This week, Citroen has been turning heads with the reveal of a concept car called the Cactus M, a convertible based on the C4 Cactus. While the original C4 Cactus has made distinct styling features one of its key selling points, this convertible version is still a rather surprising take on the French crossover.
It’s also reminiscent of the upcoming Range Rover Evoque Convertible, set to go on sale during next year. Though this car has been rumoured for a long time, it is still a very unconventional creation from Land Rover with virtually no direct rivals.
Here at Car Keys, models like these have got us thinking about some of the other unusual, unexpected convertible cars that have wowed the crowds.
Digging through what manufacturers have come up in the past turned up some results that could be described as odd, risky or just hilarious.
Here then is our look at ten of the most unusual convertible cars ever made.
Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
Remember the Nissan Murano? It is currently available in America but it was pulled from the British car market back in 2011. In the same year it was pulled here, Nissan started selling an outlandish convertible version of its crossover, called the Cross Cabriolet.
Were any motorists in Britain disappointed that the Morano was pulled before they could get their hands on the CrossCabriolet? Let us know on our Facebook or Twitter page.
Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible
Chrysler’s PT Cruiser hatchback, first introduced in 2000, had an unorthodox look from launch, thanks to its bulbous shape and protruding grille. Then the American manufacturer released this four-seat, two-door convertible version, but production only lasted between 2005 and 2007.
It wasn’t exactly a hit in Britain either. In 2013, Top Gear magazine named the PT Cruiser Convertible as the worst car of the last twenty years.
Citroen C3 Pluriel
Nowadays Citroen’s premium sub-brand, DS, offers the stylish DS 3 Cabrio for those after a small car that combines a fashionable design with wind in your hair motoring.
Before this, however, Citroen had a crack at turning the first generation C3 supermini into a fashionable convertible, but the results it’s fair to say were less successful. Sold between 2003 and 2010, the C3 Pluriel was an affordable route to convertible driving. To go roofless, however, the car’s roof rails had to be removed by hand and there was nowhere to leave these bits on-board. That meant you had to leave them at home or in your garge.
Ford StreetKa
Coming close to the end of its production run, Ford looked to expand the appeal of its first generation Ka city car by creating new derivatives. One of these new versions was a convertible called the StreetKa, an intriguing step for a car that mostly appealed to young first-time buyers.
Ford heavily marketed the StreetKa towards women and even got pop star Kylie Minogue to promote it in adverts.
Suzuki X-90
The Suzuki X-90 may look likes what happens when someone messes with a picture of an SUV on Photoshop, but it was built from the ground up as a two-door coupe or convertible.
Besides the exterior shape, another unusual thing about this car is it’s an off-roader but can only seat two people. This idea hasn’t really caught on with other manufactures since the X-90 ceased production in 1997.
Isuzu VehiCROSS VX-02
The Isuzu VehiCROSS was a compact SUV made between 1997 and 2001 and sold in the Japanese and American markets.
At the 2000 LA Motor Show, Isuzu hinted at expanding the SUV’s range with a coupe version and a roadster version seen here, called the VehiCROSS VX-O2. Even though the body panels make it look ginormous, this concept could only seat two people. Ultimately it didn’t build up enough enthusiastic responses to trigger a production run.
MINI Moke
The Moke may be based on the original, iconic MINI but only the shape of the headlights and its tiny size could give away that fact. This low-cost utility vehicle with minimal bodywork emerged from an initial design to create a lightweight military vehicle similar to the Jeep.
While the British military preferred to drive Land Rovers, the Moke did find success as a beach buggy and became a cult hit at many tropical resorts.
Nissan Figaro
The Nissan Figaro may look like a coupe that would fit into the 1950s or 1960s, but it was actually built between 1991 and 1992. The Figaro is based on the Nissan Micra, but you’d probably never guess that from looking at it.
Only 20,000 units were built and its rarity and distinct appearance has made it rather popular in Britain. Famous people who have owned a Figaro include Eric Clapton, Joss Stone, Andrew Marr and Vanessa Feltz.
Chevrolet SSR
Ever wondered what a convertible pickup truck would like? Chevrolet gave us an answer when they produced the SSR (Super Sport Roadster) between 2003 and 2006. Featuring a metal folding roof, the two-seater SSR also sported a very long metal cover that covered the entire loading bay.
Interestingly, Chevrolet first introduced the SSR to the public in a TV advert directed by Michael Bay. Surprisingly, considering Bay’s involvement, no explosions were included in the film.
Chrysler Crossfire Roadster
When Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the Chrysler Crossfire in coupe form, he said the shape of it resembled the stance a dog takes when doing a number two.
The Crossfire Roadster did have a more flattering design but still received mostly negative reviews from critics and was retired after four years of production.
