Wheeled Rocket

Why It Was Weird: The GX3 was a minimalist, motorcycle-inspired three-wheeler with a cockpit-like seating position. It weighed just 1,200 lbs and could hit 60 mph in 5.7 seconds.

Why It Almost Made It: VW planned a limited production run due to enthusiast demand, and prototypes were tested.

Why It Failed: Safety regulations and liability concerns killed it. Without airbags or proper crash protection, it was too risky for mass production.

Conclusion: Why Do These Cars Fascinate Us?

Concept cars are more than just failed experiments—they represent bold thinking and innovation. Many features we take for granted today (touchscreens, aerodynamic designs, hybrid engines) were once considered outlandish.

While these weird concepts never made it to showrooms, they remind us that the future of automotive design is limited only by imagination—and sometimes, practicality. Who knows? Maybe one day, a nuclear-powered, shape-shifting, amphibious car will hit the roads. Until then, we can marvel at the strangest ideas that almost became reality.

Would you drive any of these? Let us know in the comments!