Most of the cars
I’ve wanted to import these three cars specifically to the United States for a while now, but alas, I cannot justify erasing the requisite funds on imported oddities from the UK and Germany. If I could, though, I would’ve done it already.
Maybe I’ll ask Santa.
This is probably the most mainstream “weird” car I’d want to import. The A2 is just a neat little machine with unconventional styling, and the original version weighed just under 2,000 pounds, which is pretty amazing given its stature. Unfortunately, it was never very popular because of its price of around $30,000 USD adjusted for inflation. Now they can be had for around $4,000, though.
It was expensive because an innovative space frame underpinned the A2, made almost entirely from aluminum. Thanks to this chassis and its unconventional rounded roofline, it had a ton of interior space. This rounded roofline was a staple of other VW Group products around this time period.
The engines were really nothing to speak of (that’ll be a trend in this list), but it would be a cool base for a project if nothing else. Audi just made its own electric A2 recently. Plus, it would look good in my driveway next to a first-gen Audi TT, which is also on my list.
This is probably a pretty miserable little car to own and drive, but I can’t help but love it anyway. The first-gen Ford Ka has big plastic wheel arches and angular light fixtures that make it stand out from other similarly-sized hatchbacks. Weighing under 2,000 pounds (just like the A2), none of its engines ever produced triple-digit horsepower.
The Ka was only ever available as a two-door, which also boosts its cool factor. And it only came with a five-speed manual transmission—the only transmission you need. A nice used Ka can be had all day long for $3,000.
Unfortunately, it’ll still be a few years before the sportier trims, like the SportKa and StreetKa, will be available to import. But I think the base model is just fine. It would be a great car to abuse and modify, and they can be had for extremely cheap.
I’ll come right out and say it: This is my favorite car on the list. The name Tigra is great. “Tiger” would’ve been too aggressive, but Tigra is just the sort of flamboyant silliness that works for a car like this. It’s fitting.
The first-gen Tigra looks unusual, inside and out. Like the Ka, it was only ever available as a two-door, but the Tigra was a slightly more upscale machine. Unlike today’s vehicles, much of the exterior flair is provided courtesy of unusually shaped glass. The driver and passenger’s windows have nothing close to straight edges…