When you think about it, vehicles are rather peculiar things. They’re large metal boxes with wheels, carrying everything from people to horses and gardening supplies. That being said, there are some road warriors that stand out as being genuinely brilliant – if a little peculiar!
Just as a Thai TukTuk may seem strange to us, our motorhomes may appear odd to others, take a look at these 9 weird and wonderful vehicles you might just come across.
1. Thailand: TukTuk
The TukTuk is immediately recognisable for its colourful exterior and flamboyant three-wheeled frame (often with a little metal or canvas roof). If you head to Thailand, you’re likely to find these speeding around all over the country, bustling with tourists and locals.
http://thai-night-tours.com/thailand-regions/central-thailand/bangkok/patpong/
2. UK: The Hedgehog
This compact little caravan might look like a leftover from World War I but it’s actually a charming solution for the size-conscious holidaymaker. Only 5ft high and 9ft long, it might not win awards for luxury but it certainly looks like it could withstand whatever nature throws at it! Not to mention there are some nice deals on insuring a Hedgehog! If you own one of these you may want to check out The Caravan Club to protect your little Hedgehog.
3. China: Rickshaw
Similar to the TukTuk, rickshaws are excellent choices for skimming through traffic and negotiating the busy city streets of China, India and many other places. Some models offer travellers a little privacy with a small curtain which can be drawn (useful if you happen to be a celebrity opting for cheaper transport).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Auto-rickshaw_in_Haikou_-_02.jpg
4. Japan: Nissan Pivo2
Despite the deceptively straightforward name, the Pivo2 is anything but normal. The glass dome can travel forward, backwards and sideways – making parallel parking a breeze. Plus it comes with its own on-board robot. What more could you want?!
http://www.tofugu.com/2012/03/08/japanese-concept-cars/
5. Guatemala: Chicken buses
If it looks like these colourful creations resemble American school buses – that’s no accident: most of them started out that way. Repainted and often refitted to squeeze in as many people as possible (like chickens, hence the name) riding in these bright machines is certainly an experience – though not one you’d necessarily want to have twice.
http://guatemalanchickenbuses.com/photographs_for_ios
6. Dubai: eleMMent Palazzo
This is definitely going on our wish list. Dubai’s commitment to luxury reaches new heights with this spectacular motorhome built with celebrities and royalty in mind. It includes a 40 inch TV, sky lounge and pop-up cocktail bar. At £2 million it might be just out of budget for most of us though.
7. UK: Peel P50
Going from the very big to the mesmerizingly small, the Peel P50 was originally manufactured during the 1960s – but it remains fully compliant with UK road law. We’d love to try one out but we value our legroom too much. Still, there’s nothing better if you need to fit into a tight parking spot!
8. Germany: Colim
While it might look like something from Thunderbirds, Germany’s in a league of its own when it comes to fuel-efficient vehicles. The Colim fully detaches from its caravan base, blurring the line between car and motorhome. We love it! Just don’t forget where you left the other half…
http://www.ecofriend.com/eco-cars-colim-a-caravan-with-a-removable-car-promotes-fuel-efficiency.html
9. America: Peugeot Capsule
This isn’t from a computer game: it’s real” Coming with full internet connectivity, GPS systems and LCD TV screens, the Peugeot Capsule is the ideal choice when you’ve got to escape some zombies in an off-road environment.
http://www.yankodesign.com/2009/05/27/the-great-escape-pod/
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