# One of the World's Ugliest Cars Comes Out of Hiding **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 16, 2007, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163 "2007-12-16T04:01:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/1 "2007-12-16T04:01:39Z")
[Sir](http://usera.imagecave.com/tuckerfan/sirvival01.jpg) [Vival](http://usera.imagecave.com/tuckerfan/sirvival02.jpg) [a one-off](http://usera.imagecave.com/tuckerfan/sirvival03.jpg) [prototype](http://usera.imagecave.com/tuckerfan/sirvival04.jpg) [built by a man with a dream.](http://home.comcast.net/~tuckerfan/pagetres.html)[which thankfully never came to pass.](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/automobiles/collectibles/23SAFE.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin) [Has once again been exposed to the cold light of day.](https://home.comcast.net/~essex33/BAS/bas.htm) :eek: :eek: :eek: ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/2 "2007-12-16T04:42:10Z")
That car looks like it was built inside-out, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/3 "2007-12-16T05:01:53Z")
I like it. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/4 "2007-12-16T05:02:19Z")
Was it designed by [Gerry Anderson](http://www.fab1hire.co.uk/)? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Rosewater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mr.Rosewater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Rosewater)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/5 "2007-12-16T05:10:44Z")
Something about it reminds me of the [Homer](http://girtby.net/images/homer-car.gif). Designed by Msr. Simpson, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/6 "2007-12-16T05:11:59Z")
It looks like the prototype for the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/7 "2007-12-16T05:16:45Z")
I don’t know if you’ve ever driven something that hinges in the middle, but it’s very twitchy at slow speeds, and I shudder to think of driving one fast. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/8 "2007-12-16T05:57:35Z")
[James Ballard]Keep talking…you’re giving me a hard-on…[/James Ballard] ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/9 "2007-12-16T06:01:35Z")
That car makes my brain hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/10 "2007-12-16T06:34:46Z")
> [@](#): > > One of the World’s Ugliest Cars Comes Out of Hiding What car could seriously compete with this one for “World’s Ugliest” ?? I’d say it has the first 3 or 4 places locked up. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/11 "2007-12-16T06:41:50Z")
How does it… Um, how does it work? No, it’s better if I don’t know. The laser turret freaks me out a little bit, and I fear its non-Euclideanism. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/12 "2007-12-16T06:46:59Z")
Please - almost every car ever built in France is uglier than this by a mile. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/13 "2007-12-16T07:21:46Z")
Ugly?! Bah. Give me one of those and I’d never drive anything else. It’s like a self-contained parade! The grille could use a little sparking up, that’s all. Otherwise it’s a masterpiece of automotive eccentricity straight out of a Terry Gilliam film. I am a bit surprised to note that the vehicle was apparently produced as a prototype ‘safety car,’ when it’s quite obviously better designed as a ‘car that is virtually guaranteed to kill you in any number of horrible ways.’ Who on Earth could possibly look at that thing and imagine that it’s anything other than a total deathtrap? _“For reasons of safety, the driver’s head is ensconced in a bubble turret on the roof, so that in the event of a rollover it will be sheared off cleanly and thrown clear of the wreck.”_ Oh sure, I’d drive it anyway; but then I have no regard for my own personal safety. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/14 "2007-12-16T07:30:13Z")
Wait, it’s for sale?! eBay that thing, I’ll take it! Just needs some spray paint is all. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/15 "2007-12-16T07:39:29Z")
They should sell it to the Vatican. It puts the Pope Mobile to shame. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/16 "2007-12-16T08:37:56Z")
I have just one question, after reading the OP, and looking at his linked pages. **Tuckerfan** , what’s that color photograph below the Sir Vival articles in your fifth linked page? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/17 "2007-12-16T09:10:54Z")
[QUOTE=Xema] What car could seriously compete with this one for “World’s Ugliest” ?? I’d say it has the first 3 or 4 places locked up. [/QUOTE] Do you want to limit it to one off models or cars that have actually made it into production? In the one-off category we have the [Aurora](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5452/1934/1600/aurora.jpg), [the Tucker **Torpedo**](http://usera.imagecave.com/tuckerfan/72custom.jpg), [a custom built RV](http://www.databrothers.net/pages/traderconnection/database/wdblist320/wdblist321.cgi?cars+specs.cfg+specials+01020003), and [another custom RV.](http://www.databrothers.net/pages/traderconnection/database/wdblist320/wdblist321.cgi?cars+specs.cfg+specials+01020002) (Those are just for starters.) In the production category we have: [Fiat Multipla](http://www.hoot-uk.com/content/news/archive/fiat/2000/images/fiat_multipla_addons.jpg), [MiniCAT](http://www.theaircar.com/), and the [Citroen GS/GSA](http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/images/ado67rivals_02.jpg), to name but a few. > [@OtakuLoki](#): > > I have just one question, after reading the OP, and looking at his linked pages. > > **Tuckerfan** , what’s that color photograph below the Sir Vival articles in your fifth linked page? You mean [this?](http://home.comcast.net/~tuckerfan/gabby2.jpg) That’s my late cat Gabby. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/18 "2007-12-16T11:48:35Z")
Oh. My God. The title of the thread doesn’t do justice to the uglinicity of this car. And I thought the PT Cruiser was ugly. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/19 "2007-12-16T13:20:50Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] That’s my late cat Gabby. ☹ [/QUOTE] I’m sorry for your loss. The image was driving me nuts - without knowing what it was, I completely at sea. I can see now the cues I should have noticed, but at the time, I was guessing it was a nebula pic, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2007, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163/20 "2007-12-16T14:51:16Z")
I see this car, and I think to myself: “ **Commander** : Gunner, target to left at 25 degrees! **Gunner** : Target acquired! T-72 Soviet design! Load sabot round! **Loader** : Sabot . . . up! **Commander** : Fire! **Gunner** : ::clicks trigger:: Shot on the way!” So, where do the photon torpedoes go on the thing? Tripler Or as Beavis & Butthead say, “fire the fruiton torpedoes!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-worlds-ugliest-cars-comes-out-of-hiding/430163.md?page=2)