We’ve all heard, seen, and used a shopping cart. But have you ever seen a shopping car? Well, if you haven’t, here’s your chance. The vehicle that was dubbed as the “ultimate shopping car” is none other than the Nash Metropolitan Series 54.

Derived from the idea of George Mason, the Nash Metropolitan Series 54 was inspired by the design used by Bill Flajole for the NXI showcar. The car’s body was built by Fisher & Ludlow in England. The Nash Metropolitan Series 54 also came in two body styles: a three-passenger convertible and a fixed-roof hardtop. Later models even came with a two-tone paint job.

As for its engine, the Nash Metropolitan Series 54 initially sported a 1.2-liter engine. It was later increased to a 1.5-liter engine in 1956 when the Nash Metropolitan 1500 was released. This engine stayed with the vehicle until the day that production for the car ended. Aside from these engine types, the Nash Metropolitan Series 54 also sported a tiny wheelbase. It’s so tiny that comparing it with the Volkswagen Beetle would make the latter look like a hunk.

Of course, just like with every other vehicle, the Nash Metropolitan also has its shares plus and minuses. On the plus side, the vehicle carries a certain charm thanks to its unique appearance. It also gives you good numbers in terms of mileage.

Now for the minuses of this vehicle. The Nash Metropolitan has a knack for rusting easily. And even if its engine was given an upgrade, it’s still considered unreliable by some. And finally, we have to admit; even if the appearance of the vehicle looks unique, it’s not that very stylish to look at.

However, even if the Nash Metropolitan isn’t for everyone, you still can’t discount the impact this car made when it was launched. Just look at the numbers it made during its first release. That just shows that there are people willing to buy something like this.

Source: How Stuff Works

In May 20, 1973, General Motors hit a milestone with one of its subcompact cars, the Chevrolet Vega GT. It was during this date that its millionth Vega was produced. And to commemorate the event, GM decided to produce a limited edition Vega GT. Around 6,100 units were built and had only one made available to each of the company’s dealers. Given its limited availability, it’s going to be difficult for collectors to get one for themselves. Lucky for Robert Spinello, because he just happens to have one.

So how can you distinguish the millionth Chevrolet Vega GT from its regular contemporaries? Well, the first thing you have to look at is its exterior. GM gave the car a different paint finish by painting its body bright orange and adding a strip of white on its hood. Thankfully, Robert decided to keep the original paint (un-restored by the way) of the car, thus maintaining its overall value. The second thing you have to look into is its interior. The millionth Chevrolet Vega GT sports a customized neutral colored vinyl interior, including a set of vinyl door panels. It also has a set of customized door handle inserts that sports a color combination of orange and white. The carpets are also designed to match the orange color scheme of the overall interior, allowing them to match seamlessly with the car’s insides.

Aside from these exterior and interior components, the millionth Chevrolet Vega GT was also given power steering capabilities, the standard 2.3 aluminum block L4 BBL engine, and a wide ratio 4-speed transmission.

Even though this subcompact car owned by Robert is more than 30 years old, it’s still in good running condition since it only chalked up 5,500 miles ever since it was first released. Plus, based on the shot above, it doesn’t seem to have any damages to its body as well. Hats off to Robert for finding a way to take care of this classic vintage beauty.

Sources: CarDomain Blog, Car Domain, H-Body, Wikipedia

Only the people from AMC can come up with quirky names for its vehicles. C’mon, you wouldn’t want to have a car you created called the Gremlin, right (Gremlins are mythical creatures who enjoy sabotaging aircrafts; don’t confuse it with cute little Gizmo from the Gremlins movie). At least for its next release, AMC decided to go with a name that’s a little tame (and more heroic by the way). This led to the birth of the AMC Spirit.

First debuting in 1979, this subcompact car offered a fresh sporty liftback appearance during its initial year. To make it distinct from its Gremlin counterpart, AMC incorporated the use of larger rear quarter windows with its edges sloping down like the Kammback vehicle. This gave drivers a better view of the road. Along with these new windows, AMC also added a set of quad-rectangular headlamps to match the car’s rectangular grille. It also incorporated new door trim panels and leather trim lines. The only thing that the Spirit swiped from its Gremlin predecessor was its instrumental panel.

As for its engine, the 1979 AMC Spirit, was littered with various engine options. The car had a choice of using the following engines: a 3.8-liter inline-6, a 2.0-liter inline-4, a 4.2-liter inline-6, and an optional 5.0-liter V-8 engine. These engines could be paired up with either a standard four-speed manual transmission or an optional three-speed automatic transmission that comes with a floor or column shift. For its suspension, the ’79 AMC Spirit carried upgrades that were based on the 1978 Concord, enabling owners to enjoy a smoother driving experience.

Even if production for this model lasted until around 1983, the AMC Spirit is still popular among drivers. Although if AMC stuck with the Gremlin name, we probably think that the vehicle would never have taken off. You wouldn’t want to hear someone shouting at you “nice Gremlin you got there.” That just doesn’t sound right at all. We’d probably settle for “this guy’s got a great Spirit.” Yup, definitely more pleasing to the ear.

Sources: Wikipedia, Drag Times

No, this isn’t the bump car that you used to ride in when you were a kid. Although it looks like one, trust us when we say it’s not. This vehicle is actually a person’s attempt to make the 1984 Dodge Colt look innovative. While the attempt at innovation is quite successful, it still doesn’t look appealing to drive around (unless you want people to think that you haven’t done away with your childhood yet).

Even though the ’84 Dodge Colt isn’t a sight to behold, you just have to ask yourself why did the owner design his (or her) car to look like a “kiddie ride?” You could have added a spoiler, a new set of rims, a nicer grille or even go for a new paint job. The funny part in all this is that the owner is actually selling it for $4,500. Makes you wonder if falling in line to ride in a legit bump car is better than actually buying this thing.

This just shows that not all things creative come out right. There will be times when people will end up coming up with something like this. Well, at least now the owner (or whoever buys it) won’t have to queue to enjoy a bump car ride.

Source: Jalopnik