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Costly Mistakes: Failed Supercars That Drained Drivers’ Wallets

Vukasin Herbez February 28, 2023

Supercars are among the strangest of all segments of the automotive industry. These unique cars are made to look outrageous, go insanely fast, and be notoriously difficult to live with. Either way, if a driver has one (or more), they are usually the pinnacle of car collections. Supercar owners are proud of these cars that serve primarily as conversation starters for bragging. However, there are several failed supercars that wasted their owners’ money rather than starting a conversation for them.

So not all supercars are sought-after by their owners or well-publicized by the media. There are some models that, despite being fast and extremely good-looking, couldn’t justify the prices and are left forgotten. Today, we’ll look back at the supercars that wasted their owner’s money. If you have the cash for a car at this level, these models should be avoided. Find out which failed supercars are best left in the garage below.

Cizeta-Moroder V16T

In 1988, the Cizeta-Moroder V16T had the potential to become the next big thing in the world of supercars. It was made by a group of ex-Lamborghini engineers led by Claudio Zampoli. He partnered with famous music composer and supercar fan Giorgio Moroder. The car had celebrity endorsement, an Italian background, an exotic name, and technology. The main feature of this obscure beast was its monstrous V16 engine. It was basically two flat-plane crank V8 units. All supercars have engines installed longitudinally. But Cizeta-Moroder chose a different route, resulting in a very wide rear track and complicated assembly of its five-speed manual gearbox (via Goodwood).

The V16 engine had six liters of displacement and delivered 560 HP. This was a fantastic number for the late ’80s. The performance was equally impressive, with a 0 to 60 mph time of just 4 seconds and a top speed of over 200 mph. Even today, those numbers will draw attention from the supercar crowd. The base list price was close to $300,000. Production stopped after only 20 examples which is why they are a scarce sight today. It was simply too expensive and weird for most supercar owners.

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Panther 6

This strange car is considered a supercar due to its power, price, and unusual tech. For example, it had six wheels instead of the usual four. The Panther 6 was a roadster that had a monstrous 8.2-liter V8 engine from the Cadillac Eldorado. The enormous engine was behind the cabin. It powered the rear wheels while the four wheels in the front managed the steering. To achieve proper ride height, designers installed smaller diameter wheels in the front with much bigger ones in the back (via ARO Online).

The Panther 6 was an over-the-top luxury supercar convertible. It had a leather interior, climate control, power windows, and doors. Designers claimed that Panther 6 was capable of achieving a 200 mph (320 km/h) top speed, but automobile experts were always very suspicious of this. Panther never allowed for independent testing. Only two cars left the factory in England.

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Dauer 962 Le Mans

If you ever thought about what it would be like to drive a Le Mans race car on the street, here is the answer. The crazy Dauer 962 Le Mans is the ultimate supercar ever built. It is so extreme and fast that it could put most of the current fastest supercars to shame despite the fact it is over 20 years old. This 962 Le Mans is directly derived from the Le Mans-winning Porsche 962 race car. Built from 1993 to 1997 by German company Dauer, this supercar is basically a race car with some trunk space and license plates (via Supercars).

Dauer made 12 street 926 LMs for sale to the general public. The street car used the same engine, chassis, and body style with two exciting differences. It had narrower tires with street thread and a more powerful engine. Interestingly, the street car was more powerful than racing models since race cars had to have air restrictors and street cars didn’t. So the Dauer 962 produced 750 HP from its 3.0-liter turbocharged flat-six engine. The performance figures were crazy. Its 0 to 60 mph time was 2.8 seconds and the top speed was 251 mph. But the problem with this model was that it needed to be more for most owners. Since most supercar owners only buy their cars to show off, production was very low at only 12 examples.

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Aixam Mega Track

One of the most interesting forgotten supercars ever produced was the French Mega Track. Built by Aixam in the mid-’90s, the Mega Track was the first and only off-road supercar ever built. You may wonder how it’s possible to have a supercar that is capable of going off-road. Still, Axiam managed to produce a vehicle with adjustable suspension that could be turned from a regular sports car to an SUV in seconds (via Top Speed).

The complicated system allowed eight to 13 inches of ride height and the Mega Track could become a true off-road beast in a few seconds. Behind the driver was a massive 6.0-liter V12 engine from Mercedes-Benz, which produced 400 HP and powered all four wheels. The concept had its drawbacks, though, and the Mega Track was a heavy car. It weighed over two tons and had a length of over five meters, more than the Mercedes S-Class. The Aixam company, known for producing small microcars and various automotive industry components, needed more time and interest to promote the Mega Track. Production stopped after only five or six (depending on the source) examples were made.

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Isdera Imperator 108i

Isdera is a small and ultra-exclusive manufacturer of supercars based in Germany. Over the years, Isdera produced only a few models, all of which used Mercedes parts, engines, and components. The company became known for its exclusive production approach. All of their products can be considered lost and forgotten supercars, but the Imperator 108i was the coolest and best looking. It was introduced in 1984 and remained in production until 1993, during which 30 examples left the factory (via Supercars).

The car had a space frame construction with a plastic body and Gullwing doors, everyone’s favorite supercar detail. Behind the driver was a Mercedes-produced V8 engine with 5.0 liters of displacement. Over the years, Isdera installed more significant engines with 5.6 and 6.0 liters of displacement. Its performance was respectable, with a 5.0-seconds 60 mph time and a top speed of over 170 mph. The design had a characteristic wedge shape and one exciting feature – a periscope rear view mirror which was and still is a unique solution in car design. Despite its interesting look, exclusivity, and performance, Isdera simply couldn’t battle the more popular models and the Imperator 108i soon fell into obscurity.

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Vector W8

The only American supercar on our list is the legendary Vector W8, a wedge-shaped and V8-powered monster first shown in 1990. It was a very ambitious project by the Vector Aeromotive Corporation, who wanted to produce the most advanced supercar in the world using aeronautical technology and materials in car production. Under the engine cover was a typical American powerhouse, a Chevrolet small block V8. But it had twin turbochargers producing 625 HP, which was impressive at the time (via Car and Driver).

The company claimed that the 6.0-liter twin-turbo engine was capable of 1200 HP at full boost. Still, it wasn’t recommended to use full boost for extended periods since it would affect the engine’s durability. The Vector W2 cost $450,000, an enormous sum for the day. Despite it being featured in numerous movies, TV shows, and computer games, it failed to translate to sales success. When production ended in 1993, the Vector Aeromotive Company managed to produce only 22 examples of this fantastic American supercar.

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Monteverdi Hai 450 SS

The Monteverdi company was a Swiss manufacturer of high-end coupes and limousines that became popular thanks to its elegant creations featuring Italian styling, German quality, and American engines. All models featured Chrysler engines which provided raw power European manufacturers of the period lacked (via Auto Evolution). The new model the called Hai 450 SS, was introduced in 1970 and featured a fully new chassis, body, and the famous Hemi 426 V8 engine in the back. Monteverdi wanted the most powerful engine Mopar had to offer. In 1970, that was the mighty Hemi.

The car was named after a German word for shark. Despite having 450 HP and superb performance, the Hai 450 SS was introduced just as the automotive industry slid into a recession so buyers were hard to find. Eventually, one example found a high-price buyer, and two more were later produced. The decision to retire this model was also forced by Peter Monteverdi’s concern for the customers since the car was so fast and aggressive that it became dangerous. Today, this is one of the lost supercars and one of few Swiss-built cars.

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Noble M600

The expansion of supercars in the 2000s brought drivers many exciting and powerful machines. Noble became famous for producing very extreme cars using components from other manufacturers. Noble had a reputation as a kit car company, which was not true. But it did affect its reputation in the supercar market. But the M600 model shattered misconceptions and showed what Noble was capable of. Using a 4.4-liter V8 from Volvo and bolting two turbochargers on it, Noble managed to squeeze 550 or 650 HP. They were also able to install it in a lightweight and sleek body (via Evo).

The idea behind the M600 was to produce a pure supercar without any unnecessary electronic aids and to deliver the most refined driving experience possible. This made the M600 scary to drive. But it was also an immensely fun and unforgettable experience. Using all 650 HP, the M600 could reach 60 mph in just 3.0 seconds and top out at over 220 mph. Regardless of its great looks and performance, mainstream supercars buyers avoided this model even though Top Gear featured it on their show and praised its qualities.

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Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale

You may think it is strange to feature an Alfa Romeo on this list since Alfa is a well-known factory that doesn’t produce supercars. However, there is one very rare model which is very fitting for this article. The TZ name is present in Alfa’s history from the ’60s when it made several sports cars called the TZ 1 and TZ 2. The T stands for Turbulare, and Z for Zagato, the designer house. Only nine examples left the factory (via Supercars).

The Alfa Romeo TZ 3 was, in fact, the previous generation Dodge Viper ACR-X, a track-prepared version. Alfa only dressed the Viper into Zagato’s body, leaving all essential mechanical components and a massive 8.2-liter engine intact. Even the interior was the same, with all the badging changed from Dodge to Alfa Romeo. The TZ 3 had a supercar-beating performance with 600 HP, a 3.4-second 0 to 60 mph time, and a 200 mph top speed. Despite the fancy new Italian suit, great V10 engine, perfect driving dynamics, and legendary name, Alfa managed to sell only nine copies. Today, almost no one remembers the TZ 3.

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Venturi 400 GT

You’re excused if you don’t know about Venturi, a small French car company that was active in the ’90s. Using components from other car companies and producing its own bodies and chassis, Venturi produced several fast cars and left its mark in the history of obscure supercars with its magnificent 400 GT model from the mid-’90s. Visually similar to Ferrari F40, the Venturi 400 GT also used a twin-turbocharged engine. But in Venturi’s case, it was a 3.0-liter Peugeot V6 producing 400 HP in street trim (via Motor Trend).

In racing trim, it was capable of over 600 HP. With all that firepower, the 400 GT could accelerate to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and go over 180 mph, which was faster than the Porsches or Ferraris of the day. Venturi participated in many races including Le Mans. It even had its own racing series where wealthy amateurs could race their Venturis. Unfortunately, the cruel financial reality caught up with Venturi’s big ambitions. Venturi withdrew from racing and only about 100 cars left the factory.

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Lister Storm

The Lister company was best known as a racing outfit. They also prepared race cars for several mainstream manufacturers like Jaguar, Maserati, and Chevrolet. But in the mid-’90s, Lister decided to make their supercar using a highly-tuned Jaguar V12 engine. The idea behind the supercar was to introduce a fast four-seat Gran Turismo coupe capable of breaking speed records and transporting its passengers in comfort. The new model was called the Storm and featured a V12 engine with 550 HP (via Road and Track).

The engine displaced 7.0 liters and was from a Le Mans racer. Lister made their own body which featured a wide track to accommodate wide tires. It had lots of scoops and spoilers for better cooling and aerodynamics. At the same time, Lister offered Storm as a passenger car at almost $450,000 and a racing version for private teams. However, despite having brutal power, a 4.0-second 0-60 mph time, and over 210 mph, only four customers ordered it. The reason was pretty simple. The car was ugly, as some might say. And despite being a four-seater, it didn’t have a lot of space.

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Ascari KZ 1

Back in the early `2000s, Ascari was on the verge of becoming the next big thing in the supercar segment. Unfortunately, that didn’t materialize. All that is left of this exciting venture is the KZ 1 model. The KZ 1 was introduced in 2004. It featured cool styling, a carbon fiber tub, and an S62 V8 engine from the E39 BMW M5, good for over 400 hp (via Evo).

Since the KZ 1 was light and balanced, its performance was great. A 0 to 60 sprint was possible in 4.0 seconds while its top speed was 200 mph. Features in popular magazines added to the hype. Ascari priced this car at a hefty $400,000, which was more than a comparable Ferrari or Porsche. This sealed the destiny of the KZ 1. Only 10 examples left the factory.

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Bristol Fighter

Bristol Cars is one of the craziest companies in the world. And not only for their models, which are quite strange. But also for their business policy. The company barely made any money for decades. Bristol operated only one showroom, sold only 1 or 2 cars per year, and refused to modernize its lineup for decades. However, they somehow managed to survive. In 2004, Bristol decided to introduce a new model with a fresh design, which is therefore how the Fighter was born (via Evo).

The chassis was custom-made with a unique body that featured Gullwing doors and a long hood. The design of the Fighter has no resemblance to other Bristol cars. But it carried the tradition of using Chrysler engines. This sports car had an 8.0-liter V10 from Dodge Viper rated at 525 HP.

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Lotec Sirius

The Sirius is one of the most obscure European supercars. Lotec produced it in the early 2000s. The prototype caused much attention when it was first shown in 2001, but ever since, the news about this crazy supercar has been pretty scarce. Some say that only two examples left the factory, and some say that Sirius never progressed beyond the prototype stage (via Supercars).

However, Sirius is still one of the most powerful and exciting machines out there. The heart is a twin-turbo Mercedes-derived V12 engine with around 1300 HP. The Sirius is unbelievably fast with a five-speed manual transmission and just 2800 pounds of curb weight. The 0 to 60 mph sprint takes less than 3.7 seconds. Its top speed is an impressive 285 mph.

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Falcon F7

In 2009, American car designer and businessman Jeff Lemke established Falcon Motorsports. The company started building high-performance supercars. The first car debuted at the 2012 New York Motor Show. It was called the Falcon F7. Its silver paint, futuristic interior, and aggressive stance make it a great-looking vehicle. The power comes from a naturally aspirated, all-alloy 7.0-liter V8 engine with 620 to 680 HP. Falcon also announced a twin-turbo version with 1100 HP (via FalconF7).

The production was very limited. If you want to be a proud owner of an F7, be prepared to pay at least $195,000. However, despite all of its qualities, Falcon failed to attract the customer’s attention due to several factors. The model was canceled after a few years on the market as a result.

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