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Our Two Cents: The Cutest Cars
Much as I gravitate toward the aggressive, chiseled visage of a C7 Corvette or the stoic, utilitarian look of a Scout II, I can’t help but crack a smile when I see a cute little car. Pint-sized proportions and designs that look like they were penned for a kid’s book will get me every time. Seems like the rest of the staff on the Hagerty Media team fall into the same camp—even Sajeev, though he did insist on picking a car with rectangular headlamps because brutalism, of course. Here are some of the cutest cars, according to us. Let us know which model’s cheek you’d pinch in the comments.
Crosley Farm-O-Road
There are plenty of cute European microcars out there, but nothing gets an “awww” out of me like Indiana’s own Crosley Farm-O-Road. It looks like an old military Jeep, shrunk down and cute-ified for maximum charm, but it was still designed for utility and marketed for its ability to do “big jobs on small farms and small jobs on large farms.”—Andrew Newton
Honda S600
For me, it’s absolutely the Honda S600. What a happy, adorable thing. But at the same time quite a serious, ambitious piece of engineering that bridged Honda’s motorcycle and automotive efforts. The simple interior and delicate but slab-sided body panels belie the engineering complexity underneath: a fully independent suspension, quad-carb four-cylinder displacing 606cc (with a 9500-rpm limiter), and a curb weight under 1600 pounds. These are rare, special cars from a brand ultimately known for expert mass production.—Eric Weiner
Fiat Abarth Race Cars
To me, racing Fiats like the Abarth 850 and 1000 TC look like little kids who put on a determined face and dash headlong into one of those soccer scrums where they all chase the ball indiscriminately up and down the field. Adorable yet serious at the same time, you just can’t help but be captivated by their low-speed, high-drama antics.—Eddy Eckart
Citroën Karin
Hey, did you hear that The Brutalist movie won three Oscars? I wouldn’t know if it’s any good (I need a longer attention span for that movie), but it will help people appreciate the fact that the Citroën Karin is the cutest vehicle ever known to humankind. Round headlights and adorable faces do not equate to cute for me, and I will die on this minimalist hill!—Sajeev Mehta
Autozam AZ-1
Am I picking the Autozam AZ-1 because it was in the front-office drum the last time I walked past Hagerty HQ here in Traverse City? Perhaps. But my goodness, what a joyous little car. The gullwing doors! The pint-size mid-engine proportions! Everything about this seems designed to offer a caricature of the mid-engine sports car experience but in a footprint that feels remarkably usable. I have to imagine that driving one is akin to knocking back a double shot of espresso. I reckon it’s impossible to have a bad day while zipping around in one of these things.—Nathan Petroelje
Jeep FC-150
All the forward-control trucks of the 1960s are cute as can be, but the narrow stance of the Jeep FC-150 puts it above the rest: The little knobby front tires are tucked so far beneath the body, and the front and rear axles are only 81 inches apart! Add to that the round headlights and two-tone “face” … the utilitarian FC-150 had no reason to be this adorable. If I had enough property to need a maneuverable run-about that could occasionally haul with, I would get an FC, no question about it.—Grace Jarvis
Nash Metropolitan
As a child, I wasn’t aware that cute cars were even a thing, until my Delta-flight-attendant cousin pointed one out while we were driving through town. “Those are so cute!” she exclaimed. “I want one!” It’s appropriate that she was a woman, as the Nash Metropolitan was the first car heavily marketed to women: Its first spokesperson was Miss America of 1954, and the car was advertised in Women’s Wear Daily. The tiny Metro, built in Britain, apparently wasn’t a bad car—the top auto writer of the day, Tom Cahill, took a ’57 model on a tour of America that covered nearly 3000 miles, including up Pikes Peak, and afterward wrote, “I can’t praise the Metropolitan too highly. It is a fascinating little car to drive.” I wouldn’t know; never did. But when I hear “cute car,” this is what I think of.—Steven Cole Smith
Autobianchi Bianchina Trasformabile
I saw an Autobianchi Bianchina Trasformabile at an auction several years ago, and I haven’t been able to shake the image since. Essentially a tiny coupe with a rollback roof, its name is longer than the car itself. They first appeared in 1957, utilizing a Fiat 500 chassis and powertrain, and over the next few years other variants hit the streets—a two-door sedan, a two-door wagon, a panel van, and a cabriolet—all of them cute. They were incredibly popular little cars, with about 275,000 of all body styles built through 1970. They all had character lines that formed shallow coves in the doors, much like C1 Corvettes, and my favorite Trasformabiles are the ones that had two-tone paintwork. Adorabile!—Stefan Lombard
Hard to argue with most of the staff’s picks. Most. A Karin?? Apparently Lincoln never made a cute car. I’m partial to an original Mini, and a Bug-eye will win hearts all over town. But my all-time fave was my 1970 Fiat 850 Sedan. Loved everything about that car, but especially the high dose of cuteness.
Some Mercury Comets are pretty cute, but I have committed myself to modernism in car design!
Then I suppose you’re putting the Cybertruck in second place behind the Citroen? 🙄
In a dream world I will get to park a CT next to the Karin and do a Vellum Venom on the pairing. Because its clear which one spent countless hours receiving “surfacing” from its parents before conception, and which one did not.
Well you’re the one espousing minimalism, so the one with the minimal amount of “surfacing” wins, right? 😜
Nice. But no, not for something that has to move through the air at significant speed. (Or through the water, but we aren’t talking about boats!)
I hope you get to visit your perfect world someday, and I’ll enjoy reading the Vellum Venom column even though I don’t like either of the vehicles that’ll be featured!
Hey Guys! Get a room!! (lol!!).
None can compare to an “American Bantam” Roadster 1938-1940
And is a complete American made car.
Based on a completely English Austin seven
My ’70 fiat 850 is the Racer. Like the 850 roadster, but with a fixed hardtop. Mine has been in pieces stored away since the mid 70’s. It is complete though. Procrastination at its finest!
I am very partial to the Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite, due in large part to owning a 1959 Bugeye. Always puts a smile at car shows wherever I go. Have owned it for over 33 years, with no plans on selling it.
I am an old guy in my 70s and so far in life, I have never been interested in driving a “CUTE” vehicle.
You have time.
The Bug Eye and the Mini! Apparently there’s a fine line between butt ugly and cute on some of these choices.
I rode in Nash Metropolitan when I was 14 or 15 yrs. old. It was a new one. The owner was 19, we were in the Civil Air Patrol in the Detroit area. He had it on 90 mph while I was riding in the small back seat. I was surprised that it would go that fast. We were on I-94 after leaving Detroit Metro Airport. The Air National Guard had F-86 Sabre jets parked all over the the place. My favorite looking jet!
Bugeye in the lead image FTW
Agreed!!!
Clearly, thank you! Some folks may have their thinking clouded by memories of other cars, but objectively that cartoon face is a hands winner. If one were witting a children’s book the frog eye would be a clear winner!
Yep! Can’t beat a bugeye Sprite in this contest, although the CinqueCento is a close second
The article was doomed with that picture. They are small and have such a happy face. How can it no win.
In some markets (the UK), the car was known as the ‘Frogeye’ Sprite..
Bugeye is a ‘cuter’ name…
“Frog-Eye” = RHD / “Bug-Eye” = LHD. The only thing happier that an Austin in the garage is 12 of them in a 2 1/2 car garage. I know because we did it. 7 “Bug’s” , 4 “Frog’s” and 1 “Jet-Eye” …A “Bug” with a 289 Cobra-Jet transplant that was my favorite sleeper of all time.
How can you not include the VW ‘ Bug’ as its nickname suggests. With a set of online available eyelashes even more so. Have you forgot about Herbie?
‘Cause “bugs” are cute? 😁
Bugs ARE cute! 🐞
I second the lovebug. I’d also put forward the NA Miata!
MX5’s nice but seriously, use the OG – Lotus Elan.
Lady Bugs? Someone must have done that paint job. Even though I think they are carnivorous.
There’s the Bugeye Sprite, everything else is a distant second.
The Crosley Farm-O-Road reminds me of a puppy.
Now that you mention it…
Didn’t Rip drive one of those on Yellowstone?
Didn’t Rip drive one of those on Yellowstone?..
A female friend has a low mileage (7000 mi.) 58 Metro and a Nissan Figaro, she love her littles. I makes me kinda crazy when women call my MGB cute (400hp SBC, custom chassis suspension, 4-speed)
Pretty sure all MGB’s are 4-speeds and they are cute. There’s nothing remotely handsome about a MGB, a TR6 on the other hand is definitely NOT cute.
Some MGB’s came with a 5th gear overdrive.
The overdrive unit on an MGB works on third and fourth gear. So 6 speeds of fun.
Yes, I thought a Figaro should have been on the list… and re: 400HP_MGB …as one who has created a sleeper… you can’t get too upset when they’re called “cute”. You asked for it…
Because “Bugs” are still everywhere most common car ever made. Cute they were til we tired of them. It’s my opinion that the “just” of the article was tilt the ones we may have forgot about. I’m inline on the bugeye sprite mention.
1st place – Bugeye Sprite absolute joy to drive when properly maintained, 2nd place – Metropolitan (series III and IV) not much fun to drive. 3rd place – Austin/Morris Cooper. I currently own a Bugeye and have owned a Metropolitan, an all original Austin Cooper Mark II, and a slew of other British sports cars over the years. For pure driving fun, the Sprite and the Cooper were in a class by themselves.
When I was a teen a friend had a Hudson Air flite which was a rebadged Metropolitan Never heard of one since. He said they only made 600 of them
Since I have one I have to go with the Bugeye. It’s my second one. I owned my first one for 23 years and have now fixed that mistake.
A Mazda MX-5 NC comin’ down the road atcha’ looks like a cartoon mouse.
I agree totally. I own a 2010 NC and it is the most fun to drive of any vehicle I have ever owned!
I prefer Dagmars.
Impact-bumper (74-89) Porsche 911s! The cars came out of the factory wearing a wide smile under their big, round, lovable ‘eyes’.
Cute….How about the BMW Isetta. I know it is a three wheeler but still adorable in looks.
Most Isettas had four wheels. I always found them interesting, especially on how one entered.
3 Wheel Isettas were built for markets where they would be licensed as motorcycles vs cars–usually at a considerable savings.
There were other Isetta-like cars (Heinkel Kabinroller comes to mind) that were only available as three wheelers.
Gotta be the Sprite!! I built one out of spare parts over 56 years ago as a 15 year old!
I’m partial to the Bug eye and the Abarth but give me any of them and you’ll get a 😁. Too old to make difficult decisions.