Vintage Gems: A Journey Through the Top 15 Rare Cars That Redefined Automotive History

 

Vintage Gems: A Journey Through the Top 15 Rare Cars That Redefined Automotive History

 

In 1962, Ferrari 250 GTO, or $70 million dollars, a one-of-a-kind 1954 Ford concept vehicle. Here are the top 15 most rare vintage cars in the world.

 

Number 15: 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO.

The Ferrari 250 GTO is produced by the legendary Italian automobile manufacturer between 1962 and 1964 with a specification, meaning it would qualify to be part of the group three grand touring car racing series. To this day, it's often seen as the holy grail of vintage cars, and those that remain have been responsible for setting some unbelievable price records.

 

The reason for the huge demand is that very few were built in the first place. In fact, Ferrari only produced 33 cars of the 1962 to 63 design and three of the 1964 design. Buying one at the time would require authorization by Enzo Ferrari himself, and in the U.S., the asking price was $18,000, which is the equivalent to just over $150,000 today. The actual value of these stunning vehicles has skyrocketed far beyond that.

 

However, in a 1963 Series one version, currently holds the record for the most expensive car, having sold at auction in 2018 for an astonishing $70 million.

 

Number 14: 1919 Elektron.

In the early days of car design, manufacturers experimented with various different methods to provide thrust and steering. Possibly the most radical idea that went into production was the 1919 Elektron, conceived by a French designer called Marcel At and built by his company that he formed that year.

 

The vehicle was known as the plane without wings because it borrowed more from aeronautical design than it did from traditional car designs. Passengers sat in the vehicle behind one another, and instead of using an engine to power the wheels, it instead had a giant propeller attached to the rear that was rotated by an eighth brake horsepower scorpion engine.

 

It was rear-wheel drive because it was made from plywood; it weighed just 550 pounds. It was far faster than you might expect. In fact, in 1927, a Holika was measured as reaching speeds of in excess of 106 miles per hour. But ultimately, the design never truly took off, and the company only sold 30 of them in the seven years that they were in production.

 

They remain an incredible piece of automobile history though, and the few that do remain are most likely kept as exhibits in museums.

 

Number 13: Porsche 916.

The Porsche 914 was a big success for the company that sold a large number of them between 1969 and 1976. But while they made continual upgrades to the design during the years of production, designers were looking for a new model to replace it.

 

In 1972, what they came up with was the Porsche 962, a more aerodynamic front and rear bumpers, a choice of a 2.4 2.7-liter engine, ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels, and a more standardized shift pattern.

 

It was a brilliant car, but after the first 11 prototypes were built, Porsche executives were forced to concede that the increased production cost simply wasn't worth it, and they decided to continue with the 911 instead. This means that those 11 were the only 916s ever built, and of those, only one ever made it to America.

 

It was made fully to U.S. regulations, and the dealer who acquired it even installed air-conditioning. It wasn't used for very long though, and in 1990, was put on display at the Automobile Atlanta 911 for Museum where it has remained ever since.

 

Number 12: 1969 Dodge Hemi Coronet R/T Convertible.

The Dodge Coronet became one of the company's most popular models and was in production between 1949 and 1976. Of course, the design evolved significantly over the years, and the final ones to come off the production line look nothing like the first ones that were built.

 

But this continual progression led to the creation of some highly sought after models. A particular interest is one of the versions that was released in 1969. The previous year, Dodge had completely redesigned the Coronet and continued to offer upgraded options to give customers more choice.

 

One of these was the addition of a Hemi engine, an option that increased the vehicle's overall price by 33 percent and was appealing to only the wealthiest of Dodge fans. Because of this, only 125 were ever made, and in recent years, it's attained somewhat of a legendary status within the community.

 

Number 11: Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.

The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale was, in many ways, a vehicle that was ahead of its time and is regarded as being one of the first supercars to ever be produced. When it was put into production in 1967, it became the fastest commercially available vehicle across a standing kilometer and was essentially a street-legal version of the company's Tipo 33 racing car.

 

Fitted with a 2-liter V8 engine that could produce up to 227 brake horsepower, the Romeo 33 Stradale had a top speed of 160 miles per hour and could reach 60 in less than six seconds. It was also the first production car to have butterfly doors, and the body was fully built from aluminum.

 

It was Alfa's attempt at making racing technology available to the public, but it came at a cost. In the U.S., it was the most expensive vehicle on sale with a price of $17,000, which is the equivalent to $130,000 today. Only 18 of them were ever built, however, which makes them extremely rare, and recently, it was estimated that if one were ever to be put up for sale, it'd be worth at least $10 million.

 

Number 10: 1956 Aston Martin DBR1.

Aston Martin is known around the world for its luxurious and beautiful vehicle designs, but it's a company with incredible racing pedigree as well. 1956 saw the brand-new Aston Martin DBR1 being produced for the World Sportscar Championship, and the model will go on to become world-famous for winning the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1959.

 

It was the first year that the race car entrance didn't have to be road legal, so the Aston Martin designers went all out. Based on the previous year's DB3 S, it had a lower ride profile, covered wheel wells, and it was the first to feature the triangle vent on the sides, which will go on to feature on all subsequent designs from the company.

 

The success of the DBR1 went on to cement Aston Martin as a leading manufacturer and is so synonymous with motorsport that one of the models went on to set a record for the most expensive vehicle to sell at auction that had been made in the UK, selling for a massive $22.5 million in 2017.

 

Number 9: 1927 Bugatti Royale.

The Bugatti Royale, also known as the Type 41, was a luxury vehicle that was built by the company between 1927 and 1933. To this day, it remains one of the largest production cars ever made, at 21 feet long, an almost 170-inch wheelbase, and a weight of at least 7,000 pounds.

 

It would have been an absolute beast on the roads. The plan was to build 25 of them, all to be sold to European royalty, but they went into production at a time when the world's economy was faltering, so there were very few people in the market for the most luxurious and expensive car on offer.

 

In the end, only seven of them came off the production line, and one of those was completely destroyed in a crash while it was being driven by Ettore Bugatti himself. Amazingly, the remaining six are still in perfect condition today, and their whereabouts are well-documented. In 1999, for example, Volkswagen, which had recently purchased Bugatti, bought the Royale Coupe DeVille Binder for $20 million, which shows how valued they are today.

 

One of the most interesting facts related to the Royale is not where they are today, though, but what happened to the excess parts that had been built for the initial number the company wanted to build. When they realized there was no demand for the cars, they used the remaining engines to power 79 rail cars for the French railways.

 

One of the rail cars set a world record at the time for the fastest train, and this pivot turned the Royale project from a financial disaster into an unprecedented success.

 

Number 8: 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa.

In 1957, the rules of competitive racing were changed in a way that limited the maximum engine displacement of vehicles to 3 liters if they wanted to enter prestigious events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. So Ferrari quickly designed a car to compete: 250 Testarossa.

 

It had a number of similarities with previous models, including the 250 series. This one would go on to dominate the racing scene for years to come and reaffirm Ferrari as the most successful manufacturer in the world. A Colombo design 3-liter V12 engine was used, along with significant improvements to the chassis, the drivetrain, and the bodywork.

 

The changes they made meant that Ferrari would win 10 World Sportscar Championship races, including Le Mans in 1958, 1960, and 61, and they won the constructor world titles in those years as well. The 250 TRS is now one of the most collectible and highly sought-after Ferraris, both because of their pedigree and their rarity.

 

Only 33 were ever produced, with the chassis of one selling for just under $40 million in 2014. Due to their popularity, however, attempts have been made to recondition those that have fallen into a state of disrepair by using parts from other vehicles.

 

This has led to a debate about whether some vehicles truly are 250 Testarossa and what the way parts have been shared around. There are even several vehicles laying claim to the same chassis numbers.

 

Number 7: Taboo Lago Grand Sport, founded in 1916.

Talbo was a French car manufacturer that specialized in both pleasure cars and racing vehicles. Possibly their most famous design, however, was first showcased in 1947 and was known as the Lago Grand Sport. It had a shorter chassis than the company's previous models and was able to achieve astonishing speeds for the time.

 

Equipped with an engine that could produce up to 195 brake horsepower, the Lago Grand Sport could accelerate up to 124 miles per hour, depending on the weight of the body that was fitted. Designed for personal use and for racing, the Lago Grand Sport won the 24 Hours of LeMans.

 

But what was unique about this car was that no two would look the same. When buying it from Talbo, customers would receive just the bare chassis and would then have to hire specialist coach builders to design and fit the body around it. Despite this amazing ability for customization that we don't see these days, only 12 Grand Sports were built in the first year. Very few remain to this day.

 

Number 6: 1970 Porsche 911.

Porsche had long been involved in the most prestigious races in the world but hadn't yet been able to win one. But this all changed in 1970 with the introduction of the Porsche 911. It gave the manufacturer its first two overall wins at the 24 Hours of LeMans, putting it at the forefront of the racing world for years to come.

 

Amazingly, though, the 911 was designed and built within a space of just 10 months. The rules of competitive racing had been changed to encourage more manufacturers to take part, and Porsche took advantage of this to full effect.

 

Based around a chassis that weighed just 93 pounds, it was powered by a Metzger-designed four-and-a-half-liter air-cooled engine. The rest of the design was well ahead of its competition. To keep it stable and lightweight, drivers were positioned much further forward in the vehicle, and their feet were actually in front of the front wheels.

 

The body was made from new materials such as titanium, magnesium, and various alloys, and there were a number of innovations to keep weight to an absolute minimum. In total, only 59 911s were built, with most being held in museums or private collections.

 

One, however, was sold in 2012 for a price of 4.4 million dollars to none other than Jerry Seinfeld.

 

Number 5: 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 GM Concept Car.

Oldsmobile was an extremely popular brand of American car that first started producing vehicles in 1897. Throughout the company's lifetime, it would make more than 35 million vehicles. The one that stood out above the rest was the F-88.

 

It was designed as a concept dream car in 1954, with the original sketches being drawn up by longtime Oldsmobile designer Bill Lark. Starting with the chassis of a Chevrolet Corvette, the F-88 had a fiberglass body and was fitted with a 5.3-liter Super 88 V8 engine.

 

As far as anyone knows, only one F-88 was ever built and is currently on display in its own dedicated showroom at the Gateway Colorado Automobile Museum after being bought for three million dollars. There are rumors, however, that a second one may have been built in secret and that it was destroyed by a fire while it was being exhibited.

 

It's quite possible then that there may be remnants of one out there somewhere, and if anyone's lucky enough to find it, it has the potential to be worth millions.

 

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Number 4: 1964 Ford GT40.

Ford is, of course, one of the most well-known car manufacturers in the world, and in the 1960s, the company bosses set their eyes on designing a vehicle that could beat Ferrari in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, which the Italian team had won six years in a row.

 

Ford's answer was the GT40, a high-performance endurance car that originally had a 4.7-liter V8 engine and bodies that were made from light alloys. The first three versions were made in the UK because of the country's manufacturing facilities and proximity to where most of the prestigious races were to be held at the time. But the Mark IV was built in the U.S. from 1967 onwards.

 

After stuttering in the first few races, the GT40 finally took Ferrari's crown in 1966 and would continue to dominate the sport for the next three years. Over the five years it was produced, just 105 GT40s were made. They are so synonymous with the brand that even though originals still cost many millions of dollars, even replicas will set you back hundreds of thousands.

 

Number 3: 1957 Jaguar XKSS.

Jaguar developed the D-Type racing car with the express intent to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in the 1950s. After withdrawing from competition in 1956, the company decided to repurpose the design and make it street-legal so they could sell it to customers as the Jaguar XKSS.

 

Very few changes were actually needed from the racing variant, but they included the addition of a passenger's door, the removal of a divider between the seats, a fuller and more rounded windshield, a folding roof, and chrome-plated bumpers. Only 25 XKSSes were built, however, and to limit supply even further, a fire broke out in the factory where they were made that destroyed nine of them.

 

Most of the remaining 16 sold to customers in the U.S., and Steve McQueen famously had one of his own. In 2016, Jaguar announced that they plan to complete the order of 25 by making high-quality replicas with those original chassis numbers, and when those nine went on sale, they were priced at more than 1.5 million dollars. So the demand from collectors was extremely high.

 

Number 2: 1928 Mercedes-Benz S-Type.

Known as the White Elephants, the Mercedes-Benz S-Type was a vehicle made by the German manufacturer between 1926 and 1933. Designed with a 6.7-liter 6-cylinder engine that was able to produce 180 horsepower, and despite the way it looks, this car was designed to race.

 

The company proved to be very successful in competition, but the S-Type also became highly sought after by private customers. They were perfectly suited to driving around on normal roads. The learning from this and the amount of money they made from wealthy customers willing to pay large sums for the privilege of owning one showed Mercedes-Benz the opportunities for them in the private luxury car market.

 

And it's arguably because of the S-Type that the company was inspired to become what it is today. They didn't continue with that particular model, however, and instead designed the 500K to fulfill the role, which means the S-Type is one of the most influential cars ever made and with less than a hundred coming off the production line, one of the rarest too.

 

Number 1: Rolls-Royce 15 HP.

Nowadays, if you were offered a car that produced 15 horsepower, you'd probably think it was a joke. But more than a century ago, this would have been the height of technological ability.

 

As a result of an agreement between Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, the motor dealership owner and car designer who merged together to form the eponymous vehicle manufacturer, the three-cylinder Rolls-Royce 15 HP was first exhibited at the Paris Motor Show in 1904. With a three-speed gearbox and a leather cone clutch, the car had an impressive top speed of 39 miles per hour.

 

As was custom at the time, Rolls-Royce only actually provided the chassis to the customers, where it cost 500 British pounds, which is around the equivalent to $80,000 today. If you bought one, you would then have to get the bodywork built by a specialist coachbuilder, so each finalized car looked different.

 

Today, only one of the six that were made are thought to still exist, but it's quite possible the others have been stored away and long forgotten about.

 

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