Supercars occupy a special place in the car world. They represent the pinnacle of automotive engineering and are designed to push right against the boundaries of performance. Understandably, they are expensive and not intended for the mass market.
Owning one automatically bestows the owner with a certain level of exclusivity. However, for some car enthusiasts, being one of the few will simply not cut it. For them, the ultimate satisfaction and bragging rights will only come from owning a bespoke one-off creation crafted to the highest levels of customization.
Some of the most jaw-dropping one-off supercar creations are featured here. The obvious brand omission is Ferrari. The Italian carmaker does have a Special Projects division that creates bespoke supercars for some of its most loyal clientele. However, some of the most memorable Ferrari one-offs have been covered in a separate article.
Lamborghini Auténtica
A shift towards hybrid and electric powertrains has prompted Lamborghini to bid farewell to one of its most enduring symbols, the naturally aspirated V12 powerplant. To sign off on that chapter of its history, the carmaker created two one-off models, the Lamborghini Invencible and Auténtica.
The Lamborghini Auténtica, a roadster and arguably the more exciting of the pair, allows unfettered access to enjoy the bellowing V12 engine mounted behind the driver. The car’s design was inspired by other Lamborghini limited-series models like the FKP 37 Sian, Sesto Elemento and Veneno. The Auténtica boasts a Grigio Titans exterior and a minimalist driver-focused interior that does away with the infotainment system and features 3D-printed air vents.
Bugatti Chiron Profilée
Bugatti has mastered the art of squeezing out every last ounce of value from its models. The carmaker introduced over a dozen variants of the Bugatti Veyron, and its predecessor, the Chiron, is no different. This one, the Chiron Profilée, stands out for a few reasons. First, it’s one of the final Chiron variants as the carmaker ramps up preparations for the Chiron replacement.
Also, it is the only one ever built.
Bugatti originally intended to put the model into limited production, but all the Chiron build slots sold off before the car was fully ready. So the carmaker switched tactics and released the Chiron Profilée as a one-off model. It was put up for sale at an RM Sotheby auction where it, unsurprisingly, set the record for the most expensive new car ever sold.
McLaren X-1
The McLaren X-1 is a weird retro-futuristic supercar conceived by McLaren on behalf of an uber-wealthy private collector. It was unveiled to the world at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The McLaren X-1 shares its carbon tub and chassis with the MP4-12C, but you wouldn’t know that just by looking at it.
The exterior bodywork was inspired by classics such as the 1953 Chrysler D’Elegance Ghia and the 1939 Mercedes Benz 540K. McLaren refused to name the buyer at the time. However, the car later turned up in Bahrain, tucked in a private garage among some of the world’s most exclusive supercars and hypercars.
Aston Martin Victor
Exclusivity is not a foreign concept with Aston Martin. The British carmaker is responsible for the One-77 hypercar, limited to 77 customer units and the V12 Speedster, capped at 88 examples. However, this one, the Aston Martin Victor, takes exclusivity to new heights for the brand. It was designed for a loyal customer who jumped at the idea of having a bespoke creation based on one of the left-over One-77 prototypes.
Built by Aston Martin’s Q Division, the retro-themed car is built around a monster naturally aspirated 7.3-litre V12 that cranks out 836 bhp and 613 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual feeds that power to the rear wheels for maximum driver engagement.
Icona Vulcano Titanium
The Icona Vulcano Titanium is a strange beast. The car, whose design is said to be inspired by the SR-71 Blackbird aircraft, had its public debut at the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show. As the name implies, the car’s bodywork was fashioned from titanium, an incredibly complicated process that reportedly took over 10,000 hours of handcrafting to complete.
The supercharged 6.2-litre V8 at the heart of the Icona Vulcano was primed to generate 661 bhp ad 605 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough for a 2.8-second sprint to 60 mph and on to a 220 mph top speed. The one-off creation was offered for sale at $2.8 million, but it’s unclear if the carmaker ever found a buyer.
Lamborghini SC20 Roadster
Lamborghini described the SC20 as the ‘most extreme version of a road-legal V12 supercar.’ It certainly looks the part with its aggressive design, complete with numerous grooves, cutouts, flicks and a massive fixed rear wing. Its roofless design is reminiscent of another Lamborghini one-off, the Aventador Jota.
However, instead of 690 hp, the Lamborghini SC20 makes about 760 hp from its V12 powerplant. The car was commissioned by a lucky private customer and designed by Lamborghini’s Squadra Corse racing division. Lamborghini unveiled the SC20 in December 2020, and it’s rarely been seen out in the open since then—such a shame.
Aston Martin Vantage GT12 Roadster
There are only 100 units of the Aston Martin GT12, but even that level of exclusivity was not enough for one particular buyer. So, he approached Aston Martin and asked if they could hack off the roof and create a truly bespoke one-off GT12 Roadster. The team at the carmaker’s Q Division took up the challenge, and this is the result.
The GT12 Roadster took nine months to develop. It features the same 595hp V12 found in the coupe, but the roofless design allows the driver to enjoy the unfiltered roar from the engine. The price was a closely guarded secret, but one can expect a heavy premium above the $308,000 price tag for the limited-edition coupe models.
GM Ecojet
The Ecojet was a wild contraption built by General Motors, working closely with the popular car enthusiast and collector Jay Leno. The supercar takes its design cues from jet aircraft and Formula One cars. It resulted in one extreme-looking high-performance vehicle whose bodywork was fashioned from a mix of carbon fibre and Kevlar.
However, the car’s standout feature had to be the powerplant tucked within its elongated frame. The GM Ecojet is powered by a Honeywell LT-101 turbine unit that runs on bio-diesel fuel. The eco-friendly engine makes 650 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, a very healthy output for a 2006 supercar.
McLaren MSO R Coupe & Spider
This duo earned the right to be on this list because they are both one-offs and were commissioned by the same customer. The two bespoke McLaren MSO R supercars were based on the Mclaren 650S and featured a host of carbon fibre parts, including the bonnet, roof scoop, rear deck and mirror arms.
The silver/red/black colour scheme is the same for both cars, but the Coupe is finished in satin, while the Spider has a gloss shine. The supercars also share the 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 with the 650S, but the output has been upgraded to 679 bhp, up from 641 bhp in the standard 650S.
Porsche 911 Sally Special
The Porsche 911 is arguably the most common supercar, available in over a dozen trim levels. However, even this iconic German car spawned a bespoke one-off variant. Meet the Porsche 911 Sally Special, a real-life interpretation of the blue 911 (Type 996) Sally Carrera that featured in Cars – Pixar/Disney’s hit animated movies series.
This unique 911, based on the Carrera GTS, was a collaboration between the team from Pixar Animation Studios and Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur unit. The 911 Sally Special had a custom blue colour and several nods to the cartoon car in the form of badges and logos placed all over the vehicle. In August 2022, the 911 Sally Special sold for an impressive $3.6 million, with the proceeds going to charity.
