Rare Body Styles of Mundane Cars: Part 3!

"Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available" (whoistheleader2) 02/22/2020 at 15:30 • Filed to: Rare Body Styles of Mundane Cars, Oppositelock

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As the 90s waned and the 2000s bloomed, cars were getting more and more expensive to build. Fewer and fewer cars were offered in multiple body styles because they cost more to design, build, and certify for the road. The last of the body on frame passenger cars were also dying off, soon to be replaced with unibody sedans and SUVs, which were more difficult to modify.

As a result, fewer manufacturers built lower volume body variants, even as people shifted towards the extreme practicality of SUVs. That era produced quite a few forgotten body variants of normal cars, some of which will be listed here.

Mercedes G63 AMG Two Door and Convertible

The G class is known around the world, but most Americans don’t know they could once buy a two door model. Furthermore, that two door came in coupe (yes, with two doors) and a two door convertible, both of which could be given the AMG treatment. I didn’t know Mercedes carried on the two door past its humble military origins, having never seen one on the street. And that convertible! Oh, that convertible! How did I not know this existed?

Thank you, Themanwithsauce, for suggesting this last time.

Chrysler Sebring Hardtop Convertible

Everyone knows (and usually loathes) the Chrysler Sebring. The second generation saw the introduction of not just the sedan and soft top convertible, but a rather cumbersome hard top convertible. The tiny rear window is catastrophically out of proportion with the bulky hard top. The design just does not work with the rest of the car, you lose significant trunk space over the soft top, and worst of all, it is still a Sebring.

Thank you Milky, for your patience as well as your suggestion.

LJ Jeep Wrangler

Did you know Jeep once made two door Wranglers? Crazy, right? And they once came in two sizes as well! The ultra rare “Long Jeep” Jeep Wrangler had an extended wheelbase that would prove to be the perfect length for rock crawling. So perfect in fact that stock LJs are almost extinct from rock crawling bro’s insatiable demand for this limited run vehicle.

Can you top this list? If so, tell me and I might feature it in a few days.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 02/22/2020 at 15:40

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Fun! The long jeep is kinda interesting. Was it shorter that a 4-door but longer than a 2? Or just a 2-door 4-door?

For nominations, I’d say while most people are familiar with the 3-door (2-door liftback) and convertible classic Saab 900, few knew about the other body styles available. I feel like most have heard of the sedan (4-door “notchback”), if for no other reason than I post about mine a lot , but they also made a 2-door (2-door notchback) and a 5-door (4-door liftback).

I’ve never seen either in person but they seem neat.

dogisbadob > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 02/22/2020 at 15:41

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Does the convertible Dakota from the 80s count?

There’s a couple other cars that were sold up in Canada but not here, if they count

Mazda 323 Neo, a 2-door hatchback version of the late-90s Protege

Toyota Echo hatchback

Milky > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 02/22/2020 at 16:11

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I feel bullied.

kanadanmajava1 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 02/22/2020 at 16:28

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Low roof van versions for some car models have been available but their survival rate is really low. In some European countries such models got tax advantages. They were usually made using 5 door wagons but the rear doors were omitted from the design.

Here are some examples. Out of this bunch Astra is the only one that I have ever seen with my own eyes.

Peugeot 204 Fourgonnette

Peugeot 403 Break Commerciale (I have no idea if the weird “hump” was factory installed)

Citroën GS Entreprise

Opel E1 Rekord Van

Opel F Astra Van

Of course t here were couple of these from the US as well. These seem to have survived in higher numbers.

Chevrolet Sedan Delivery 1958

Just Jeepin' > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 02/22/2020 at 16:51

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Anyone who comes here and is surprised by the LJ is dead to me.

Dead! What have I been talking about for years now? The only vehicle I’ve owned since I started writing here?

And I wouldn’t call it ultra-rare, but one specific incarnation is: the Rubihara/Saharicon.

Only 1000 ever produced.

https://www.cj-8.com/threads/newest-jeep-addition-2005-wrangler-unlimited-rubicon-sahara-rubihara.40148/

Just Jeepin' > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 02/22/2020 at 16:52

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Ahem .

WilliamsSW > Milky 02/22/2020 at 17:11

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The 1957-59 Ford Fairlane.

WilliamsSW > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 02/22/2020 at 17:22

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Going back a long ways, but the first one is an Impala- the only year a 2 door sedan was ever offered was 1961. Second one is a Bel Air 2 door hardtop which went all the way through 1962.

C armakers had a lot of body styles back then. 

Just Jeepin' > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 02/22/2020 at 18:03

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Also:  https://jalopnik.com/why-the-2004-to-2006-jeep-wrangler-unlimited-lj-is-the-1837831885

fhrblig > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 02/22/2020 at 18:06

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My favorite unicorn of the last 25 years is, for some reason, the Daewoo Nubira 5-door hatch. It was sold in the US for only one model year and they sold like 7 of them.

I secretly kind of hope to find one that’s not totally beat to hell some day.

They did sell a few more of the next generation here, as the Suzuki Reno.

SmugAardvark > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 02/22/2020 at 18:19

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Not incredibly rare, but also not super commonly seen in the States, I once had a Land Rover Freelander SE3 2-door.

The rear shell is fully removable, although the roof rails make it a bit like Tetris to get free and clear without dinging anything. But the result of removing it along with the two removable sunroof panels was a great open air sensation. Of course, the first time I went mudding after buying it, I had the roof off, and was left with a nice coat of muck on the entire interior.

You could also replace the hard shell with a soft top, but I only ever saw a couple of them in real life.

Also kind of neat, and definitely more rare to see (I have never actually seen one other than on the internet), there was a whole tent you could buy to mount in place of the hard shell, so you could camp up off the ground.

As mediocre as the Freelander was, I actually did enjoy it. Never broke down on me or got stuck anywhere.

This one was mine.

And hey, there’s my old SVX and former doggo in the background!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > WilliamsSW 02/23/2020 at 00:37

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Those hard top convertibles are stunning in person. SO much wasted trunk space! 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Milky 02/23/2020 at 00:38

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I'm sorry. I meant to cred you but forgot. I'll fix this tomorrow.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fhrblig 02/23/2020 at 00:39

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Daewoo and Suzuki both had some rare hatchback/two door/wagon variants of already low production cars. Like the Suzuki Esteem.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > kanadanmajava1 02/23/2020 at 00:41

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I actually have a picture of an old sedan delivery I could include. Thanks! So many possibilities.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > dogisbadob 02/23/2020 at 00:42

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The Toyota Echo had a hatchback? The two door sedan is also absurdly rare.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Just Jeepin' 02/23/2020 at 00:43

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Wait? Your Jeep is an LJ? How did I not know?

duurtlang > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 02/23/2020 at 02:28

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That Echo was the MK1 Yaris in Europe. 3 and 5 door hatchback only,  no sedan.

Edgyhal94 > SmugAardvark 02/23/2020 at 07:51

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I really want one in G4 colours, they look great in them. Over here in the U.K., the Freelander 1 isn’t rare at all (surprisingly considering the unreliability thing) but most of them are the five door versions. I’ve got a 1.8 manual 3 door and it’s basically better than my Range Rovers at most things. Roof wise, I don’t have the roll cage to contend with so I can do it pretty much by undoing it and then standing up in the boot and carrying it out. Genuinely wish Land Rover made a Discovery Sport 3 door with the same roof configuration, but oh well, I’ll just have to keep mine.

Also on rare variants, the Freelander 3 door was available in a commercial version. If I ever need a van, this is my first choice.

Plus that and it’s basically a pickup truck with the roof off.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > duurtlang 02/23/2020 at 08:12

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Am ericans were too shy for hatchbacks. We got some strangely proportioned sedans instead.

Echo is a better name than Yaris fight me. The car should still be called the Echo.

duurtlang > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 02/23/2020 at 08:17

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I saw one of those sedans in Europe once. Clearly USDM but it was wearing Dutch plates. You have to be special kind of weirdo to import one of those.

My grandfather (1925) had a late mk1 Yaris 5-door hatch , until shortly before his death  last month. The Yaris hatches are seen as old people cars already, so I understand they never offered the sedan.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > duurtlang 02/23/2020 at 08:32

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There are a few crazy utility fetishists in the US who might illegally import a hatchback  and slap on a US VIN, but what kind of freak do you have to be to go to such lengths to buy an illegal less functional version of an old person car?

duurtlang > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 02/23/2020 at 09:05

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We don’t have import limitations like that here. US market cars need a few modifications (lights, mostly) and they will need to be able to pass yearly emissions and safety inspections, but getting them legal is not a big deal. Still, a Toyota Echo is not the type of car to do all that effort for.

SmugAardvark > Edgyhal94 02/23/2020 at 14:41

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Wow, I’ve never seen the commercial van version. That’s pretty cool!

As for colors, almost all the ones I gave encountered here in America were black, white, or silver. I did notice more metallic orange ones after the mid-series redesign, but overall not too many.

Edgyhal94 > SmugAardvark 02/23/2020 at 15:11

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I do sorta want one, but given the fact I don’t need a van, I can’t justify one. Unless I start a company or something. The Freelander 1 is arguably the car that saved Land Rover, so even if it’s not the definitive Land Rover, it’s still important. Hell, the common statement about them in a lot of more serious Land Rover circles is “surprisingly capable.” Which is sort of the perfect sum up for them for me. No, they aren’t the best, but they are still good.

Just Jeepin' > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 02/23/2020 at 15:47

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In fairness, I couldn’t name more than 2-3 Oppo vehicles with any specificity. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Just Jeepin' 02/23/2020 at 15:51

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Is it as good as they  say it is? I know you’ve considered selling it after some electrical problems.

Just Jeepin' > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 02/23/2020 at 16:12

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It’s been terribly unreliable, combination of my ignorance and not having a mechanic I could trust to steer me straight, and just plain bad luck. It spends an average of a month every year out of commission, which is particularly annoying since it’ s all I own.

I still love it and wouldn’t seriously consider getting rid of it. Most days.

I wouldn’t mind better than 12mpg, but since I don’t have a functional odometer right now I can pretend I get much better than that! Good news/bad news.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Just Jeepin' 02/23/2020 at 16:20

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Sounds like the LJ has “personality.” There is a Jeep specialist shop I always pass that has about 50 early 2000s Jeeps out front at a time . And only one LJ. Is there not a Jeep specialist near you?

My mom’s unreliable Volvos led to the discovery of a great and genuinely honest mechanic that specializes in Swedes . You really need a specialist when you are swapping out an entire front subframe or an engine for an uncommon luxury car (both happened). But my entire family takes their cars to him because he just charges reasonable rates and is competent.