We’ve had some pretty weird cars come out in the last few years, but there’s been plenty produced for quite a long time. General Motors has a number of them under its belt. Which vehicle is the weirdest the brand has ever made? Let’s take a look at a few models GM produced and how long each one lasted. 

The Pontiac Aztek is a weird car that’s actually practical

According to Gear Patrol, the Pontiac Aztek SUV was produced from 2001 to 2005 and was in a sense ahead of its time. Pontiac seemed to realize just how sport utility vehicles would be beneficial to families in need of space and practicality. So, why is it on this list? Well, as useful as it was, the thing most people remember about it is how ugly it was. 

The front end had that double hood look to it while there was a boxy end to the rear. When you look at the rest of the body, it just doesn’t look like it fits in with the rest of it. Pontiac had the right idea about it, but its design was too hard to look at. GM only sold about 119,000 during its entire production run. 

General Motors EV1 was a weird car that tanked

The General Motors EV1  ran from 1996 to 1999 and was essentially the first electric vehicle to hit the market. This was actually its second try at an EV, after trying to develop one from a Corvette back in the 60s. GM’s EV1 model made it to production in the mid-90s and at first, it looked like it would go over well. 

However, despite its futuristic styling, the weird car tanked, so General Motors ultimately pulled the project after developing approximately 1,000 of these vehicles. It wasn’t a total bust, though, since a few features created for this vehicle became commonplace in the EVs of today. Those would include keyless ignition, wireless charging, and regenerative braking. 

The GMC Envoy XUV sounded cool, but was it?

GM came up with a new concept in the early 2000s that would enable its Envoy model to act like a pickup, but still remain a sport utility vehicle. It was introduced into the market in 2004 with what they hoped would be a revolutionary design for the rear hatch. Using a retractable roof design, drivers could haul tall items in the upright position. 

While that sounds cool and all, it didn’t take off. Not many people were interested in the concept and sales went nowhere. GM cut its losses with this vehicle and the Envoy XUV ended production one year later. 

The Chevrolet Standard Mercury was an affordable weird car

The oldest weird car has to be the new variant of the Chevrolet Standard, which was dubbed the Mercury in 1933. GM wanted to introduce a more affordable car during a time when the Great Depression left many people strapped for money. This vehicle was stripped of a few features such as a shorter chassis, louvers in the hood (instead of the usual vent doors), an unsynchronized gearbox, and the plainest trim available. 

However, it only managed to trim the price by about $40-$60 cheaper than its higher trim the Master Eagle. Adding Mercury to the Chevy Standard name only confused consumers, so Chevy ultimately dropped the Mercury part of the name, according to Macs Motor City Garage.

Which GM car is the weirdest?

There are a number of weird cars out there. However, none can really match the Chevrolet SSR. The vehicle was a combination pickup and roadster car that was produced from 2004 to 2006. It was built with a convertible top and used a Trailblazer platform. Its exterior had bulging fenders and oversized wheel wells. The first model came with a 5.3-liter V8 that only produced 300 hp and was paired with a four-speed automatic. 

The 2005 version came with a 6.0-liter LS2 V8 engine. It generated 390 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque, according to Car & Driver. You still have the same automatic transmission as standard. However, for less than $1,000 you could add a six-speed manual gearbox instead. The pickup/roadster combo didn’t take off as hoped and was discontinued just two years after entering the market. 

GM has had its fair share of weird vehicles over the years. None made a huge splash with consumers. However, the brand did take some risks to bring some useful ideas to the table. Some even paved the way for the way vehicles work today, so it wasn’t exactly all for nothing.