Limited production, world-renowned ownership, and one-of-a-kind features are things that make a car rare.
The vehicles on this list have them all. Here are six of the rarest cars in the world.
McLaren F1 LM
The McLaren F1 LM is the fastest and most powerful McLaren ever made一and yes, it was built for the streets instead of the tracks. Image credit: Wikimedia.
The McLaren name has always been associated with racing, but did you know that the fastest model is actually street legal?
The McLaren F1 LM is the fastest and most powerful McLaren ever made一and yes, it was built for the streets instead of the tracks.
The F1 LM is a rare model that was released to honor the success of the F1 GTR at Le Mans during the mid-90s.
1995 was McLaren’s most memorable racing year yet, as five F1 GTRs emerged victorious at Le Mans. The model came in first, third, fourth, fifth, and 13th even though it wasn’t exactly built to be a race car.
There were only five F1 LMs produced to honor the five F1 GTRs that topped the rankings. Each of them came in a shade of orange一a distinct feature that was carried over to the limited-edition F1 LMs.
In terms of speed, the F1 LM can go from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds thanks to its 6.0L naturally aspirated V12 engine. The F1 LM also holds the record for the fastest 0-100 time at 11.5 seconds.
Units Produced: 5
Estimated Value: $19.8 Million
Lamborghini Veneno
Named after one of the strongest and most aggressive fighting bulls ever known, the Veneno is a street-legal racer largely based on the famous Aventador. Image credit: Wikimedia.
In 2013, Italian automaker Lamborghini celebrated its 50th birthday by releasing the limited-edition Veneno.
Named after one of the strongest and most aggressive fighting bulls ever known, the Veneno is a street-legal racer largely based on the famous Aventador.
The Veneno sports an L539 6.5L V12 engine that’s capable of churning out 740 hp and a top speed of 221 mph.
A striking exterior masks the powerful engine underneath the Veneno’s hood. Featuring bulging elements and a rear dorsal fin, the Veneno looks anything but reserved.
The Veneno also has the same carbon fiber monocoque and aluminum subframes as the Aventador, which are all masked by its fissured skin.
You’ll only spot three of these Venenos roaming the streets, each of them coming in one of the three colors featured in the Italian flag.
Units Produced: 3
Estimated Value: $4.5 Million
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing”
The top-hinged and upswinging doors became the 300 SL’s most popular feat, which also led enthusiasts to name it “gullwing.” Image credit: Wikimedia.
This list of the rarest cars in the world wouldn’t be complete without Mercedes-Benz’s 300 SL “Gullwing.”
In 1953, when US importer Maximilian Hoffman suggested that the US needed a Mercedes-Benz sports car, the automaker eagerly obliged.
A few months later in February 1954, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL took the US market by storm when it debuted at the International Motor Sports Show in New York.
The top-hinged and upswinging doors became the 300 SL’s most popular feat, which also led enthusiasts to name it “gullwing.”
While all of the 24 Alloy Gullwings still exist, very few come to market. In 2022, one of the aluminum units nicknamed the “Weckerlé Alloy” was auctioned off and sold for a record $6.8 million. In comparison, a steel-bodied Gullwing from 1955 is valued at $1.5 million.
The Gullwing was able to churn out a total of 215 hp and reach a top speed of 250 kph.
Units Produced: 24
Estimated Value: $6.7 Million
Ferrari Testarossa Spider
The Testarossa Spider sported an Argento body paint and interior trim, which is a nod to the abbreviation of silver in the periodic table (AG). Image credit: Wikimedia.
There’s nothing quite like the Ferrari Testarossa Spider because there’s only one in the entire world, and it was never intended for series production.
In 1986, then Fiat Chairman Gianni Agnelli commissioned a Spider version of the Ferrari Testarossa to mark his 20th year as president.
After four months, what he got was a mean silver machine with a 5.0L 12-cylinder engine. The Testarossa Spider also had a Valeo transmission that can switch from a three-pedal, five-speed manual to an automatic setup with a push of a button.
The Testarossa Spider sported an Argento body paint and interior trim, which is a nod to the abbreviation of silver in the periodic table (AG). Coincidentally, AG is also Gianelli’s initials.
The Testarossa Spider was eventually sold to a family friend. It was later auctioned in 2016 and eventually fell in the hands of Ronald Stern, a renowned archivist and authority on the life of Enzo Ferrari.
Units Produced: 1
Estimated Value: $1.3 Million
Bugatti La Voiture Noire
The La Voiture Noire also means “the black car.” It’s named after one of the four Type 57 SC Atlantic cars that disappeared before WWII. Image credit: Wikimedia.
When the Bugatti La Voiture Noire graced the Geneva Motor Show in 2019, everybody wanted to get their hands on it. Unfortunately, only one buyer was lucky enough to get it two years later.
The La Voiture Noire also means “the black car.” It’s named after one of the four Type 57 SC Atlantic cars that disappeared before WWII.
Recognized as the rarest and most expensive Bugatti ever built, the La Voiture Noire takes pride in its W16 8.0L quad-turbocharged engine一the very same setup you’ll find in the Bugatti Veyron.
With a powerful workhorse under its hood, the La Voiture Noire can finish a 0-62 sprint in as fast as 2.4 seconds. It also has a top speed of 248 mph.
The identity of The Black Car’s owner remains a mystery up to this day. The model, however, was spotted in Croatia with a Swiss license plate. Reports also suggest that the vehicle was registered in Zurich in December 2021.
Units Produced: 1
Estimated Value: $18.68 Million
Ferrari 250 GTO
The 250 GTO stands as the final iteration of the 250 model. Image credit: Wikimedia.
The Ferrari 250 GTO is arguably the automaker’s most iconic race car yet. The GTO in the model stands for “Gran Turismo Omologato” or “Grand Touring Homologated,” signifying that it was also built to be a road car.
The 250 GTO stands as the final iteration of the 250 model. With less than 40 units produced in 1962, Enzo Ferrari made sure to personally approve each buyer who would take home a 250 GTO.
The model’s body was inspired by the 250 Testarossa. Under its hood is a massive 3.0L V12 that can produce 300 hp. With its monstrous engine, the 250 GTO can go from 0 to 100 in only 2.9 seconds.
The 250 GTO is famed for winning the International Championship for GT Manufacturers from 1962 to 1964. It’s currently the highest-valued historic car in the world.
Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, including research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. Lisa has written for Car Bibles and The Drive.
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