Few machines in this world are unique. The one-off car, a hand-crafted intersection of love and technology, fits the bill. Crave individual speed and style? Here are the ten coolest one-off cars as suggested by you.
This is Answers of the Day — a feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!
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10. Ferrari P4/5
Suggested By:adamlukaski
Why It's Awesome: The Enzo is a quick car. It's also an ugly one. The P4/5, though controversial, attempts to rectify that. Completely rebodied (it shares only the front windshield with its donor car) by Pininfarina, the P4/5 is one of the most beautiful Ferraris to see pavement in a long time.
9. Ford Taurus SHO Wagon
Suggested By:Chief Pontiaxe
Why It's Awesome: Though several imitators have popped up through the years, only one SHO wagon was ever produced by Dearborn. Originally created at the behest of Car and Driver, the SHO wagon was built by Ford engineers as a joke and never intended for production. It got the requisite bodywork, engine swap, and interior, and was then taken across the country for a long test by the C/D staff.
Photo Credit:Car And Driver Forums
8. Jaguar XJ13
Suggested By:muhnkee_2
Why It's Awesome: Awesome? This thing is pure awesome. Built in the late 1960s to win at Le Mans, the XJ13 was never raced. It featured a competition-spec version of Jaguar's 5.0-liter V-12 mounted behind the driver. The only example produced was almost lost during promotional filming in 1971, when one of the magnesium wheels disintegrated at triple-digit speed. The car was put into storage, only to be rediscovered some years later and rebuilt. It currently resides in the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Collection.
Photo Credit:Omniauto.it
7. Marcos Mantis XP
Suggested By:Mister Scroggs
Why It's Awesome: In 1968, one Marcos Mantis XP was constructed for the 1000 KM race at Spa. It DNF'd with electrical problems. Unlike the street car of the same name, the Mantis XP was powered by a BRM-Repco V-8, and it looked like an alien spaceship. It was at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year, and must have looked awesome shooting up Lord March's driveway.
Photo Credit:Autofans.be
6. Alfa Romeo TZ3
Suggested By:TxBrumski
Why It's Awesome: As if the Alfa 8C upon which it is based wasn't beautiful enough, now we've got this thing to lust after. According to the Zagato press release, the TZ3 was built to "honor 100 years of races and victories across the whole 20th century." Yup, I think it's got that just about covered.
5. F1-Powered Renault Espace
Suggested By:Dominic Chan
Why It's Awesome: Though technically a show car, the Espace F1 isn't really a proof-of-concept creation. It's just too silly. In the mid-'90s, the wacky Frenchmen over at Renault decided that a minivan-bodied Formula 1 car was a great idea. The Espace F1 is built on a Formula 1-based carbon fiber and kevlar chassis, with a body that resembles the Espace's fiberglass one, but is also constructed out of carbon fiber. Power comes from Renault's 3.5-liter RS5 V-10, bumped to 800 horsepower from its usual 700 (just for kicks).
Photo Credit:F1 Fanatic
4. Fitch Phoenix
Suggested By:Real Tomsk of Genius
Why It's Awesome: Built by race-car driver, inventor, speed-record breaker, and all-around Better Man Than You John Fitch, the Phoenix was based on the Corvair, but had a custom body designed by Fitch and built by Intermeccanica in Italy. Originally intended to be the prototype for a 500-example run of cars, the Phoenix was effectively killed by the 1966 Traffic Safety Act. The one remaining example can be seen from time to time at Mr. Fitch's various appearances — it was at the Greenwich Concours D'Elegance in Connecticut last month, and John himself often drives the car around during vintage weekends.
Photo Credit:Corvair Corsa
3. EL Motors Sport Coupe AVD
Suggested By:Pessimippopotamus
Why It's Awesome: I don't even know where to begin with this one, so I'm gonna let Pessimippopotamus take the reins:
"It was made by a Russian tuning company named EL Motors in Moskva. Apparently, it's got TWO Yamaha YZF R1 engines hooked up transversely churning out 300 hp at 10,000 rpm and 160 lb-ft of torque at 8500 rpm. It's mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, and mated to a six-speed sequential manual. All on a car that weighs no more than 730 kg (1609 lbs) and is 11 feet long."
And to top it all off, it looks like a terrifying clown car. I'm sold.
Photo Credit:EL Motors
2. BMW M8
Suggested By:maaaaax
Why It's Awesome: BMW only built one M8 for test purposes. It was fitted with a hot-rodded version of the company's M70 V-12 engine. Originally envisioned as a Ferrari competitor, the M8 was killed when management decided that its market didn't exist. The car was locked away deep in the bowels of the BMW factory, supposedly never to be seen again. It was revealed to journalists a few weeks ago at the factory, fully intact.
Photo Credit:M5Board.com
1. Corvette Rondine Coupe
Suggested By:Muscles Marinara
Why It's Awesome: What's not to love about this beautiful creation? Born in 1963 at Pininfarina, this has got the be the most beautiful Corvette ever. It's based on the C2 chassis and mechanicals, but looks nothing like its uncultured American brethren.
Photo Credit:Sports Car Digest