1989-1992 Bertone Freeclimber
Bertone, a company that was founded in partnership with BMW, and Daihatsu created a one-off SUV. The capable off-roader had a lot of potential and those who know about off-roading know about this beast of an SUV right here. The styling alone made it a capable choice to do just about anything off-road (via Driving Line).
The drivetrain and the ground clearance were some of the best of any SUV model from the period. The BMW engineering underneath also gave it a very capable ride and handling that were almost unheard of for an SUV model. The Bertone Freeclimber is the secret sauce of the SUV world that we’re all missing.