They’re arguably the most special cars in the world – totally unique creations that were never replicated because only one model was produced. And here we’ve assembled a selection of the very best. Some were developed at the request of fabulously wealthy customers, others were produced as concepts to showcase a company’s capabilities. Whatever the reasons, these are the some of the coolest one-off cars ever to hit the road… or track.
Rolls-Royce Sweptail
What do you do when you consider a standard Rolls-Royce a little too commonplace for your tastes? You commission your own of course. One fabulously wealthy customer did exactly that in 2013, and four years later we saw the results when the Sweptail was revealed at Italy’s Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza. At the time, it was hailed at the most expensive car ever, with speculation that it cost in excess of £10 million. That price tag produced a two-seater based on the Phantom Coupé with V12 power, a vast panoramic roof, fastback rear end and a monumental grille (Rolls’ largest in modern times), plus a luxurious minimalist interior. It clearly gave Rolls a taste for coachbuilding, as evidenced by the recent unveil of the Boat Tail – equally opulent, but comparatively common, with three made.
McLaren X-1
Not every one-off meets with universal approval. Certainly, reaction to the unconventionally designed McLaren X-1 was decidedly mixed when it was unveiled at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. While its credentials were strong – it was based on the MP4-12C and used its 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 – some couldn’t see past the controversial styling. Produced to meet the desire of an existing McLaren customer who wanted something unique, it served as a headline-grabbing showcase for McLaren’s Special Operations division.
Lamborghini Egoista
If you’re going to give yourself a birthday present, you might as well make it special. That was clearly the intention of the never normally understated Lamborghini, which excelled itself with the outrageous one-off Egoista produced to mark its 50th anniversary in 2013. Apparently inspired by a stealth helicopter, the single-seater Egoista – which translates to ‘selfish’ in Italian – featured a 592bhp 5.2-litre V10 and made extensive use of carbonfibre and aluminium in its construction. Designer Walter de Silva described the car as “hedonism taken to the extreme” but no owner will ever find out, as the Egoista is now on display at Lambo’s museum at Sant’Agata Bolognese.
BMW M1 Hommage
Rarely has a car’s name been quite so literal. The M1 Hommage of 2008 was, indeed, a tribute to the BMW M1 supercar that had made such a dramatic impact 30 years previously in 1978, and its stunning blend of retro and futuristic design cues won it an army of fans. Understandably there was widespread disappointment when BMW confirmed that the Hommage would remain a one-off and would not go into production. But this look back in time ultimately proved a glimpse into the future, as the Hommage provided inspiration for the i8.
Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but few could deny the sheer wondrousness of this design. The TZ3 Corsa was a coachbuilt Alfa racer from Zagato that was revealed at the Concorso d’Eleganza in Italy in 2010, and took its inspiration from the TZ1 and TZ2 of the Sixties. The ingredients were hugely appealing – the TZ3 was based on Alfa’s 8C coupe and had a 4.2-litre V8 – but only one was ever made, for a German collector. Zagato did, however, produce nine roadgoing TZ3 Stradale models.
Maybach Exelero
As far as unlikely backstories go, the Exelero’s takes some beating. Rather incredibly, it was created in 2005 at the request of German tyre company Fulda, which wanted something exceptional to test its latest heavy-duty rubber on (as it had done in the 1930s on the Maybach SW38). What emerged from Mercedes’ luxury brand was the brooding Exelero, a monstrous 2.6-tonne coupe with a 5.9-litre 691bhp V12. The tyre test was successfully completed, and the Exelero has led a colourful life since, appearing in a Jay-Z video and now apparently a fixture in the rapper’s stable of supercars.
Jaguar XJ13
While most of the cars here were intended as one-offs, that wasn’t the case with the XJ13. For this most special of Jags, it was more a case of what might have been. Developed as a potential Le Mans contender in the 1960s, its racing career never actually got under way as it fell behind rival cars from the likes of Ford and Ferrari before it had even taken to the track in earnest, and then rule changes rendered it obsolete. But the project wasn’t totally in vain. Its V12 provided inspiration for the engine that appeared in the production E-Type in 1971, and it is unquestionably one of the most beautiful race cars ever designed.
Aston Martin Bulldog
If making a lasting impression with your one-off wonder is important, then the Bulldog is the car for you. This futuristic stunner from 1980 was considered by many to be the world’s first hypercar, but sadly never got beyond concept stage. The twin-turbo 5.3-litre V8 was claimed to be capable of delivering 237mph, but it was the extraordinary wedge design that lived long in the memory, with gullwing doors among the highlights. Although it never made production, the Bulldog has been back in the news as part of an ambitious restoration project, having disappeared from view for years.
Ferrari P4/5
There’s been a number of one-off Ferraris over the years but one of the most intriguing – and high profile – is the P4/5 of 2006. Created by Pininfarina for US collector James Glickenhaus, the P4/5 is based on the Enzo but has its own bespoke all-carbonfibre body. As a fan of Ferrari’s P3/4 race car of 1967, Glickenhaus seemingly wanted something that evoked its spirit, but that he could drive on the road. And this undeniably beautiful supercar was the result. The project – which cost in excess of £2million – was conducted without Ferrari’s knowledge, but the company was sufficiently impressed with the outcome to allow it to wear the hallowed badge.
Lotec Mercedes C1000
“Could you build me the fastest car in the world?” Not a request you get every day, but the question asked of Mercedes in the early 90s by a Middle East businessman with money to spend. Mercedes turned to tuner Lotec for assistance and around $3.5 million dollars later, the C1000 of 1995 was the result. Lotec certainly took the task seriously – the C1000 was equipped with a twin turbo 5.6-litre V8 that delivered 1,000bhp. In a car lighter than your average supermini, this equated to 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds and a supposed top speed of 268mph.
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