Top 10 Rarest Cars in the World
Cars today are mass produced, yet some will be forgotten about in 20-so years due to their quality. However, many cars from the past, in particular, were built with quality in mind–and although their numbers are fading, some are still around today. Some less prevalent than others, though. And keep in mind, vintage rides go up in prices once there are less of them around.
1. Dodge 487 Coronet Road and Track with a Hemi Engine
Dodge placed hemi engine in the 487 Coronet Road and Track, also referred to as a Coronet R/T. Only four of these vehicles were ever made; two in 1967 and two in 1970. The Coronet R/T manufactured in 1970 produced up to 425.
2. 1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL-1
Although Corvettes are plentiful–you probably see a fair share driving down the road–the 1969 Chevy Corvette ZL-1 isn’t the typical sports car Chevy is known for.
Chevrolet installed the all-aluminum ZL-1 engine block, an L88 Special Turbo Jet 427-cubic inch, 500-horsepower engine, in only three Vets for three Chevy plant employees only in St. Louis, Missouri. Initially, it was ordered by one of the factory workers, and two additional employees placed orders after its unveiling. The 1969 Corvette ZL-1 cost more than $3,000 at the time for the three employees who purchased it, so just think about how much this model with this engine would have cost at the time.
3. 1947 Talbot Lago T-26 Grand Sport
It’s said that only 30 Grand Sports were made, only three with short chassis. Originally, the car was sold in Geneva, Switzerland at the conclusion of World War II. Due to its time of unveiling, Switzerland was one of the only area could afford a car like this one. Talbot Lago was revered as the first high-performance, expensive car crafted after the war. This occurred as a result of the new engineer, Marchetti. The Grandsport had a 4.5-liter engine with three carburetors. The Talbot Lago T-26 was designed as a race car, so it was created with a lighter chassis to improve its performance. Once recently sold for over $2 billion dollars at a Barrett-Jackson auction.
4. Rolls-Royce 15 HP
Imagine traveling at a maximum speed of 39 miles per hour. People who opted for this vehicle obviously weren’t in a rush to get anywhere. Only four of these vehicles were produced in 1904 in Cooke Street, Hulme, Manchester. This vehicle only appeared at the C.S. Rolls & Co. dealership and sold for 500 pounds. Installing two three-cylinder engines in this design just wasn’t possible, which is why so few were made. Only one Rolls-Royce 15 HP is still in existence. It’s worth $35 million.
5. Porsche 916
Porsche only made 11 Porsche 916s in the 1970s. They were designed to compete with the Ferrari 246 Dino. This vehicle had 190 horsepower at 6500 rpm’s. All editions of this particular model shipped to the United States and were priced at $10,000, which ranked as the most expensive car during this time.
6. 1971 Hemi Barracuda Convertible
Only 11 were made for that year. The last 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible sold for $1,320,000 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in January, which is a five-time increase from 1993 when a 1971 Cuda sold for $250,000.The outside of the car has a simplistic look. The Rallye Instrument Cluster with an 8,000-RPM tachometer along with a 150-HP speedometer installed in the dash and a three-speed wiper switch amplify the appeal of this vehicle.
7. Ferrari 250 GT Spyder Convertible
Only one 250 GT Spyder convertible was ever made. This Ferrari is actually the rarest of all other models on the market. All other Spyders on the market between 1953 and 1956 were coupes, which means they had roofs. Back in 1956, this vehicle sold for $9,500 to Bob Lee, a car collector from New York. To this day, Bob still holds on tight to this rare gem. This Ferrari is one of the oldest vehicles still in the hands of its original owner. Today, this car is worth an estimated $10 million, but we bet some collectors would spend much more to get their hands on this rarity.
8. 1921 Helica de Leyat
The 1921 Helica was manufactured by Marcel Leyat had it all for a car made back in the early 1920s. Only 30 Helicas were made in this year. This vehicle was coined a “plane without wings.” All passengers in this car sat behind one another. The engine was comprised of a giant propeller rather than an engine. Total, the car only weighed 550 pounds. Because of its lightweight and max speed of 106 miles per hour, the Helica went fast and was quite a danger on the street. Although it’s rare for a Helica to come end up on the market, they sell for more than $20 million.
9. 1954 Oldsmobile F-88
There were only two 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 ever produced. However, components for a third were made but never used. It’s been dubbed the cousin of the Corvette. It debuted at the Detroit Auto Show. The F-88 debuted just a little too soon, so it wasn’t a huge success. Complete with a four-speed Hydra-Matic transmission and pigskin seats, this vehicle definitely was a unique piece. A single speaker radio is situated in between the driver and passanger seats. If you pull down the rear bumper on this car, you’ll find a surprise–a spare tire–which is different than even most vehicles on the market today.
10. 1954 Packard Panther
Only four 1954 Packard Panthers were made. The car was spacious and performed rather well, in a straight line-only. The second Panther went 131.1 mph in Daytona Beach, FL. All four of the prototypes of this vehicle were crafted by hand. Packard never had any intent to mass produce this vehicle, but popular demand wanted otherwise.
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