The rarest cars in the world get a lot of attention from fans and experts in the industry. But, it is not easy to define clearly what rare cars are.
Some consider that if the number of a specific model in circulation is low, the car is rare. While some think the restored classics are rare. Others prefer to focus more on the price tag. In that case, since the car is really expensive, it is seen as rare and exclusive.
While some famous manufacturers like Bugatti and Ferrari come to mind immediately when talking about super rare cars, they do not dominate the subject for a few connoisseurs. Those experts believe that when it comes to a rare cars list, the conversation has to center around limited editions, special issues, and those that are almost impossible to find.
There is some validity to this idea. For instance, most rare cars in the world have a very unique story. Another example, some of them exist to mark an anniversary for the company. If they are not commemorative cars, they might have a connection to an iconic movie. Therefore, as time goes by, they become more valuable and rare.
Here is a list of the 10 rarest cars in the world and how much they cost.
1. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
This one is on top of every cool, rare cars list. It also happens to be a very expensive little beauty. In 2014, an all-time record for the most expensive car sold at an auction was established, with this sizzling gem at $38.1 Million.
This was just the beginning of an epic journey filled with records being broken. In 2018, another 250 GTO was sold at auction for $48.4 Million.
According to some reports, a private sale has put the record even higher at $70 million. However, it was an unofficial sale. Over the years, many media outlets have called the 250 GTO the greatest Ferrari of all time. It has also been dubbed the top sports car of all time.
In short, it is the hottest car of all time for a large group of people.
2. 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
This sports car was built to respond to some changes that were brought to the World Sportscar Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans races.
Thirty-four models came to life in the 1950s and 60s. The 250 TR is as exclusive as they come. When experts talk about sports cars, this Ferrari model always seems to be in a league of its own. However, there are good reasons for that. Moreover, facts on this subject are hard to debate.
The 250 TR has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times in 1958, 60 and 61. As if this was not enough, it has also dominated the World Sportscar Championships 10 times. One of them sold at a 2014 auction for $39.8 million. Three years before, another one was bought for $16.4 million.
3. 1956 Aston Martin DBR1
The Aston Martin DBR1 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959. Moreover, it was built in 1956 with the World Sportscar Championship in mind.
There are only three cars that were able to win the World Sportscar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans races in the same year. In terms of victories during important races, it did not have much real competition in that era. The 250 TR is the only other car with a bigger legacy in that period.
Some experts call it the most important Aston Martin ever made. Moreover, in 2017, one of them was sold at auction for $22.5 million. This was a record for a car that was built in Great Britain. There are only five models available today.
4. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California SWB Spider
This model is really popular in many corners for different reasons. Only 55 of them were ever made. In March 2016, the price tag of $17.2 million was attached to one of them at an auction. For fans, this is a symbol of the famous Italian way of life, “La Dolce Vita,” a state of mind that focuses on seduction and self-indulgence.
Moreover, some have gone as far as calling it the best convertible of all time. It has also marked an entire generation thanks to 1986’s teen comedy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The romance movie starring a young Matthew Broderick remains a fan’s favorite to this day.
In short, it offers a mix of style and power that is very hard to resist.
5. 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
The Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato made its debut at the London Motor Show in 1960. It is one of the most collectible cars around the globe. The model never surpassed twenty examples and gets lots of interest during auctions. One of them was recently sold for $14.3 million.
Italian coachbuilder Zagato is one of the most iconic to ever do it. This kind of precision and push for perfection is still a real inspiration to many in the industry today. It builds on the standard DB4 GT.
In April 2019, the famous British sports car manufacturer opted to recreate the iconic model. The tribute has a 4.7-liter engine instead of a 3.7-liter straight-six.
The company plans to keep building on that heritage.
6. 1970 Porsche 917
Featured in Steve McQueen‘s film Le Mans in 1971, the Porsche prototype car is really famous. However, the Porsche 917 was not about just entertainment value. It gave the iconic German manufacturer its first wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and 1971.
The company remains very attached to the car and did not hesitate to mark its 40th anniversary with a lot of fanfare. The car could reach 0-62 mph in 2.3 seconds with a Type 912 Flat-12 engine capable of handling 4.5, 4.9, or 5 liters.
7. 1998 McLaren F1 LM
Built based on the McLaren F1 GTR, the McLaren F1 LM is first and foremost a commemorative car to mark the five McLaren F1 GTRs that competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995. The predecessor finished first, third, fourth, fifth, and thirteenth that year.
Six cars were made, and five got sold. McLaren chose to keep one of them. Their Papaya orange paint jobs made them stand out, and the color was a tribute to Bruce McLaren.
One McLaren F1 LM reportedly sold for $13.75 million at auction. The McLaren F1 LM has a top speed of 225 mph. However, this is still less than the F1 GTR. The aerodynamic drag is the game-changer in that specific case.
8. 1953 Jaguar XK120-C
The Jaguar XK120-C, also known as the Jaguar C-Type, was produced between 1951 and 1953 by William Heynes, Malcolm Sayer, and RJ Knight. It won the Le Mans 24-hour race in ’51 and ’53. Interestingly, 53 of the cars were built, and 43 of them were sold to private owners.
Experts believe that it is arguably one of the rarest Jaguars in the sports car industry. Therefore, it is easy to understand why it is also among the most expensive cars on the planet. An RM Sotheby’s auction in Italy in 2015 saw a C-Type car find a buyer at $13.2 million. The Jaguar XK120-C is an extremely rare car that gets a lot of love from fans to this day.
9. Bugatti Type 41 Royale Kellner Coupe
The Royale was built between 1927 and 1933. The large luxury car has a weight of over 7,000 pounds and uses a 12.763-liter engine. The Bugatti Type 41 is a very stylish car that is also one of the largest ones. Seven cars were made initially. The hefty price and the downturn in the economy during the Great Depression made it extremely hard for the manufacturer to find buyers for all of them.
Only three of them were sold. The prototype was destroyed in 1931. The remaining six cars still exist today. According to reports, the price tag for one of them is around $10 Million.
Moreover, in 1987, one Royale was sold at auction for $9.7 million. Bugatti is now associated with the term supercar. The brand is a leader when it comes to high-end pricey cars.
10. 2008 Maybach Exelero
The Maybach Exelero is a one-off performance sports car. It debuted in Berlin in 2005. It made an interesting appearance on a German show called Cobra 11. This contributed to making it more famous. The brand became some sort of fixture in hip-hop culture, with artists like Rick Ross contributing to the phenomenon.
Cash Money Records label co-founder Bryan “Birdman” Williams purchased a Maybach Exelero in 2011 for $8 million. Rap music billionaire Jay-Z also opted to include this sensational classic rare car in his music video “Lost One”. The rare concept car gained a larger following thanks to the success of the clip.
Conclusion
A list of cool rare cars can be challenging to put together because of the many contenders that are on the market. However, there are some rare cars that stand out in a way that is hard to ignore.
They are part of a certain history. The legacy has surpassed borders and even continents.
Some manufacturers like Ferrari have evolved, while others like Bugatti found clever ways to adapt to an ever-changing market.
The landscape has changed, but experts and fans of sports vehicles agree that the ten rarest cars in the world have entered a different dimension.
While they are expensive, there is much more behind the hefty price tags. The classic rare cars are more than the number attached to them. They are real pieces of history that will be hard to repeat.