They can be parked just about anywhere, they’re efficient, and they’re fun to drive even at low speeds (Ed. Because there’s always a chance you might die!). Sure, they’re not as imposing as a leviathan-sized pickup and they don’t have the breadth of ability of a supercar, but there’s no doubt small cars have a unique charisma all their own.
Here are 15 of the greatest, weirdest, and cutest small cars ever built. Start collecting and like Pokemon, someday you could own them all. The best part is, you only need a two-car garage for the lot!
15. SMART FORTWO
The Smart ForTwo has been a popular choice for European city dwellers for nearly two decades now, and more recently here in the United States. Because it’s roughly as wide as it is long, it can fit into even the tightest of parking spots.
You see Smarts everywhere now, but few people know the brand’s origin. Remember those Swatch watches from the 1990s? Swatch CEO Nicolas Hayek conceived the Smart (originally called the Swatchmobile) as a small, inexpensive city car that used the same personalization features that made Swatch watches so popular.
14. MYERS SPARROW
If you’re looking for a car that’s both small and shaped like Daffy Duck’s skull, then your search has ended. Enter, the Myers Sparrow.
The Sparrow is a lithium-ion powered electric car, and is available in two body-styles: a one-door coupe, and two-door hatchback. The hatchback was also called the “Pizza Butt” — Dominos Pizza originally commissioned it as a fleet delivery vehicle (don’t ask, we don’t know either).
13. HONDA N600
The N360 was powered by the engine from the C450 motorcycle, but was actually reduced in size to comply with Japanese kei car laws. The engine was so small that there was room for the spare tire in the engine bay.
The N600 (shown above) was no larger on the outside, but used a slightly bigger 599 cc engine for foreign markets in North America and Europe.
Honda also made some pretty nifty commercials for the English-speaking markets.
12. REVA G-WIZ
Chances are, if you’re considering the purchase of a G-Wiz, your not overly concerned with aesthetics. This silver example is among the more restrained color options. It also comes in variety of garish shades including teal and mauve. If that’s not bad enough, incredibly tacky neon graphics packages are also available.
Sure, others might laugh as you drive your tiny purple shoe-shaped car to work, but you can hold your head high knowing the G-Wiz costs just pennies to run a day. Just be sure you work less than 48 miles away, otherwise you might will be pushing it.
11. BUDDY CAB
The Buddy Cab is a small, no-frills electric vehicle produced and sold primarily in Norway. Amazingly, it’s been in production since 1991. It’s obviously very small, but like your grandparents old Mercury Grand Marquis it’s got a bench seat that seats three across!
It has a range of up to 37 miles and recharge time of at least six hours, meaning the Buddy’s fun / waiting-for-it-charge ratio is about the same as the RC car you had as a kid.
Don’t worry. The cloud livery isn’t standard.
10. MINI COOPER
I once parked my 2003 Mini next to classic Mini. The owner of the classic sauntered up and asked, “Where’d you get that big ass Mini?”
Not only is Alec Issigonis’s original Mini small, adorable, and a blast to drive, it’s also one of the most popular cars of all time. During its production run from 1959 to 2000 (yes, you could get a brand new “classic” Mini just 14-years-ago) it sold 6.7 million units.
Unfortunately, the only classic Mini Cooper you can now buy new is made of Legos.
9. PASQUALI RISCIO
Florence, Italy is a wonderful city for many reasons: the Duomo di Firenze, the Statue of David, the Ponte Vecchio bridge, but one thing it’s not known for is cars. Florence-based Pasquali would like to see that changed. They have a ways to go.
The Pasquali Riscio is an electric car that’s so small and harmless you don’t even need a license to operate it in Italy. We’re guessing with a top speed of 25 mph no one is too worried about it doing any real damage.
8. FIAT 500
The current Fiat 500 is small by today’s standards, but park an original 500 next to it, and it will look like a Ford Excursion. Unlike the new 500, the original had a rear-mounted two-cylinder engine.
It launched in 1957 as the Nuova 500, nuova meaning “new,” but because it was in production for 17 years, it couldn’t really get away with being called new after a while so Nuova was dropped from the name.
One of the most iconic small cars ever built, and best enjoyed with the boot fixed open with Abarth goodies.
7. PIAGGIO VESPA 400
Vespa might be best known for making those two-wheeled things you see hipsters riding. But, did you know this famous Italian scooter company also built cars? Albeit very small ones.
Meet the Vespa 400.
Interior space for the 400 was at such a premium that early models did without roll-down windows to keep the door width thinner. It’s tiny 400 cc engine produced just 12 hp, and if that sounds a bit slow for your taste, you can always do what this guy did and drop in a Harley Davidson V-twin.
6. GOGGOMOBIL DART
If you prefer your tiny cars to be more towards the sporting side of things, then allow us to point you towards the Goggomobil Dart.
Goggomobil was a German company, but the Dart was built under license in Australia. It measured 10 feet from bumper to bumper and weighed just 849 lbs.. When combined with the optional 18 hp engine, it probably made the Dart pretty fun to drive. On the street it seems closer in concept to an amusement park go-cart than an actual car.
Little known fact: Tom Haverford from Parks and Recreations is a founding member of the Goggomobil owners club.
5. FULDAMOBIL
If the Smurfs were to design and build a car, it would probably look like (and be only slightly smaller than) the Fuldamobil.
German company Elektromaschinenbau Fulda GmbH started manufacturing the endearingly bulbous Fuldamobil in 1950. At a glance, it appears to have three wheels, but look closely and you’ll see two wheels in the back spaced about an inch apart. Though, a three-wheeled version was also available for tax purposes.
These things are as cute as they are rare. Only 123 were ever built.
4. AUTOBIANCHI BIANCHINA
The Autobianchi Bianchina 500 was pretty much a re-bodied coupe version of no. 8 on our list, the Fiat 500, but it also came in sedan, cabrio, wagon, and roadster body types.
With its chrome trim and relatively plush interior, it was billed as a more upscale alternative to other microcars. With a roaring 22 hp it was also had a bit of kick.
Then there was the utility van Bianchina 500 van, which was perfect for tiny contractors working in small houses.
3. ISO ISETTA
The Isetta is probably most well known as a BMW, but it was actually licensed by an Italian company called Iso. A tiny single-cylinder engine powered the Isetta, and occupants entered and exited through a single door in the front.
Your Prius gets, at best, 51 mpg, but way back when it was introduced back in 1955, the Isetta achieved almost 100 mpg. How’s that for progress?
Also, some nut job built one with at 750 hp supercharged Chevy engine. It probably doesn’t get 100 mpg.
2. COMMUTER CARS TANGO
The Commuter Cars Tango is a single seat electric car that’s no wider than your average motorcycle. It doesn’t take up much space and has a range of up to 240 miles, which is all very sensible.
But the real party trick is its performance. Between its two electric motors, it produces a bloody ridiculous 3000 lb-ft of torque, or as Commuter Cars puts it, “more torque than six Dodge Viper V10s at peak.” It’ll do 0-60 in 3.2 seconds and the standing quarter mile in 12.5 seconds. Nuts.
You also might recognize it from its cameo in HBO’s Silicon Valley.
1. PEEL P50
At just 54 inches long and 41 inches wide, the Peel P50 holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s smallest production car.
And the best part? You can still buy one brand new! For the original production run the P50’s tiny 50 cc engine shared the cabin with the driver, which was less than great. Now, however, an optional electric motor is available.
The P50 doesn’t have a reverse gear, but that’s not a huge problem. If you need to backup, simply get out, lift it at the rear, and the P50 can be wheeled around like a roller carry-on bag.
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