The Weirdest Things Car Brands Have Ever Made
When you think of car brands, you probably think of hatchbacks, SUVs, supercars, vans and maybe the occasional concept car that looks like it escaped from a sci-fi film.
But behind the scenes, some of the world’s biggest car names have made things that have absolutely nothing to do with normal driving. We’re talking pepper mills, sausages, robots, boats, aircraft and even self-parking office chairs.
Yes, really.
So, let’s take a look at some of the strangest, funniest and most unexpected things car brands have ever made.
Peugeot made Pepper Mills before it made Cars
Before Peugeot became known for cars like the 208, 3008 and 408, the brand was busy making something you are more likely to find on a dinner table than a driveway.
Peugeot’s history with mills goes right back to the 1800s, with the brand producing coffee grinders and later pepper mills long before it became a major car manufacturer.
That means there is a very real chance someone knew Peugeot as a kitchen brand before anyone knew it as a car brand.
Imagine telling someone their pepper grinder has the same badge heritage as their family SUV. Very classy. Very French. Very random.
Lamborghini started with Tractors
This one still feels fake, but it is absolutely true.
Before Lamborghini became the poster brand for shouty V12 supercars, dramatic doors and bedroom wall posters, Ferruccio Lamborghini built tractors.
Lamborghini Trattori was founded before Automobili Lamborghini, and the tractor side of the name still exists today. So yes, the same name associated with the Aventador and Huracán also belongs on farm machinery.
To be fair, if any tractor brand was going to end up creating some of the most dramatic supercars ever made, Lamborghini feels about right.
Volkswagen made millions of Sausages
Volkswagen might be famous for the Golf, Polo, Beetle and Transporter, but one of its most iconic products is not a car at all.
It is currywurst.
Volkswagen’s own currywurst has become a proper cult item in Germany, served in its factory restaurants and sold more widely in some places. Even better, it has reportedly had its own official Volkswagen part number.
So technically, somewhere in the Volkswagen universe, a sausage is treated with the same level of seriousness as a car part.
That might be the most German thing ever written.
Honda built a Private Jet
Honda does not just make Civics, Jazzes, HR-Vs and motorbikes. Honda also went full “why not?” and built its own business jet.
The HondaJet is a light private aircraft created by Honda Aircraft Company, proving that Honda’s idea of mobility stretches a little further than the M6 on a Friday afternoon.
It is sleek, clever and very Honda, but it is still funny to think that the same brand behind reliable family hatchbacks also makes something you can casually fly through the sky.
From school run to runway. Lovely.
Toyota made a Violin-Playing Robot
Toyota is one of the biggest car makers in the world, but it has also explored robotics in some very unusual ways.
One of its most memorable creations was a violin-playing robot, shown as part of Toyota’s Partner Robot project. It was designed to demonstrate precise movement and human-assist technology, but from the outside, it still looks like Toyota woke up one day and decided cars were not enough.
A Toyota that can play the violin sounds like something from a children’s TV show, but somehow it happened.
Mazda started with Cork
Before Mazda became known for rotary engines, MX-5s and stylish SUVs, it started life as a cork manufacturer.
The company began as Toyo Cork Kogyo in Hiroshima in 1920, producing cork products before moving into machinery and eventually vehicles.
That means Mazda’s story did not begin with a sports car, a saloon or even a tiny city car. It began with cork.
It is a strange little fact, but also quite a cool one. From cork to cars to the MX-5 is a seriously unexpected journey.
Nissan made Self-Parking Office Chairs
Nissan once created self-parking office chairs as a clever way to show off its parking assist technology.
The idea was simple: clap your hands and the chairs would move themselves neatly back into position around a table.
Was it necessary? Absolutely not.
Was it brilliant? Completely.
It was basically the office version of a car parking itself, and honestly, every messy meeting room could probably do with this technology.
Toyota also makes Boats
Toyota does not just stick to roads. It has also been involved in marine products, including leisure boats.
Through Toyota Marine, the brand has applied some of its car-making knowledge to boats, with models designed for cruising, fishing and marine sports.
So if you thought Toyota only made sensible cars, hybrids and family SUVs, think again. Somewhere out there, Toyota is also helping people have a very calm day on the water.
Subaru makes Helicopters
Subaru is best known for all-wheel-drive estates, rally legends and outdoorsy SUVs, but Subaru Corporation also has an aerospace division.
That side of the business has worked on aircraft and helicopters, including utility helicopters used in Japan.
So while most people think of Subaru as muddy lanes, boxer engines and rally blue paint, there is also a much more serious aircraft side to the company.
A Subaru that flies is not quite the WRX comeback everyone asked for, but it is still pretty cool.
BMW helped design Olympic Bobsleds
BMW has not only worked on cars and motorbikes. Its design expertise has also been used in sport, including bobsled design.
BMW Designworks has been involved with Olympic bobsled projects, using aerodynamics and advanced materials to help create seriously fast sleds.
It makes sense when you think about it. A bobsled is basically speed, shape, grip and bravery with no engine.
Still, BMW working on an Olympic sled sounds like something made up by someone who really loves carbon fibre.
So, are Car Brands secretly just bored?
Maybe a little.
But that is what makes this so interesting. Car brands are not always just building cars. Some started in totally different industries, while others used their engineering skills to create things that feel miles away from the showroom.
Peugeot made pepper mills. Lamborghini made tractors. Volkswagen made sausages. Honda made jets. Toyota made a robot that plays the violin.
The car world is weird, and honestly, it is better that way.
Credits
Credits to Shutterstock Dominque James for the image of Peugeot Pepper Mill
Credits to Shutterstock Lamborghini Tratorri for the image of a lamborghini tractor
Credits to Volkswagen for image of Volkswagen Currywurst
Credits to Hondajet for image of a Honda Jet
Credits to Toyota for image of a robot playing to a violin
Credits to Nissan for image of a self parking chair
Credits to Toyota for image of a Toyota Boat
Credits to Subaru for image of a Subaru Helicopter
Credits to BMW for image of a BMW Bobsled
Credits to Food Impressions for image of currywurst sausage
Credits to Shutterstock New Africa for image of Pepper Mill
Credits to Shutterstock Valentyn Volkov for image of Corks
