10 Weirdest Official Accessories from Car Companies

We’re used to seeing certain features and options on cars. Air conditioning, Apple CarPlay, and heated seats are all pretty normal, but this doesn’t stop brands from having more unconventional offerings. 

Branded clothing, travel mugs, and other merch are also expected, and while Bugatti perfumes and Aston Martin beds are absurd, they have nothing to do with actual cars. This article looks at official car brand accessories directly meant to interact with the vehicle or a specific model, but because we love weirdness, these ones stick out for being unusual and downright bizarre.

Hummer H2 Bicycle  

As absurd as the Hummer H2 was, a matching folding military bike certainly added to its image. Montague Bikes is a maker of folding paratrooper bikes for the U.S. military, and considering the Hummer was also military-inspired, there is some logic to this addition. The bike was sold as an option that folded perfectly into the Hummer’s trunk and was offered in the same colours as the Hummer’s exterior. In the absurd world of Hummer, this bike was a perfect match for such an extravagant vehicle. 

Honda City Scooter 

The Honda City was a small economy hatchback intended for city driving. It was never sold in North America. For the City's first generation, Honda offered a little folding 50-cc, 2.5-horsepower scooter that perfectly fit in the trunk of the Honda City called the Motocompo. The idea was to park your car on the city outskirts and use the scooter to deal with heavy downtown congestion. How many people used the scooter for this purpose is up for debate, but it certainly makes for a cool option. 

Pontiac Aztek Tent and Mattress

The Pontiac Aztek was marketed as an outdoor recreational vehicle for young people. Activities like mountain biking and camping were highlighted in the promotional material for the Aztek, so it only made sense for it to come with some outdoorsy features like a tent and mattress for your camping needs. Both were specially designed to fit the Aztek, with the mattress perfectly fitting in the trunk when the seats were folded. The downfall is the tent and how haphazard it looked placed on the back of the SUV’s already awkward rear end. These accessories were pretty useful, however, especially if used as advertised. 

Honda CR-V Shower

 Via Cookies Classics/YouTube

Today’s Honda CR-V is a very different vehicle than it used to be. Much like the Aztek, the first-generation CR-V was geared towards outdoor recreation, a growing trend in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The CR-V was optioned with flat folding front and rear seats that turned into a bed and Honda even offered a built-in picnic table. Sticking to the theme, the CR-V was available with the ultimate home convenience: a shower. It was powered through the 12-volt outlet and could be mounted on the trunk lid. This is a great accessory because the ability to shower is a big help in outdoor comfort. 

Plymouth Prowler Trailer 

A trailer is not a weird accessory, and a trailer for a sports car is a little odd, but a trailer shaped like the back of your sports car is outright weird, and this is exactly what was offered for the Plymouth Prowler. Having a car’s trailer match the car has always been a popular aftermarket modification, but it was rarely offered as a factory option. The Prowler was a modern take on the classic hotrod, and it was Plymouth's last-ever car. The trailer of the Prowler perfectly matched the rear end of the car both in colour and proportion, making it appear as if the Prowler was cut in half. It was definitely a quirky addition to an already very quirky car. 

Toyota Van Ice Maker 

Fridges are not uncommon in ultra-luxury cars. Many Maybach, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce models offer a small fridge just big enough for a champagne bottle. But why should the rich get all the cold beverages? In the 1980s, Toyota sold a van imaginatively named the Toyota Van with an optional ice maker. The Van was more of a camper than a minivan, especially where it was sold in Europe. This accessory is far superior to those little fridges offered by luxury automakers because the ability to make any drink cold at any time is awesome. 

Fiat 500 L Espresso Maker 

Fiat loves to play into its Italian roots, with Italian flags in the interior and collaborations with Gucci reminding buyers that Fiat is an Italian brand. Nothing is quite more Italian than a strong espresso, according to Fiat. For the 500L, Fiat offered an espresso maker you could conveniently plug into the 12V outlet that would fit perfectly in the cup holder. This accessory is so wacky that it almost makes perfect sense — why leave the car for a caffeine boost when it can be at arm's reach?

BMW Fax Machines

Via BMW Group Classic/YouTube

The 1980s were a time when luxury cars were changing their focus. For years, build quality and materials were the focus of automakers, but in the 1980s, car technology quickly gained prominence. Car phones and electronic displays made it into several luxury cars, especially Mercedes models. Not to be outclassed in technology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, BMW offered a fax machine in its 5 and 7 Series models. The idea was that these models would be purchased by businessmen who would always need to be available. The combination of a phone and fax machine in a BMW made it a compelling mobile office, especially if it was powered by a V12. 

Toyota Century Lace Seat Covers

Via Doug Demuro/YouTube

The Toyota Century was never officially sold in North America. It was a high-end offering sold in Japan that rivalled Bentley or Rolls-Royce and was intended for Japanese businessmen and government officials who didn’t want to be seen in a foreign car. The Century’s approach to luxury was a little different from its European counterparts, with wool rather than leather lining the interior and the seats being adorned by finely detailed lace covers, just like at grandma’s house. Joking aside, this is an alternative approach to luxury with a greater emphasis on comfort. The Century's interior evokes a feeling closer to a living room than a jetliner, and the lace covers are the cherry on top. 

Ferrari F430 16M Scuderia Ipod Touch 

Car infotainment has evolved immensely in the past 20 years, with every function imaginable now done through a touchscreen. In the 2000s, this was far from the case, especially considering Ferrari’s infotainment option in the F430 Scuderia 16M. It was offered with a Ferrari-branded, second-gen iPod Touch that could be mounted and removed in the middle of the dashboard. The iPod functioned as expected, being able to take pictures, download music, and do anything else that a regular iPod could. When delivered, it came in its own carbon fibre briefcase and with a leather Ferrari-branded holder. It is absurd to think that this much effort was put into the iPod, especially considering how quickly it became outdated.