You’ve probably seen snap judgments about strange car gadgets, but this article takes you past the headlines into the actual oddities designers built into vehicles over time. You’ll discover why some choices made practical sense for their moment while others felt delightfully absurd, and what those decisions reveal about automotive creativity.
Expect a compact tour that moves from steering innovations to in-car luxuries and truly unexpected extras, all framed so you can appreciate both the inventiveness and the missteps. You’ll come away with memorable examples that show how far carmakers went to stand out and solve problems in unusual ways.
Wrist Twist Steering by Ford
You might find Ford’s 1965 Wrist-Twist steering surprising: it used two small dials instead of a full wheel.
Each hand turned a tiny wheel while your forearms rested on pads, reducing steering effort and dash space.
Ford showed it as an experimental, convenience-focused idea rather than a production change.
It influenced later concept controls but never replaced the conventional steering wheel in everyday cars.
In-car Record Player
You could once buy a car with a dashboard record player that spun 7-inch vinyl while you drove.
Chrysler’s Highway Hi‑Fi required proprietary records and often skipped on bumpy roads, which made listening uneven at best.
You might appreciate the novelty, but the tech was fragile and impractical for regular driving.
Still, it shows how automakers tried to bring home comforts into cars, even if the roads disagreed.
Joystick Steering
You might remember seeing a joystick instead of a wheel in some concept and limited-production cars.
Designers tried joysticks to save space and give a futuristic feel, and a few models—like experimental Saabs—actually used them.
Controls could be more compact, but you would trade familiar feedback and intuitive motion.
That made joysticks rare in real-world driving, though they remain a memorable automotive oddity.
Built-in Espresso Machine
You could actually buy a production car with a factory-installed espresso maker.
Fiat offered the 500L with a Lavazza “Coffee Experience” unit that brewed real espresso and included cups and accessories.
The system aimed to add convenience on long drives, but you still needed to handle hot liquids safely.
It demonstrated how automakers experimented with lifestyle features to stand out.
Falconry Kit in SUVs
You might spot a falconry kit as an optional extra on ultra-luxury SUVs like the Bentayga.
It includes perches, leather hoods, gauntlets, and storage designed to secure a bird and its gear during travel.
If you practice falconry, this kit saves you from improvising and keeps your bird safe on long drives.
For most buyers, though, it remains a striking example of how far bespoke car options can go.
Vision Mercedes-Maybach Tea Set
You can find an actual tea set built into the console of the Vision Mercedes‑Maybach Ultimate Luxury concept.
Mercedes designed it for chauffeured comfort, with fine china that stows neatly when not in use.
The tea set highlights how automakers experiment with hospitality features for high‑end buyers.
It’s a showpiece more than a common option, meant to spark conversation about luxury in vehicles.
Pop-up Headlights with Odd Shapes
You’ve seen pop-ups that simply tilt up, but some designers got playful with shapes—slotted grilles, eyebrow curves, even triangular housings.
Those odd forms gave cars a distinct personality at night and a surprising sculptural look when closed.
You might notice that odd shapes sometimes complicated mechanics and light aim.
That trade-off made them memorable, if not always practical.
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