The 6 best ugly-beautiful cars from the past 50 years
These cars are often called 'ugly beautiful' — vehicles that defy conventional good looks but possess an undeniable charm and appeal. We celebrate six of the best ugly beautiful cars, vehicles that are as captivating as they are unconventional.
Unlike its fetching convertible sibling, the M Coupe was a weird offering from Bavaria. Affectionately dubbed the 'Clown Shoe' by enthusiasts, the first-generation BMW M Coupe is one of the most divisive designs in BMW's storied history. Based on the Z3 roadster but with a shooting brake-style hardtop, the M Coupe's elongated roofline and stubby proportions look unlike anything else on the road. Looking more like an angry squatting frog on wheels than a sports car, the M Coupe thumbed its nose at convention.But what this oddball car offers goes far beyond its quirky appearance. Under the hood lies BMW's legendary inline-six engines, including the S52 and the high-revving S54 from the E46 M3 in later models. With near-perfect weight distribution, a rigid chassis, and aggressive suspension tuning, the M Coupe is an absolute blast to drive. Its bizarre looks only add to its cult appeal, making it one of the most beloved 'ugly beautiful' cars ever made.
When Porsche introduced the Panamera in 2009, purists were aghast. A four-door Porsche sedan with a bulbous, awkwardly long profile? Blasphemy! But despite its ungainly roofline and rear end, coupled with heavy proportions, the first-generation Panamera has aged into a sort of misunderstood beauty. It was replaced by the current model, which is certainly more appealing to a wider audience. We find the original less conventional and, therefore, special in its own right.The Panamera's design choices were driven by function. Its sloping roofline allowed for impressive rear headroom, and the spacious interior made it a genuine four-seater sports sedan. More importantly, the Panamera delivered performance worthy of the Porsche badge, with powerful V6, V8, and even hybrid options offering blistering acceleration and nimble handling. Over time, the Panamera's quirks have become part of its appeal — a reminder that form sometimes follows function in spectacular ways. The current Panamera might have better lines, and gone is the bulbous back end, but our hearts remain with the funky original.
Long before the Urus, there was the LM 002 — an exotic, high-performance SUV so outrageous it almost defies description. It was the answer to a question nobody asked, and it was as crazy to drive as it was to look at. Lamborghini's attempt at an off-road luxury SUV in the late '80s and early '90s resulted in what's often described as a 'Rambo Lambo.' The LM 002 is a massive, blocky, military-esque machine with a towering stance and a front end that looks more suited to an armored vehicle than a supercar manufacturer. It was anything but subtle.
Under the hood, however, lies pure Lamborghini madness: a 5.2-liter V12 borrowed from the Countach. This combination of off-road capability and exotic engine performance made the LM 002 a completely unique beast. You could also opt for a monstrous 7.2-liter V12 from powerboat applications if you were insane (and rich) enough. Only 301 LM 002s were ever made, and they symbolize the righteous excess of the '80s in its finest form. Its strange, aggressive design and insane powerplant make it an unforgettable entry in the ugly beautiful pantheon.
The Volvo 200-Series cars are the best boxy Swedes of all time and a perfect example of how function can evolve into a kind of unexpected elegance. Their boxy, slab-sided design was the epitome of practicality. Huge rectangular headlights, windows, and side mirrors combined with tank-like boxy doors gave the cars a delightfully industrial-nerdy appearance, and the 200-Series Volvos look even better today than ever before. The cars prioritized safety, space, and visibility over any semblance of traditional beauty — and yet, its uncompromising approach has made it an icon.Our favorite is the 240 wagon, which has gobs of space, huge glove-friendly switchgear, and insanely thick sheet metal. The wagon's simple lines and no-nonsense aesthetic have aged into something almost stately. College professors, architects, and upscale hippies seem to flock to it. Enthusiasts celebrate its durability, reliability, and unmistakable profile. Whether in sedan or wagon form, the 240's angular shape has become a symbol of honest engineering and Scandinavian cool.
The Saab 900 is the automotive equivalent of a charming eccentric. This Swedish oddity combined unconventional styling with innovative engineering. Its distinctive upright wraparound windshield, elongated hood, sloping rear window, and high beltline made it instantly recognizable — and unlike anything else on the market. The Saab 900 kept its distinct look over the course of twenty years, even after being facelifted in 1987.
It came in sedan, coupe, convertible, hatchback, and even wagon forms, with a consistent look across body types. But the 900's appeal wasn't just skin deep. It offered a turbocharged engine long before forced induction became mainstream, and its front-wheel-drive layout delivered surprising performance. The quirky cockpit, with its driver-focused controls and unique ignition placement between the seats, only added to its idiosyncratic charm. The Saab 900's individuality and spirited performance make it a classic example of ugly beauty. It still turns heads on the road today, which is a great indication of how well the quirky look has held up.
The first-generation Scion xB, introduced in 2003, took the concept of a box on wheels and made it cool — at least to some. Its unapologetically square design, mad front underbite bumper, slab sides, and tall greenhouse made it look more like a rolling toaster than a conventional car, but that's what made it so special. Even the similarly squared-off Nissan Cube couldn't pull off the same look as well as the xB managed to do. The xB's quirkiness became its greatest strength. All of that boxy goodness was ruined by the larger, puffier, second-generation xB.The first-generation xB's practicality was undeniable. Its boxy shape provided incredible interior space relative to its small footprint, and its simple, no-frills approach made it an affordable and reliable choice. You could even configure the xB with a manual transmission, adding even more driving fun to the mix. The xB became a favorite canvas for customization, with owners embracing its weirdness and adding their own personal flair. Over time, the xB's oddball design has gained a devoted following, securing its place among the best ugly beautiful cars.
Ugly beautiful cars remind us that automotive design doesn't always have to conform to conventional standards of beauty. A car that has character and uniqueness, one that dares to push the envelope of design and defy conventional views of automotive style, is one that stands out in the crowd.
Sometimes, the most memorable vehicles are the ones that take risks, embrace individuality, and deliver something unexpected. Sometimes, it takes decades to truly appreciate what they achieved. These six cars prove that there's a certain charm in the unconventional — and that beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.
Love reading Autoblog? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get exclusive articles, insider insights, and the latest updates delivered right to your inbox. Click here to sign up now!
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tesla is Paying Up to Keep Elon Musk's Eyes On the Road
First came the stick, now comes the carrot. A 24 karat gold carrot. After prominent Tesla shareholders earlier this year threatened to oust CEO Elon Musk if he couldn't give the electric vehicle firm more of his very divided attention, the company's board on Monday approved an interim stock award to Musk worth roughly $30 billion in a bid to keep his attention. It comes just as Tesla faces an endless obstacle course of roadblocks and speed bumps. READ ALSO: AMD Joins Chipmakers Struggling to Impress Traders With Upbeat Earnings and Trump's Moonshot Ignites Nuclear Stocks Rally Flat Tires During the company's second-quarter earnings report last month, Musk admitted the company may be headed for 'a few rough quarters.' In a chat Saturday with customers and retail investors, longtime Tesla engineering executive Lars Moravy was a smidge more optimistic, saying, 'We take big swings… We're in a big swing moment right now with autonomy, Robotaxis, with Optimus, and with Semi.' The company's EV business, on the other hand, looks like it's in a major downswing — not just ahead, but right now. On Monday, new preliminary data released by China's Passenger Car Association showed that Tesla delivered just 67,886 units from its massive Shanghai manufacturing gigafactory in July. That marks the sixth shipments decline in the past seven months, and an over 8% decrease year-over-year as the company continues to face steep competition from Chinese firms like Xiaomi and BYD. It's more evidence of an overall sales slump — total deliveries were down 14% year-over-year in the second quarter, while automotive revenue fell 16% year-over-year — a problem that looks likely to persist moving forward: Monday also delivered the news that the newest model of BMW's iX3, an electric SUV, will offer a driving range of about 497 miles with a maximum charging rate of 400 kilowatts — blowing away the Tesla Model Y's roughly 386-mile range and 250 kW charging rate. That makes BMW just the latest competitor to out-innovate Tesla in the battery department, and adds to the evidence that Tesla's Model Y refresh earlier this year didn't pack a big enough punch. The Model Y typically accounts for about two-thirds of Tesla's car sales; Cox Automotives estimates that Model Y sales in the US were down 15% year-over-year in the second quarter. Stay Awhile: In other words, Tesla shareholders have a lot of reason to hope Musk sticks around (Monday's compensation package only vests if he stays in an executive role for two more years, and compensates somewhat for the $56 billion pay package still stuck in Delaware court legal limbo). It seems that Tesla's board thinks of the company a lot like how a Florida jury last week thought of the company's Autopilot cars: Not quite ready to drive itself. This post first appeared on The Daily Upside. To receive delivering razor sharp analysis and perspective on all things finance, economics, and markets, subscribe to our free The Daily Upside newsletter. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trump order lowering tariffs on EU autos still days away, source says
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union will likely have to wait a few more days for an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump lowering tariffs on imports of European cars and car parts, a source familiar with the EU-U.S. negotiations said. It means U.S. consumers will continue to see tariffs of 27.5% applied to the imports of cars including German-made BMW and Mercedes-Benz vehicles and Swedish-made Volvos, the source said, rather than the 15% rate Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed in Scotland. The rate will only come down once Trump issues a legally binding executive order. White House officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump on July 31 issued an executive order setting the EU's baseline tariff at 15%, but the order did not cover goods facing so-called Section 232 investigations, including autos, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, wine and spirits and steel and aluminium. The baseline tariff comes into effect on August 7 at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT) with an exemption for goods already in transit or warehoused until Oct. 5. The EU-U.S. framework trade agreement will be implemented in stages through White House executive orders followed by a legally non-binding joint statement, which a senior EU official on Tuesday said was at an "advanced" stage. Under the terms of the agreement, a 15% levy will be applied to EU pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, U.S. officials say. EU officials say 15% is a ceiling and that the rate could be lower pending the outcome of the Section 232 investigations. EU and U.S. officials are still negotiating a final list of products that would have either a zero-for-zero duty or a significantly lower most-favoured nation rate. The EU wants low or zero rates on spirits, wines, some chemicals and medical devices. In the interim, spirits and wines will see duties rise to 15%. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Mercedes happy to secure Russell's future after Verstappen talks
Toto Wolff said he needed to talk to Max Verstappen about a possible move to Mercedes but was now happy to secure George Russell's future with the team. Verstappen confirmed for the first time that he would stay with Red Bull ahead of last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, putting to an end speculation that he could make a sensational move to rivals Mercedes ahead of the 2026 season. Mercedes and Wolff have made little secret of their desire to sign the four-time world champion, which heightened talk that Russell – who is out of contract at the end of this season – could lose his seat. Team principal Wolff admitted that the possible availability of Verstappen, 27, had to be explored. 'I've always said I'm happy with my team, with Russell and Kimi Antonelli, but suddenly Max's future became uncertain, so we talked to him too,' Wolff told Gazzetta dello Sport. 'But I've always been very clear with George: 90 per cent of the time he would stay with us, but I needed to talk to Verstappen too. Now the situation is clear, and everything can go back to normal.' Verstappen had a break clause from his Red Bull deal which can no longer be activated. Confirmation that he would stay with the team came 23 days after Christian Horner discovered he had been ousted as Red Bull team principal and CEO. Russell claimed his sixth podium of the season at the Hungaroring and has excelled in an inconsistent Mercedes car, while also stepping up to lead the team alongside 18-year-old Italian rookie Antonelli following Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari. Hamilton, who won six of his seven world championships under Wolff at Mercedes, endured another difficult weekend for the Scuderia and labelled himself 'useless' after qualifying. The downbeat 40-year-old said Ferrari should change their driver but Wolff is convinced he will bounce back from his first-season struggles with the Prancing Horse. 'It's a characteristic of the greats: if they know they haven't been up to par, they don't blame the team but look within. Once this moment has passed, he'll come back with the same motivation as always,' Wolff said. Formula One will have a new set of regulations for next season, with major changes to power unit and aerodynamic rules that will bring an end to the ground-effect era in which Mercedes have struggled to match Red Bull and, this season, McLaren. Wolff is optimistic that his team will be stronger next season and admitted he would relish the chance to go head-to-head in a title battle with Hamilton and Ferrari. 'Seeing Ferrari against Mercedes would be fantastic,' Wolff added. 'I have no doubt this duel will happen, next year or in the future. We will experience it and it will be fantastic.'