Limited production, exotic vehicles are easily the most expensive cars that you can possibly buy. We are talking about cars where only 20 in total were made, sometimes even fewer than that. From modern supercars to classic cars that are extremely rare, the vehicles on our list are going to cost you a pretty penny, that is, if you could actually buy them (hint: you can’t). We are going to look at the ten most expensive limited production vehicles that have ever been made, some of which will shock you. Now you might think that high-end, 1,000hp modern supercars would dominate the list, however that is far from the case.
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10. The Mercedes-Benz 500K Roadster
Mercedes produced the 500K from 1934 to 1936, and it was one of the most desirable cars of the time. While some styles and designs fade over time, others are timeless. The 500k would be in the latter of those two. In total, only 313 units would be made. But then Mercedes wanted to introduce a higher-performing model, the 500K Roadster. Only 29 of these cars have been produced. It was a front-engine convertible that had a 5.0-liter I8 engine and a manual, 4-speed gearbox. One of these bad boys sold in an auction in 1984 for $1.45 million, which is the equivalent of roughly $3.29 million today.
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9. The Lamborghini Veneno
The Lamborghini Veneno was constructed to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the brand, and they really could have not made a better car. It looks absolutely insane, and is powered by a 740hp V12 engine so it is blisteringly fast. Lamborghini would only end up producing just three of these cars, and they were priced at a cool $4 million.
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8. The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900
Alfa Romeo only produced just ten of the original 8C 2900’s back in 1935 and 1936. But due to increased demand, they constructed another 32 units in 1937/1938. The car was produced to participate in sport car races and it featured a 2.9-liter I8 engine, two seats, and a beautiful body. In 1999, one 8C was sold at an auction for $4.07 million, or about $5.7 million today.
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7. The Maybach Exelero
Next up on the list we have the ultra-premium Maybach Exelero. Only one single unit exists in the world, so it’s about as “limited production” as cars can get. It was commissioned by Fulda Tires and it features a 700hp, twin-turbo V12 engine so its extremely quick especially for a massive 4-seat coupé. Back in 2011, rapper Birdman purchased it for a cool $8 million dollars.
Photo from Top Gear
6. The Mercedes-Benz SSK
The SSK is a sleek, two-seater roadster that was produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1928 to 1932. At the time, it was one of the highest performing sports cars around. It featured a supercharged, 7.1-liter SOHC I6 engine and a fairly short wheelbase that made it a menace on the track. Less than 40 of these cars and their various models have been produced, and a few have been sold at auctions, ranging in price from $4.2 million to as high as $9.2 million.
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5. Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider
Ferrari initially unveiled the 250 in 1953, and over the course of eleven years they had produced a range of different models and variants. Often considered to be one of the most beautiful cars ever produced, the Ferrari 250 is probably the most famous Ferrari there is. This particular model, the SWB California Spider, came out in 1959 and was developed specifically for the United States, with California in mind. It was a lightweight, 2-seater convertible that was fun to drive and it boasted a V12 engine. Only 55 of these were ever built, and they have been sold in auctions anywhere from $6.2 million to as high as $15.9 million. If I could own any car, it would be this one.
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4. The Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Roadster
The 540K was the successor to the 500K, and Mercedes-Benz produced about 419 of them between 1935 and 1940. It was one of the largest vehicles at the time and was powered by a 5.4-liter straight-8 engine. Mercedes allowed buyers to customize the 540K in a variety of different ways, which is why so few were ever constructed. The regular 540K was a four seater, but the Spezial Roadster was a more sporty two-seater making it faster and lighter than the standard version. Again we see Mercedes hit the ball out of the park in terms of design; I simply cannot see how anyone could call this car ugly. A few have been sold in auction, with the most expensive one selling for $12 million.
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3. Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
Another variant of the Ferrari 250, the Testa Rossa was the vehicle that Ferrari used for competitive racing. These vehicles were produced from 1956 to 1961, and they were the most feared racing cars of that era. Ferrari would secure three wins at Le Mans with this car in addition to a number of other victories. Only 34 were ever made, and every now and then they pop up in auctions where they have been sold from anywhere between $13.6 million to $17.1 million dollars.
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2. The Bugatti Royale
Also referred to as the Type 41, the Bugatti Royale is the car that put Bugatti on the map. This is the Veyron’s great-grandfather, and it was an incredible vehicle. The Royale was produced from 1927 to 1933 and was specifically made for, well, royals since the general public could not afford it. It is 21-feet long and it weights a staggering 7,000 pounds which makes it one of the largest and heaviest cars that have ever been produced. It’s 20% longer and 25% heavier than a modern day Rolls-Royce Phantom. Under the hood was a massive 12.7-liter straight-8 engine that produced around 300hp. Bugatti only ended up making just six of these cars, and one of them was sold in a auction back in 1987 for $9.8 million. If that was today, the car would be valued at $20.3 million.
Photo from Motor Authority
1. The Ferrari 250 GTO
The Ferrari 250 GTO is easily the most famous car that the company has every produced. They were constructed from 1962 to 1964 and only ever ended up producing just 39 units in total. When the car first came out in the United States, it was priced at $18,000 and buyers had to personally receive permission from Enzo Ferrari to buy one. The various models had either a 3.0-liter V12 while the later editions were outfitted with a 4.0-liter V12. Today this is the most sought-after vehicle by car collectors, and it also holds down the spot for the most expensive vehicle that has ever been sold. Auction prices have fluctuated over the years, but last year one was purchased in a private sale for the price of $38.1 million dollars. Absolutely incredible.
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