Rare cars that are scarcely found are usually the most coveted and understandably so. These vehicles are typically highly exclusive, custom-built models or have extremely limited production runs that make them highly sought after by collectors. Their value can often be in the millions, and they often have an intriguing history. So, let’s take a look at some of the rarest cars in the world.
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
The 250 GTO is one of the most iconic, if not the most iconic car in the world. Only 39 were ever built, and they have sold for upwards of £50 million at auction. The GTO was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and was powered by a 3.0 litre V12 engine. It was an extremely dominant force in racing, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1962 and 1963. It has often been heralded as the prettiest car Ferrari have ever made, and for good reason – it’s bloody gorgeous!
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe
The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe is surprisingly even rarer than the aforementioned 250 GTO, with only two examples ever built. One did crop up recently, where it was sold at auction in 2022 for a record £142 million. The Uhlenhaut Coupe was designed by a block called Rudolf Uhlenhaut and was powered by a 3.0 litre V8 engine. It too, was quite adept at racing, as it won the 1955 Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio in the same year.
1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic
The Type 57SC Atlantic is one of the most beautiful cars ever made, and it’s also one of the rarest. Only four were ever built (mass-produced compared to the Merc), and one was destroyed in a fire. The Type 57SC Atlantic was designed by none other than Jean Bugatti and was powered by a 3.3 litre straight eight. Bring back the straight 8’s! It did have some racing credibility, as it won Le Mans in 1936.
1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
The DB4 GT Zagato is a personal favourite of Auto House. The stunning Aston was built in collaboration with the renowned Italian coachbuilder, Zagato. Only 19 were ever built, and they’re highly prized by collectors. The DB4 GT Zagato was designed by Ercole Spada and was powered by a 3.9 litre straight six. It did do a dab of racing, winning the 1963 Tourist Trophy.
1957 Ford GT40
The GT40 is an absolute legend. Designed primarily as a race car to take on Ferrari at Le Mans due to a failed acquisition by the American company, in which Enzo famously sold 50% to Fiat – using the interest by Ford to demand a higher price. Only 105 were ever built, and they’re still highly competitive on the track today, often in kit-car form. The GT40 was designed by, you guessed it, Carroll Shelby and was powered by a 4.2 V8 originally, with the later ones being powered by a 7.0 litre. Its racing accolades speak for themself, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969.
1967 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
The Cobra 427 S/C is one of the most powerful and desirable American cars ever made. Only 34 were ever built, and they’re worth an absolute fortune. You need at least 7 figures in your bank to even get close to owning one. The 427 S/C was designed by the same Carroll Shelby and was powered by a 7.0 litre (427 cubic inch – hence the name) V8 borrowed from the GT40. It did some racing as well, winning the 1967 SCCA National Championship.
1931 Duesenberg J
The Duesenberg J was one of the most luxurious and powerful cars you could get your hands on at the time. Only 485 were ever built, and they’re still highly prized by collectors, weirdly. The J was powered by a big old 7.0 litre straight eight, again, please bring them back, and it could reach speeds of over 120 mph in 1931!
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
The 300SL Gullwing is one of the best Mercs ever made, fact. Guess how many were built, I bet you can’t! Oh you can? Well then, yes, it was 300. The Gullwing was powered by the M198 3.0 litre straight six engine and could easily top 150 mph. It was also one of the first cars to use fuel injection, but is far more notable for the brilliantly unnecessary use of the Gullwing doors.
1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe
The Shelby Daytona Coupe took the aforementioned Cobra and plonked a fixed roof on it. Only six were ever built, and they’re extremely prized by those in the know. The Daytona was designed by Peter Brock and was powered by a Ford 4.2 litre V8. It was built to go racing, which it did its fair share of, most notably winning the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans.
1969 Lamborghini Miura
The Miura is one of the prettiest supercars ever made. Only 763 were ever built, and they’re worth a small fortune today. Designed by Marcello Gandini, it was powered by a 3.9 litre V12 engine. It was a groundbreaking car, as it was one of the first mid-engined supercars ever. Which is the formula that the vast majority of super car manufacturers use currently – including Corvette with the C8.
1970 Porsche 917K
The 917K is a race car with a remarkable legacy at the Le Mans track. Porsche only made 25 of these things. Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the brains behind the car’s design, fitted it with a beautifully glorious 4.5 litre flat 12 that gave it incredibly decent racing credentials. The car’s racing dominance was evident when it won Le Mans in 1970, which fully cemented its racing prowess.
Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe
The Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe is a car that’s harder to find than rocking horse droppings, with only six ever made back in the ’30s. It was a car built for those with deeper pockets than the Mariana Trench, boasting an assertive design and an engine that could get this long boi up to 120 mph. That was thanks in part to the engine being a not-so-small 12.7 litre straight 8. The car’s body was long and sleek, exuding elegance and grace, whilst also having a certain air of “get the [expletive] out of my way, thanks.”
Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster
The Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster is another Benz that makes the list, mainly because only 25 models were ever produced. The car was designed in the ’30s as a super luxury open-air car for exceptionally wealthy clients and features an incredibly sleek design for the time, it is undeniably pretty, even today. Engine wise, it had a 5.4 litre straight 8 that meant the swoopy Germanic Merc could reach around 115 mph.
Porsche 959
The 959 is one of the best cars to ever come out of Stuttgart, and I will fight that to the grave. It started life out as a Group B rally car, and then became a production car. That’s cool, end of. Only 337 were made, and they all featured a 4.5 litre, twin turbo flat 6 that made a rather tasty 450bhp and powered all 4 wheels. The modern interpretation of the car, the 911 Dakar is another firm favourite.
Lamborghini Reventón
I remember when these came out back in 2007, and have been pining for one ever since! Just 20 of these were ever made and it followed the typical Lambo mantra of order which was top speed, acceleration and then handling. As such, this AWD, automated manual angle on wheels could top 211mph, in a rather brisk way.
Rolls-Royce Sweptail
Quite possibly the rarest production car on the list, and perhaps one of the most expensive, if Rolls ever revealed the price of it (£10M was the figure floated around). The Sweptail was designed for a (very) wealthy client and was intended to be a swoopy version of the Ghost, which makes it look utterly fantastic. This was the only one ever made, and likely ever will be.