Encyclopedia Hoonatica: Asymmetrical Grilles

By Peter Tanshanomi Sep 14, 2015

Bertone Volvo Tundra, 1979
Two weeks back, our How & Why Wonder Book of Hooning examined dashboard asymmetry. The next day, in Antti’s profile of the DMC-BX, faithful Hooniverse commenter Sjalabais posted this photo of the ill-fated Bertone-Volvo Tundra of 1979, a car that was never put in production because a few level-headed Swedes couldn’t quite understand the Italian concept that ending up with a car full of random shapes and odd angles was justification for using a bunch of random shapes and odd angles (something the French could totally get into, it turns out). But forget all that. The important thing is that that photo prompted a spontaneous discussion of asymmetrical grilles, and why they aren’t really a thing.
But how much of a thing are they actually not? That is what I’d like you all to answer today. Your hoonatically significant task is to compile a list of all the cars with asymmetrical grilles and/or front facia.
The Caveats (there are always caveats):

  • For all those looking for loopholes, I am specifically looking for cars that eschew the typical bilateral, right-left symmetry we’ve come to expect. Asymmetry on a horizontal axis (top to bottom) is a given.
  • We’re talking about deliberate asymmetry. Incidental details are excluded.
  • We all realize that Volvo’s iconic diagonal slash is, itself, asymmetrical. And now that we have established that, let’s not list every Volvo car and truck ever.

Difficulty: Half a league out and six points off the starboard bow.
How This Works: Read the comments first and don’t post duplicates. Bonus points for adding photos. Remember, you can simply paste in the raw image URL now, thanks to the magic of Disqus.
Image Source: carstyling.ru

By Peter Tanshanomi

Tanshanomi is Japanese [単車のみ] for "motorcycle(s) only." Though primarily tasked with creating two-wheel oriented content for Hooniverse, Pete is a lover of all sorts of motorized vehicles.

0 thoughts on “Encyclopedia Hoonatica: Asymmetrical Grilles”
    1. You beat me to it (them). The Escort GT was the first thing that came to mind.
      edit: And I’m really struggling to come up with anything else.

    1. I’ve seen that picture a couple of times here, but only today I recognized the damaged bumper (middle is looking… bumpy?)
      [Edit: oh my, clumsy keyboard fingers]

      1. better view from the front … too cool !
        but I think the wide open speed is just over 40 mph . The driver in this photo looks like he is having some fun though.

    1. unless you have a top fuel car in yur garage … Thank you BMW.
      NOW make one in black with white pinstripes !! numbskulls
      ( and drop a full power RR engine in a full GS – black with white pinstripes of course )

    1. We all realize that Volvo’s iconic diagonal slash is, itself,
      asymmetrical. And now that we have established that, let’s not list
      every Volvo car and truck ever.

      If it doesn’t alter the grille layout, I’d say…nay.

  1. 1969-70 Dodges with “Super-Lite” option.
    It was meant to be something you used when you needed more than a low beam but didn’t want to face the wrath of oncoming drivers’ high beams. Also the 1st OEM quartz-halogen projector lamp.

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