when I was first getting into cars in the early 60's I was very conscious of the oddball cars. I went thru 2 Ramblers real quick. Then had a choice between a 55 Ford, a 52 Henry J, and a early 60's Isetta . I chose the Ford, and always regretted it.
Even in the sticks where I grew up you'd see VWs or a occasional Renault, and plenty of brand X American cars ( Hudsons, Kaisers, Frazers, Crosleys,, etc)
Then once I got into the Air Force I really began to see cars i'd never seen before. A lot of guys in the service would buy a foreign car when they were overseas and shipped it home at the end of their tour. The shipping was paid for by Uncle Sam if they had 4 years or more service.
My older brother was staioned in Germany in about 1960, had a 54 Ford Tanus shipped back when he returned.