What Are The Weirdest Car Keys Ever?

"saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars" (saabstory) 01/12/2014 at 19:33 • Filed to: KEYLOPNIK

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Top Gear posted this story on their website:

http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/Top-…

I think that last time we did a best keys list, the winners were mostly the same as this list, but I got to thinking: what are the craziest, zaniest, most esoteric car keys on the planet? So, Oppo... what are they?

CPT Speedbump > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/12/2014 at 19:39

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One of my favorite parts of my 65' Beetle :) (number 3 on the list)

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/12/2014 at 19:46

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That is awesome! I've never seen a neon key before!

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/12/2014 at 19:48

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2004 Pontiac GTO.

Yes, it is really that big.

cbell04 > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/12/2014 at 19:54

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Saturn's credit card emergency key. Buddy had one way back. As far as I was concerned at the time this was about as good of a back up plan as you could have.

Jay Lauer > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/12/2014 at 19:58

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Take your pick really.

There's Mercedes new "Key that's not really a key" that they use on everything.

Or the 04 STi Key. It's made of titanium and just feels right. That the only way to describe it: It feels right

KB Garage > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/12/2014 at 19:58

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Had one of these for my '71 F-100. Worked like a charm.

Your boy, BJR > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/12/2014 at 20:06

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Not too crazy but the lumpy shape of my 2002's key always weirded me out.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > cbell04 01/12/2014 at 20:14

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That's genius.

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > Your boy, BJR 01/12/2014 at 20:17

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That is really weird. Somehow it reminds me of the uncanny valley, but I really like these keys.

Boxer_4 > cbell04 01/12/2014 at 20:18

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A lot of car companies did that in the 90's and early 00's. I still have the one from our old 99 Camry, even though we don't have the car anymore.

Your boy, BJR > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/12/2014 at 20:19

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My favorite is how it says "FAHRT" and "HALT" on the ignition instead of "start" and "stop"

dogisbadob > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/12/2014 at 20:20

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I think it's weird that keys cost $300 when they shouldn't cost more than $5

ttyymmnn > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/12/2014 at 20:24

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Older Chrysler keys in general, because they went in upside down (IIRC).

M54B30 > cbell04 01/12/2014 at 20:50

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I'll do you one better - my 530i has it and it's chipped... Not broken chipped, like it has a microchip in it

Takuro Spirit > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/12/2014 at 20:53

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Had one of these for my '95 Neon. They glowed in the dark.

Weirdest key I made was an old Nissan key for my Subaru. Shafts were the same, but I liked the Nissan head more.

Rainbow > cbell04 01/12/2014 at 21:06

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Found one at pull-a-part, but it was solid plastic. Key and all. I put it in the door, and.... Surprise! It broke!

cbell04 > Rainbow 01/12/2014 at 21:30

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Found that image on the Google but now that you mentioned it pretty sure my buddies was 100 plastic too. Only recall because the one time I saw him use it he was super gentle and it was truly as thin as a credit card.

cbell04 > Boxer_4 01/12/2014 at 21:41

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Figured it couldn't possibly be unique to Saturn as Saturn was just another gm offshoot but wasn't aware that as many offered it as did. And as mentioned in the thread some were even micro chipped so I'm guessing to bypass alarms or maybe even start the car(not on old school gm 2 key system one to open the door another to start the car credit card key was door only). Still a cool simple solution to being locked out.

cbell04 > M54B30 01/12/2014 at 21:45

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So would it start the car? Old gm products used a 2 key system one to open doors and another completely different key to start the car. The credit card key was door only in this case.

M54B30 > cbell04 01/12/2014 at 21:57

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Yep. Really flimsy though - you'll definitely be looking for your regular key when you nervously twist it in the ignition. My generation of 5 series can only have 10 keys programmed to them and this one counted towards them.

Agrajag > ttyymmnn 01/12/2014 at 22:31

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Why you gotta be so weird Y152?

boxrocket > dogisbadob 01/14/2014 at 09:53

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Some have built-in transponders or chips as an anti-theft measure, hence the price increase. I agree though that replacement non-electronic keys should be pretty cheap That said, if one goes to a hardware store to have a key duplicated, it's usually less than $5, but may not be a precise fit: case in point, I had an '89 Camry Wagon that had a bent key and was very soft from years of use by the prior owner, so I went to Lowe Depot and had them cut one. The cut was successful, but the key itself was slightly too fat, so it would work in the door, but not the ignition.

boxrocket > John Norris (AngryDrifter) 01/14/2014 at 09:57

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I also came here to say that. We got one on our lot a couple weeks ago and it was mind-boggling how big and awkward the keys are. And of course the buttons have fallen apart and need a very firm deep press to function.