When we think about how many cars are on the road today, you see so many of the same brand that it’s difficult to imagine seeing something rare - with some cars being so rare, you may never see them on the road! In this blog, we break down some of the rarest cars in the world and what makes them so rare - from their price to the number of them that were manufactured at the time. Ever dreamed of owning one? You might need to start saving now - some of them have an eye-watering price tag and that was before they even went to auction or won a coveted title!
The rarest cars in the world
Whilst we would love to own one of the rarest cars in the world, most of them have been sold to those who have a lot of disposable cash to part with - but that doesn’t mean we can’t admire them from the sidelines:
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
Estimated value - £56 million
Produced over two years until 1964, there are only 36 of the 250 GTO in total around the world - and buyers had to be approved for ownership by the main man himself, Enzo Ferrari. Some approved owners include luxury clothing brand owner Ralph Lauren and jewellery heir Gianni Bulgari. Comprising a V12 engine that had a 3-litre capacity, this car is capable of producing power up to 296bhp and a peak torque of 294Nm. This car is so rare that many of us will never see it on the road, let alone actually owning one! The 250 GTO is one of the most sought-after cars at auction, so if you’ve got the cash, why not splash out?
1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing
Estimated value - £1.1 million
An icon in its own right, the Gullwing is one of the most expensive Mercedes cars ever built. It was manufactured to be sold to privateer racers and was created by Mercedes-Benz Engineering Chief Dr. Fritz Nallinger. The car is made from aluminium body panels and plexiglass windows which means that the car’s overall body weight is significantly reduced. This makes it highly competitive, however, the lightness in the materials means that the metal work can dent easily - this means all units will have had to go through reskins or repairs at some point. The Gullwing has been sold at auctions but they certainly don’t appear very often and can increase in value when sold in this way - but with desirable features, such as a sporty suspension, an uprated metric speedometer and belly pans, it’s no surprise.
1970 Porsche 917
Estimated value - £13 million
The 1970 Porsche 917 is one of the most talked-about vehicles that hit the racecourse in 1970 - this was because it won at Le Mans in 1970, which is the same year it was manufactured. The reason for its conception was due to the FIA raising the displacement limit from three to five litres for the World Sportscar Championship - something the current 908 couldn’t match against its competitors. The Head of Development for Porsche saw this as an opportunity to create the best race car - with devastating consequences for their competition. Completed in just 10 months, 25 cars were made for those that were approved to own them and 65 units were made overall. The success of the 917 turned it into a sought-after vehicle that many enthusiasts would love to include in their collection. Only a few units are in existence today and sell at auction for extortionate amounts.
1996 Vector M12
Estimated value - £146,000
Although not as popular as some of the other models on the list, this car more than makes up for it with its cost and rarity. The M12 was renowned for being one of the most powerful cars of the 90s and with such a streamlined design, it’s no surprise that it could reach speeds of 60mph in under five seconds. Its rarity is due to Vector’s parent company experiencing issues and the car being quickly taken off the market - which means only a handful were sold and still exist today. With only 14 units manufactured and two known to have been destroyed in crashes, its rarity is beyond the others in this list and means it’s almost been forgotten - but not by car enthusiasts!
1964 Ford GT40
Estimated value - £6 million
Ford’s answer to the sportscar market, the GT40 was able to steal Ferrari's reigning crown at the Le Mans races in 1966 - just two years after its manufacture. Of course, this garnered a lot of attention from around the world, its design taking the American muscle car culture by storm in the 60’s. The GT40 went through many prototypes and disappointing racing results before it was able to get this title - it took the team creating it a long time to really get this car off the ground and make it work as the company wanted it to.
Find your next new or used car at Swansway
Sadly, we don’t have any of these cars in stock - we’d have some of our own if we did! However, you can browse the range of new and used vehicles that we have available for you to buy online or at our dealerships today - and yes, they are well within budget, with some finance options thrown in! From Audi and Land Rover to Volkswagen and SEAT, there is something for everyone - no matter what your budget is or what your lifestyle is. If you’re unsure what you're looking for or would like to know more about any of the information you see on our website, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our team and we’d be happy to help you.