The Toyota iQ’s rear-window curtain airbag deployed from the roof lining above the back glass. Developed to help protect rear passengers’ heads in a rear-end collision, it addressed an obv
On Škodas equipped with a door umbrella compartment, the holder is designed to accommodate a wet umbrella and let water drain outside the car. Availability and location vary by model, so check
Honda launched the City and Motocompo together in Japan in 1981. The Motocompo was a small petrol-powered scooter designed to fold down and travel inside the City’s luggage compartment. The two
What was the Renault Safrane Biturbo? It was a high-performance version of Renault’s luxury flagship, developed with Hartge and Irmscher. A twin-turbo V6 drove all four wheels, while the body re
What was the 1996 Toyota Classic? It was a limited-run sedan inspired by the 1936 Toyoda Model AA, built on a Hilux pickup chassis. Toyota produced 100 examples, combining period-style bodywork and ca
Open the boot of most small cars from the 1960s and you would expect shopping, a spare wheel or perhaps a toolbox. In a Citroën 2CV Sahara, the engine would be taking up much of that space. The o
A Porsche with oars sounds like something its owner bought after an unfortunate encounter with a flooded road. In the 1950s, however, Porsche was developing a vehicle for which getting into the water
The Ford Nucleon looks as though someone moved the passengers forward to make room for a very important piece of luggage. Its cabin sits near the nose, leaving an enormous rear section between the fin
On some older cars, each headlight wears a wiper blade small enough to look like a toy. It can be an amusing sight now, particularly when one blade has stopped halfway across the lamp. The equipment h
A flower vase seems like an unlikely thing to find beside a car’s speedometer. It cannot tell you whether the engine is overheating, help you find your way home or hold a takeaway coffee. Yet a