Asymmetrical cars?
October 5, 2017 11:16 AM Subscribe
Has there ever been a mass-produced, consumer-level car that was asymmetrical in design?
Other than the Nissan Cube, which you came in to post. Sorry if I spoiled that for you.
Mainly focusing on cars, something a person or family would buy to get around in. London buses or UPS trucks don't count. A pickup truck or van would work. Motorcycles with side cars don't count, even ones that have dogs riding in them and the dogs are wearing goggles.
I'm looking for major exterior design features, not something like a mirror or sliding door on only one side. Even the Nissan Cube is really just a stupid-looking back window that only wraps around on the right.
More recent cars preferred. I'm sure ol' Crankshaft McGee sold a model back in nineteen dickity-two that only had the horsecatcher on the driver's side, and I want to hear about that, but I'm mainly looking for more modern designs.
Other than the Nissan Cube, which you came in to post. Sorry if I spoiled that for you.
Mainly focusing on cars, something a person or family would buy to get around in. London buses or UPS trucks don't count. A pickup truck or van would work. Motorcycles with side cars don't count, even ones that have dogs riding in them and the dogs are wearing goggles.
I'm looking for major exterior design features, not something like a mirror or sliding door on only one side. Even the Nissan Cube is really just a stupid-looking back window that only wraps around on the right.
More recent cars preferred. I'm sure ol' Crankshaft McGee sold a model back in nineteen dickity-two that only had the horsecatcher on the driver's side, and I want to hear about that, but I'm mainly looking for more modern designs.
In similar veins, there are vans and minivans where the rear-entry door(s) are only on one side (typically the passenger side). (Remember the big deal about "maybe it's not a minivan?" commercials from the 90s, made a big deal about both sides having sliding-open doors ?)
posted by k5.user at 11:23 AM on October 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by k5.user at 11:23 AM on October 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
The only one that comes to mind is the mid-80s Toyota Tercel Station Wagon, and it was just the grill and the rear placement of the license plate holder and and handle area.
I saw the introduction of this vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show and the announcer made a BIG deal about the daring asymmetrical grill and rear. So groundbreaking! And frankly, at the time, it really did look so different than everything else!
posted by The Deej at 11:24 AM on October 5, 2017
I saw the introduction of this vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show and the announcer made a BIG deal about the daring asymmetrical grill and rear. So groundbreaking! And frankly, at the time, it really did look so different than everything else!
posted by The Deej at 11:24 AM on October 5, 2017
Response by poster: (to nip this in the bud... ideally you should be able to see the lack of symmetry even if you drew a very rough line drawing or made a clay or cardboard model of the car. So things like larger doors on one side, or a lack of door on one side, aren't what I'm looking for. think asymmetry in the shape of the body.)
posted by bondcliff at 11:25 AM on October 5, 2017
posted by bondcliff at 11:25 AM on October 5, 2017
I imagine you googled already, but I saw this article on autofocus.ca.
posted by Grither at 11:31 AM on October 5, 2017
posted by Grither at 11:31 AM on October 5, 2017
I think in production cars you're only going to see mild asymmetry. The most I can think of is the Studebaker Avanti which had an asymmetrical hood in front of the driver.
There are tons of race cars (like LeMans LMP cars) and concept cars (1960 Plymouth XNR) that are asymmetrical, though.
posted by zsazsa at 11:31 AM on October 5, 2017
There are tons of race cars (like LeMans LMP cars) and concept cars (1960 Plymouth XNR) that are asymmetrical, though.
posted by zsazsa at 11:31 AM on October 5, 2017
I believe the S-Cargo had some kind of asymmetry, but I may be confusing it with one of the other cargo van type things Doug DeMuro has featured on his YouTube channel.
The vast majority of cars were obviously asymmetric before the 80s since almost nobody ordered the optional passenger mirror even when it was available. Not in the way a Cube is, though.
Oh! I think the Aztek also had an asymmetric rear window. There's at least one terrible American SUV from the same era that does, anyway.
posted by wierdo at 11:32 AM on October 5, 2017
The vast majority of cars were obviously asymmetric before the 80s since almost nobody ordered the optional passenger mirror even when it was available. Not in the way a Cube is, though.
Oh! I think the Aztek also had an asymmetric rear window. There's at least one terrible American SUV from the same era that does, anyway.
posted by wierdo at 11:32 AM on October 5, 2017
There were some cars in the '80s with offcenter hood scoop/bumps, I think the Pontiac Firebird would be the most common.
posted by 445supermag at 11:32 AM on October 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by 445supermag at 11:32 AM on October 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
The AMC Pacer had a longer passenger-side door than the driver's side. The 1999 Saturn SC introduced a "suicide door" on the driver side.
posted by General Malaise at 11:46 AM on October 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by General Malaise at 11:46 AM on October 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh, probably more subtle than you are looking for, but also the Scions only had one reverse light on the bottom left, which, once you notice, will bother you forever.
posted by General Malaise at 11:49 AM on October 5, 2017
posted by General Malaise at 11:49 AM on October 5, 2017
Response by poster: I'm assuming stuff like off-center hood scoops isn't what you're looking for
If they're big enough they may count. Door differences don't count unless it alters the shape of the car in a major way.
posted by bondcliff at 11:56 AM on October 5, 2017
If they're big enough they may count. Door differences don't count unless it alters the shape of the car in a major way.
posted by bondcliff at 11:56 AM on October 5, 2017
The Jaguar D-Type was series produced in small numbers in the 1950s, and was modifiable to be street legal, without removing the asymmetry. From the factory, it came with the bodywork covering the passenger side seat, and a large shark fin directly behind the driver's seat, all the way up to head height. I used to live above the garage which had, in earlier days, raced them to become two time winners of the Le Mans 24 Hour race.
posted by ambrosen at 12:10 PM on October 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ambrosen at 12:10 PM on October 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Not sure if this counts, but the Chrysler XNR? Designed but not produced.
posted by the webmistress at 12:10 PM on October 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by the webmistress at 12:10 PM on October 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: the webmistress' link is the sort of level of asymmetry I'm looking for, though that one was not actually sold. Cars should also be sold to be street legal, not modified racing cars.
(there is no real point to this question, a miss-matched set of brake lights on a car last night prompted a discussion between my wife and I and so I thought I'd look to you fine people for an answer.)
And I'm trying not to thread-sit but I do want to be clear about what exactly I mean when I say "asymmetrical."
posted by bondcliff at 12:16 PM on October 5, 2017
(there is no real point to this question, a miss-matched set of brake lights on a car last night prompted a discussion between my wife and I and so I thought I'd look to you fine people for an answer.)
And I'm trying not to thread-sit but I do want to be clear about what exactly I mean when I say "asymmetrical."
posted by bondcliff at 12:16 PM on October 5, 2017
Related, but not exactly what you asked for: asymmetric motorcycles. Motorcycles are usually somewhat asymmetric, with the muffler on one side and the chain (or shaft) drive on the other, or the like. Apart from sidecar rigs, the most asymmetric motorcycle I am aware of is the first generation BMW S1000RR. Interestingly, though, the asymmetry was not especially noticeable.
posted by workerant at 12:26 PM on October 5, 2017
posted by workerant at 12:26 PM on October 5, 2017
The Mitsubishi Mirage (2017 definitely, but I think this includes 2014-2018) has a very minor asymetry in that the lower portion of the grill for the manual transmission is partially blocked off on side (the left, if one's standing, facing the front) (for better air resistance and not needing the full hole for cooling). Because of this, one can look at the grill and know if a Mirage is auto or standard. That's kind of body-ish, but at the same point I doubt that it's anything that even 10% of manual Mirage owners have noticed, but now I can't not see it whenever I look at the front of mine. Since this was based off of brake lights, maybe this is enough for your standards?
posted by nobeagle at 12:27 PM on October 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by nobeagle at 12:27 PM on October 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
The only thing that I can think of the Nissan Xterra's back window.
posted by TomFoolery at 12:53 PM on October 5, 2017
posted by TomFoolery at 12:53 PM on October 5, 2017
How about the 1995 Eagle Talon or 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse? I believe they are the same car with different names.
posted by axismundi at 1:15 PM on October 5, 2017
posted by axismundi at 1:15 PM on October 5, 2017
Best answer: Jalopnik had an article on the subject a while ago. Major asymmetry is not common—apart from the Jag D Type, the article mentions the XNR concept car.
I mean, the Isuzu Trooper had a weird 70/30 tailgate, and the Nissan Xterra has a little bump on one side of the tailgate, but those don't really count.
posted by adamrice at 1:32 PM on October 5, 2017
I mean, the Isuzu Trooper had a weird 70/30 tailgate, and the Nissan Xterra has a little bump on one side of the tailgate, but those don't really count.
posted by adamrice at 1:32 PM on October 5, 2017
I can't say for certain that it made it to the exterior, but in the far rear of Nissan's comically large SUV in the 00s the roof was a good couple of inches higher on one side, like a tray ceiling in a house. I noticed it once when I was riding in the third row for much longer than any normally sized adult should.
Even if it does make it to the sheet metal, I suspect it's hard to see under the roof rack and whatever other junk they put up there.
posted by wierdo at 3:19 PM on October 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Even if it does make it to the sheet metal, I suspect it's hard to see under the roof rack and whatever other junk they put up there.
posted by wierdo at 3:19 PM on October 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh, and this isn't specifically the body, but does affect the look/shape of a car more than a hood scoop: Many small SUVs with rear mounted spare tires have the tire off to one side, not in the middle. Jeep has put them all kinds of places, including on the side for a while early on, IIRC.
I believe there were step side trucks in the 60s and 70s that had a step only on one side, also. And of course there are industrial haulers that are quite asymmetric, but those generally aren't found on public roads.
posted by wierdo at 3:26 PM on October 5, 2017
I believe there were step side trucks in the 60s and 70s that had a step only on one side, also. And of course there are industrial haulers that are quite asymmetric, but those generally aren't found on public roads.
posted by wierdo at 3:26 PM on October 5, 2017
To follow up on the asymmetrical motorcycles thing, here's a history of BMW's wonky headlights (until 2009, at least).
Also the Yamaha MT03 2006-2014 models have the rear suspension on the right side of the bike, which is pretty unusual.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 11:30 PM on October 5, 2017
Also the Yamaha MT03 2006-2014 models have the rear suspension on the right side of the bike, which is pretty unusual.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 11:30 PM on October 5, 2017
A lot of old station wagons have the spare vertical on one side, there is often something showing on the outside hanging down below the quarter panel.
posted by 445supermag at 11:52 AM on October 6, 2017
posted by 445supermag at 11:52 AM on October 6, 2017
Up until 1958, London taxis had no front passenger side door, using that as an open luggage rack, instead.
Also, I feel I undersold the Jaguar D-Type above: every version I've seen had a license plate on it, and it's bona fide asymmetrical.
posted by ambrosen at 4:56 AM on October 8, 2017
Also, I feel I undersold the Jaguar D-Type above: every version I've seen had a license plate on it, and it's bona fide asymmetrical.
posted by ambrosen at 4:56 AM on October 8, 2017
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