Over the course of automotive historical past, there have been a number of automobiles fitted with uncommon equipment and options. Some had been one-off {custom} jobs on the higher finish of the market, just like the built-in microphone in Elvis’ Rolls-Royce, whereas others had been provided as an choice (and even as normal) in completely unusual household automobiles. Optionally available equipment generally is a solution to showcase an automaker’s creativity and specific part of the automobile’s character, whether or not it’s an city runabout prepared for the concrete jungle or a rugged off-roader outfitted for the literal jungle. Listed below are among the bizarre options automakers ever put in of their automobiles.
1 Falconry Set (Bentley Bentayga)
Over the course of over a century, Bentley has constructed a popularity for constructing automobiles centered on excessive luxurious and luxury, and the Bentayga SUV is not any exception. Among the many many luxurious options and equipment Bentley gives on its flagship SUV is one little bit of package that stands out for its uniqueness: a falconry package, first provided in 2017 and hand-built by Mulliner, Bentley’s private commissioning division. The package consists of all of the tools wanted for a falconry expedition, together with two in-car perches together with leather-based chook hoods, gauntlets, and a boot-floor safety cowl. Pure cork material, a sustainable and intensely sturdy materials, was used all through a number of parts of the package.
2 Rest room (Rolls-Royce Vignale Silver Wreath)
This isn’t actually a “normal function”, seeing because it was solely ever included on one custom-built automobile, but it surely was too uncommon to not earn a spot on the checklist. A 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Wreath, constructed by Italian designer Alfredo Vignale for American enterprise government Joseph Maschuch, was outfitted with its personal built-in rest room, hid underneath one of many rear seats. Lifting the upholstered cushion reveals a golden rest room seat, which doesn’t have a flushing system however merely releases waste out onto the highway under. Helpful as a deterrent in a automobile chase, maybe? That being mentioned, all descriptions of the automobile floating across the web make some extent of explaining that the bathroom was solely ever used as a champagne cooler. It’s as much as you to determine whether or not to consider that.
3 Fridge/Freezer (Toyota Van)
Toyota’s space-age-inspired individuals service, the unimaginatively-named Van, got here with quite a few quirky options, corresponding to an engine mounted immediately underneath the cabin that could possibly be accessed by lifting the motive force’s seat. Certainly one of its most uncommon equipment, obtainable within the LE trim, was a small built-in fridge. The cooling mechanism used air-conditioning refrigerant strains to maintain meals and drinks chilly, and there was even a freezer tray with built-in ice dice molds. When the Van was changed with the equally blob-shaped Previa in 1990, the mini-fridge sadly stopped being an obtainable choice.
4 Document Participant (Chrysler)
Whereas in-car leisure has all the time been a promoting level for autos, some carmakers adopted extra unorthodox options than others to maintain drivers and passengers glad throughout lengthy journeys. Whereas as much as 1956, the one obtainable audio function on automobiles was AM radio, Chrysler determined to alter that by making a built-in report system known as the Freeway Hello-Fi. The Freeway Hello-Fi didn’t play normal 45 rpm information: the {custom} discs constructed for the system additionally measured seven inches in diameter however had been performed at a a lot decrease pace (16 ⅔ rpm), which gave them a 45-minute runtime on both sides. The Freeway Hello-Fi was obtainable as an choice on most Chrysler fashions for 3 years till poor gross sales killed it in 1959.
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5 Folding Scooter (Honda Metropolis)
Between 1981 and 1983, the first-generation Honda Metropolis got here with a novel accent tucked away in its trunk: a folding scooter known as the Motocompo. The Metropolis was constructed across the Motocompo, and the 2 autos had been designed to perform collectively as a part of a single city transport answer: as soon as the automobile was parked, the motive force may merely take the scooter out and use it as a faster, extra agile method of getting across the metropolis. The Motocompo was powered by a 49cc motor that produced 2.5 horsepower and was painted to match the automobile’s physique coloration. It was made to be as mild as attainable, weighing solely 45 kg.
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It may possibly attain a lofty prime pace of 19 mph.
6 Pop-Out Umbrella (Rolls-Royce)
Rolls-Royce autos don’t want any assist setting themselves other than the whole lot else on the highway, however in addition they include some distinctive options that aren’t instantly seen. One accent that has been part of Rolls-Royce fashions for years is the pop-out umbrella, cleverly hid contained in the automobile’s door. There may be additionally a drainage and heat air circulation mechanism to shortly dry the umbrella when it will get returned to its slot after getting used. Naturally, the umbrella itself can also be constructed to the best requirements, with know-how that forestalls it from turning inside out in windy circumstances and a fantastic deal with with a delicate RR brand on the backside.
7 Heartbeat Sensor (Volvo S80)
Volvo took its popularity for security to extremes when designing the 2007 S80 sedan. A Bond-esque tech function proudly marketed as having the ability to detect intruders and serial killers, the “heartbeat sensor” positioned contained in the automobile communicated with the important thing fob (or “Private Automotive Communicator” in Volvo-speak), which displayed a flashing mild if the presence of a dwelling being within the automobile was detected. Volvo even shot an eerie industrial devoted fully to the sensor’s capabilities, exhibiting a girl operating away from her S80 in a abandoned parking zone: presumably not the best advertising technique, on condition that the function didn’t actually catch on and ultimately disappeared with out a lot fanfare.
8 Espresso Machine (Fiat 500L)
What may presumably be extra Italian than a Fiat? Seems, the reply is “a Fiat with a built-in espresso machine”. The Fiat 500L’s largest declare to fame when it made its debut in 2012 was being the primary manufacturing automobile to be outfitted with its very personal espresso machine, courtesy of espresso model Lavazza. The built-in contraption, seamlessly built-in into the cabin, makes use of Lavazza’s proprietary “A Modo Mio” (Italian for “My Means”) espresso pods. All of the consumer must do is fill the water reservoir, add a pod on the prime of the machine, and pop the machine into its devoted dock: growth, espresso on the go, irrespective of the place you might be.
9 Pizza Oven & Bar (Lexus GX Monogram)
Because the saying goes, you possibly can’t race a home, however typically you possibly can take it for a spot of off-roading. The Lexus GX Monogram is one other entry that qualifies purely due to its quirkiness, because it was an idea automobile that by no means made it to manufacturing; based mostly on the usual GX, the Monogram added quite a few luxurious consolation options. Certainly one of them was a 30-inch electrical pizza oven, permitting you to cook dinner your personal pizza or bake bread whereas on a highway journey. And for the passengers, the drinks side hasn’t been uncared for both; the Monogram comes with a completely outfitted wine and spirit bar, together with glassware, bar tools, and storage for wine and bourbon.
10 Bathe (Honda CR-V)
When the primary technology of Honda CR-V arrived in the marketplace, it was marketed as a rugged, off-road-ready SUV outfitted to deal with all kinds of household outside adventures; it was outfitted with a number of hiking-oriented bits of package, together with a picnic desk and, unusually, a built-in bathe. The bathe setup consisted of a plastic hose with a showerhead and a water jug, with the entire contraption powered by a 12-volt socket. The thought was to have quick access to operating water to rinse off a mud-covered pet or clear mountain climbing boots after a day trip. The function ultimately died out with the arrival of the mannequin’s second technology in 2001.
