There are plenty of cars in the world that are so rare, you probably will never see them once in your life. These are ten of the rarest.
We’ve spoken a lot about popular production automobiles across the board, but what about the ones you can’t get your hands on? What about the most special, one-of-a-kind, and forgotten automobiles created by brilliant designers in the previous century? Cars, like art, have a monetary value based on scarcity. And possessing something that no one else can has a certain charm, which is why the most valuable automobiles at auction tend to garner the highest prices.
Rarest Cars Ever Made
So, today, we’ll take you through the rarest and most distinctive automobile models ever made, ones you’ve probably never heard of because they’re no longer in production. Others are just an ostentatious exhibition of a company’s innovation and ability, while some were established with large future intentions but have since been forgotten by the mainstream automotive world. Whatever the case may be, the automobiles on this list are all one-of-a-kind and each tells a distinct tale about automotive history. Enjoy!
10. Porsche 916
We’re sure you’ve never seen anything like this before. The 916 was introduced in 1972 as a big brother to the now-iconic 911, but it was a disappointment owing to its exorbitant price. As a result, it’s now regarded as one of the rarest Porsche models ever produced, with only 11 examples produced.
This is in no way the fault of the vehicle. The 916 boasts an unusual look and a more-than-decent 2.4L engine that produces 190 horsepower and ensures a peak speed of 145 mph, despite its 1970s origins.
9. Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe
Few automobiles can match the Royale Kellner Coupe’s blend of dignity and grandeur. It was designed by Ettore Bugatti in 1931 with the sole purpose of catering to royalty and was envisioned as the world’s most luxury car. Even now, its colossal size exceeds luxury leaders like as the Rolls Royce Phantom by a significant amount. It measures 21 feet in length, with the huge hood ornament reaching eye level.
It’s humbling to be in the company of this automobile, and the thunder of the 12.7L double straight-eight engine behind the massive hood will send shivers down anyone’s spine. We’re talking about the largest engine ever installed in a production automobile, one capable of producing 300 horsepower, which was unthinkable in 1931 when the car was new.
All of this opulence and luxury came to an abrupt halt when the car’s manufacture was halted owing to the economic downturn, with just six of these automobiles ever seeing the light of day. They’re still out there someplace, and one of them sold for a whopping $9.7 million in 1987. With today’s inflation, the price would be almost $20 million, making it one of the most expensive automobiles ever sold.
8. Aston Martin DBR1
The DBR1 is still regarded the peak of Aston Martin speed vehicles, 60 years after it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The automobile is a classic masterpiece, designed by a tiny team of engineers to surpass all other cars of the time.
With just 5 models remaining today, it serves as a testament to Aston Martin’s achievements. One of them was sold for $22,5 million at RM Sotheby’s Monterey Auction in 2017, making it the most expensive British automobile ever sold at an auction.
7. Oldsmobile F-88
The 1954 F-88 may be the rarest of all classic American muscle cars. This exquisite representation of 1950s automobile aesthetics is being available for auction at Barret Jackson’s Auctions for $3,300,000.00. And, despite the fact that four models were constructed, the one displayed above is the only one that has survived. The chassis it sits on is based on a Corvette, but that’s about where the similarities end.
The F-88 was designed to be a gorgeous luxury convertible, with fibreglass bodywork. It had a powerful 5.4L V8 engine with 250 horsepower, which made it quite a beast 60 years ago. The spare tyre is hidden below the back bumper, and the radio is located between the driver and passenger seats, among other surprises.
6. Ferrari F50 GT
The Ferrari F50 GT was upgraded from the Ferrari F50 and was designed to compete with McLaren and Porsche on the racing circuit, making it the most extreme Ferrari to emerge from the 1990s. When the Porsche 911 GT1 – a race vehicle created particularly for the track – was released, Ferrari realised they were outmatched and stopped producing the F50 GT.
It is now one of the most sought-after Ferrari cars, with only three examples ever produced. A 750 horsepower 4.7L V12 engine beneath the hood propels this 23-year-old automobile to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds and a peak speed of 236 mph. One of these is now worth millions of dollars.
5. Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita
Trevita means “Three Whites” in Italian. This is due to the fact that just three variants of this exclusive hypercar were planned, each employing a unique technique that transforms the colour of the carbon fibres that make up the car’s body from typical black to a silvery-white. However, because to the difficulty of this one-of-a-kind manufacturing method, only two Trevitas were ever made, making them incredibly rare and valuable.
4. Icona Vulcano Titanium
Take a look at the world’s first titanium-only automobile. It is estimated that it required a thousand hours of hammering to mould the extremely difficult titanium into the proper shape for the automobile.
But that’s not the Volcano Titanium’s only distinguishing feature: it’s a $3.8 million Hypercar with only one other like it. The Volcano is equipped with a 6.2L V8 engine that produces 670 horsepower and propels the vehicle to 60 mph in only 2.8 seconds, with a peak speed of 220-mph.
3. Maybach Exelero
Despite its appearance as the pinnacle of Maybach luxury and indulgence, the Exelero was designed only for the purpose of evaluating performance tyres. It really put them to the test, weighing in at a whopping 5863 pounds (2900 kilogrammes) and measuring 232 inches in length.
The Exelero is powered by a gigantic 700-horsepower 5.9L V12 engine that converts this land yacht into a full-fledged supercar with a mind-boggling peak speed of 218 mph. There is only one Exelero in existence, and it was formerly owned by rapper Birdman, who paid $8 million for it in 2011.
2. Aston Martin Bulldog
The Bulldog is one of those odd-looking 1970s concept vehicles that is both stupid and interesting at the same time… and, of course, angular. In 1979, Aston Martin set out to build something completely fresh and out-of-character, influenced by 1970s automotive fads such as the Lamborghini Countach and Lancia Stratos. The end product was a mind-numbing supercar idea that resembled a prop from a science fiction film set.
The angular starship was given the designation Project K.901 after Doctor Who’s dog. The moniker Bulldog would eventually win out, as the automobile was more ferocious than any of its rivals. A 5.3L twin-turbo V8 with at least 600 horsepower was installed inside, giving the Bulldog a peak speed of 192 mph. On paper, Aston Martin estimated that it could hit 237 mph, putting it ahead of all current Martins. However, due to changes in corporate leadership, only one person ever left the assembly line. It’s still out there now, having been purchased for $1,3 million in 2011 and now painted a new green hue.
1. Ferrari 250 GT Spyder Convertible
There are several 250 GT Coupes on the market, but only one convertible. This is what distinguishes it. The automobile has a stunning mid-century Ferrari style that is both distinctive and readily identifiable. This convertible belongs to Bob Lee, a vehicle collector who bought it for $9,500 from Enzo Ferrari personally at the 1956 New York Auto Show. What’s more remarkable is that the car’s production cost was around $20,000. Lee paid far too little for the car, especially since it is the world’s rarest Ferrari, believed to be worth $10 million today.
Perhaps Enzo understood precisely what he was doing when he handed the car on to Lee, seeing in him a worthy recipient for his beloved Ferrari. The automobile stayed in Lee’s hands for nearly 60 years, looking as good as the day it was purchased.