Hot Cars Built in Very Small Numbers

This model sold in 2018 for $48.4 million, a record-setting price. There were only 36 built, and 33 believed still in existence. A 1963 version sold privately around the same time for up to $80 million. This model's design and competition history add to its exclusivity, with many wins in endurance and hill-climb events in the early 60s.

A Pininfarina takes on the classic F1 design; this model was created to compete with McLaren and Porsche in GT1-class racing. It was based on the F50 and designed to succeed the LM40, but only three were made to GT1 specs for the BPR Global GT Championship series. These cars featured 749 hp from 4.7L V12, with a 6-speed manual transmission, mid-engine, and rear-wheel drive. Ferrari changed their racing focus after producing three of these out of six "tubs" created, leaving them unique specimens with a top speed of 235 mph. They cost around $1,400,000, whereas the 350 F50 models sold for only about $1 million each, with two-thirds the horsepower.

Extremely rare with only two complete units produced and only one in existence, this concept "dream car" set an auction record of $3,240,000, assembled from crates of stored components for the 2007 sale. The Gateway Colorado Auto Museum acquired it as the cornerstone of their collection and put it on prominent, auto-show-style display with extensive documentation. If it looks somewhat familiar, the Corvette chassis and other related components might be why.

Though a limited run of just over 6,000 hardtops were produced in '71, the numbers narrow as the features become more exclusive, and there were only 11 produced with Street Hemi power, and 3 four-speed Hemi 'Cuda convertibles were built. One of the 11 was sold over a decade ago for approximately $2.2 million, another in 2014 for around $3.5 million, with a four-speed manual and original powertrain making it absolutely unique.

The rarity of this first SL or "super light" model and its special place in Mercedes history was part of the reason for the $4.62 million auction price paid for one in 2012. Derived from an earlier racer, the 1952 W194, it was the fasted production car of its time with a top speed of 163 mph and 3-liter direct fuel injection. It also featured the unique gullwing doors. Only 1400 coupes were made over a half-century ago, but a fortunate decision to display the model in New York and European auto shows inspired demand for future SL models.

This street-legal version, or Stradale, of the Tipo 33 Alfa Romeo prototype racing car was made in a small production run of 18 from 1967-69. It had a specially designed 2.0L V-8, with SPICA fuel injection, double sets of spark plus, and four ignition coils. The top speed was 160 mph, 0-60 time 5.5 seconds. The estimated auction price starts at $3 million, but scarcity could drive the price even higher.

A racing model of the original Aston DB1, this car was built in 1956, and only five were made, carefully designed to engage in the Le Mans 24 Hours and the World SportsCar Championship, both of which it won in 1959, along with numerous other competition victories through the late 1950s. It has been recognized as the most significant Aston Martin car of all time. In 2017, its price at auction set a new record for a British-made model at over $22.5 million.

Unique by virtue of its limited production and design, this supercar also traces its origins to Dubai, with a combined Lebanese and Italian production team. It is the first sports car with roots in a Middle Eastern country. Seven were produced, but one was allotted to the Abu Dhabi police at their request, leaving only six for public sale. The Lykan HyperSport is powered by a 3.7L twin-turbo flat-six, with 780 hp and a top speed of 245 mph. It also features a luxurious, gold-accented interior.

A special edition of this Swedish car company's CCXR, the Trevita's exquisite Diamond Weave finish on a carbon fiber body, was limited to the production of only two cars, with a price of $4.8 million. The CCX line is similarly limited to under ten of each type. One Trevita, which means "three whites" in Swedish, was purchased by the boxer, Floyd Mayweather.

At $2.78 million, there was only one of this unique mostly-titanium car designed by Icona, formerly of Turin, Italy, and now Shanghai, China. It has a 6.2L LS9 Corvette engine and a top speed of 220 mph.