Sports cars: The phrase alone conjures up visions of sleek lines, roaring engines, and a chance to pretend we’re all just a turn away from joining the cast of Fast & Furious. But what about the sports cars that never got their day in the sun? The ones that slipped through the cracks of automobile history, like the last fry at the bottom of the bag? Here are 15 rare sports cars you didn’t know existed.
De Tomaso Guarà Spider
First up, we have the De Tomaso Guarà Spider, a car that sounds like it should be in a Bond film but instead lurked in the shadows of the 1990s. De Tomaso, an Italian automaker with a flair for the dramatic, built this beauty with a fiberglass body and BMW’s V8 engine. The Guarà Spider was as fast as rare,, with only a handful ever made. It’s the kind of car you’d see in a dream only to wake up and realize it was real but incredibly elusive.
Isdera Commendatore 112i
The name alone should earn this car a place in the Automobile Hall of Fame. The Isdera Commendatore 112i looks like it drove straight out of a sci-fi movie, complete with gullwing doors and a rearview periscope. It was designed by Eberhard Schulz, a man who never learned the meaning of moderation. This German marvel was powered by a Mercedes Benz V12 and hit a top speed of 213 mph. The Commendatore might not have made it into many garages, but it sure left an impression on anyone lucky enough to see one.
Gillet Vertigo
The Gillet Vertigo was a Belgian car that weighed less than a thousand kilograms and looked like it was perpetually ready to win a Le Mans race. The Vertigo’s 3.6 liter V8 engine catapulted it from 0 to 60 mph in under four seconds. It’s a car so fast and rare that it’s practically a myth like Bigfoot or the last slice of pizza.
Monteverdi Hai 450 SS
Swiss luxury cars are about as standard as polite traffic jams, but the Monteverdi Hai 450 SS breaks the mold. This car was designed in the late 1960s with a Chrysler Hemi V8 engine that made it as powerful as it was obscure. With only two prototypes ever built, the Hai 450 SS is like the unicorn of the sports car world. It’s flashy, fast and practically a ghost.
Spania GTA Spano
Ever wonder what happens when a Spanish automaker decides to go full throttle on a sports car? Enter the Spania GTA Spano, a car that looks like it should be racing on a track in the year 2050. The Spano is powered by a V10 engine that produces a mind-boggling 925 horsepower. It’s a car that could probably outrun a jet. But good luck finding one. Only a few dozen were ever made, making it as elusive as a WiFi signal in a concrete bunker.
Bristol Fighter
The Bristol Fighter is the sports car equivalent of finding out your quiet neighbor is a retired rock star. Bristol Cars, a company better known for making sedate vehicles for the British elite, shocked the world with this V10-powered beast. The Fighter could hit 210 mph, and its gullwing doors gave it a touch of superhero flair. Despite its capabilities, the Fighter remained under the radar, like a secret agent on a mission no one knew about.
Vector W8
The Vector W8 was designed by someone who got too excited playing video games. With its angular body and aerospace-inspired interior, the W8 was a car that screamed the future back in the 1990s. Underneath its polygonal exterior was a twin-turbo V8 engine that made it one of the fastest cars of its time. Only 17 were made, so the chances of stumbling upon one are about as good as winning the lottery twice in a row.
Panther Solo 2
No, this isn’t a superhero’s sidekick. It’s a rare British sports car that almost no one remembers. The Panther Solo 2 was designed to be a lightweight mid-engine car that could take on the giants of the automotive world. It had a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a four-wheel-drive system that made it surprisingly capable. Unfortunately, only 12 were made, so the Solo 2 became a solo act lost to the annals of automotive history.
Cizeta-Moroder V16T
Take one part Lamborghini and one part synthesizer legend Giorgio Moroder, and you get the Cizeta Moroder V16T, a car as unique as its origins. This Italian masterpiece was powered by a V16 engine—yes, you read that right—sixteen cylinders of pure overkill. The V16T’s wide, aggressive stance made it look like it was ready to take on the world. But with only a handful ever produced, it remains one of the rarest cars you’ll probably never see.
Lamborghini Cala
Speaking of Lamborghinis you’ve never heard of, meet the Cala. This concept car was designed in the mid-90s as a potential successor to the Jalpa, but it never made it to production. The Cala was a V10-powered beauty with sleek lines that looked like they were sketched by a designer who had just finished watching an action movie. Sadly, the Cala remained a concept, making it a rare sight even in the halls of Lamborghini’s storied history.
Aston Martin Bulldog
Aston Martin once made a car called the Bulldog, and no, it wasn’t a squat, stocky vehicle with a face only a mother could love. The Bulldog was a futuristic, wedge-shaped car designed to break the 200-mph barrier in the late 1970s. Its gullwing doors and angular design made it look like something out of a dystopian sci-fi film. Only one was ever built, making it the ultimate rare breed in sports cars.
Lotus Esprit S2 JPS
You’ve probably heard of the Lotus Esprit, but what about the Esprit S2 JPS? This limited edition model was built to celebrate Lotus’s Formula 1 victories in the late 1970s. Painted in black and gold, the JPS edition looked like it was born to race. Only 100 were made, making it a rare gem among Lotus enthusiasts. It’s the car that makes you feel like you’re always one sharp turn away from a checkered flag.
Bitter CD
No, this isn’t a fancy beverage. It’s a rare German sports car with a name that’s more than a little misleading. The Bitter CD was based on the Opel Diplomat but with a body designed by Erich Bitter, who clearly had a thing for Italian styling. The CD was powered by a Chevrolet V8 engine and had a luxurious interior that made it as comfortable as rare. Only 395 were built, making it a rare sight even in its heyday.
AC 3000ME
When you think of AC Cars, you probably think of the Cobra, but the 3000ME is the brand’s lesser-known sibling that never got the recognition it deserved. This British sports car was designed with a mid-engine layout and a 3.0-liter V6 engine. It had the makings of a classic, but production issues and bad timing prevented it from reaching its full potential. With only around 100 made, the 3000ME remains a rare piece of AC history.
Toyota Sera
We’ll end our list with a car that’s as quirky as the rarethe Toyota Sera is rare. This Japanese oddball is best known for its butterfly doors, which make it look like it’s about to take flight at any moment. Underneath its funky exterior was a modest 1.5-liter engine, making the Sera more about style than speed. With only a few thousand made and even fewer imported outside Japan, the Sera is a rare bird in sports cars.
14 Supercars Under $100K That Deliver Breathtaking Speed and Style
When you think of supercars, names like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren often come to mind, along with their staggering price tags. However, high-performance vehicles aren’t exclusively reserved for the super-rich. There exists a sweet spot where speed, style, and (relatively) sensible pricing converge, offering thrilling rides without completely obliterating your bank account. Hop in as we explore 14 underrated supercars under $100K.
14 Supercars Under $100K That Deliver Breathtaking Speed and Style
