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Lost Treasures: These Forgotten Supercars Are Worth Huge Cash

Vukasin Herbez November 17, 2023

Almost every car fan knows about supercars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Bugatti. But the truth is that the supercar segment is much larger. Apart from those famous names, many forgotten supercars have received different levels of attention and popularity and are worth millions.

Today, we’ll unearth such models. These supercars are as fast and beautiful as the big names but were forgotten. Owning one of these beasts could make you a millionaire as their rarity is often translated to desirability. Check out the forgotten supercars that are now worth millions below.

Panoz Esperante GTR-1

If you’re a ’90s kid, you probably remember the Panoz Esperante GTR-1 from racing video games like Gran Turismo or Midtown Madness. This American supercar was the talk of the racing community in the late ’90s. However, despite its promising start, Panoz built only a few racing versions and one street-legal example (via Panoz).

The technology behind the Esperante was for racing purposes. It had a space frame body structure, lightweight panels, two seats, and a front engine. The characteristic front of the car was aerodynamically efficient, although it wasn’t that attractive. Under the hood was a Roush-built, Ford-derived V8 with over 500 hp mated to a sequential gearbox. Panoz successfully raced the Esperante on numerous race tracks worldwide but managed to build only one street version.

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Cizeta-Moroder V16T

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

The V16 engine had six liters of displacement and delivered 560 hp, which was a fantastic number for the late ’80s. The performance was equally impressive, with a 0 to 60 mph time of just four 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 and production stopped after only 20 examples, which is why they’re scarce today.

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Mosler MT900

The man behind this car is the well-known American car builder and entrepreneur Warren Mosler. His latest creation, the Mosler MT900, is perhaps his most successful and best-looking supercar (via Car and Driver).

Introduced in 2001, the MT900 was the product of a long development process to present a car that was as light and powerful as possible. Mosler managed to do so since the MT900 weighs only 2500 lbs. The car is powered by a 5.7-liter V8 with 350 hp or a 7.0-liter V8 with 435 hp in the MT900 S version. Chevrolet produced both engines. TheMT900 stayed in production until 2011. During that time, 14 cars were made. Mosler even had a racing version that competed with some degree of success in the World Endurance Racing championship.

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Panther 6

This strange car is considered a supercar due to its power, price, and unusual technical solutions like having six wheels instead of the usual 4. The Panther 6 was a roadster powered by a monstrous 8.2-liter V8 engine from the Cadillac Eldorado. The enormous engine was placed behind the cabin and powered the rear wheels while four wheels in the front managed the steering. To achieve proper ride height and save space in the front where the double suspension assembly is, designers installed smaller diameter wheels compared to much bigger ones on the back (via PCC).

The Panther 6 was an extravagant convertible supercar with a leather interior, climate control, power windows and doors, and even a TV and phone. The designers claimed it was capable of achieving a top speed of 200 mph (320 km/h), but automobile experts were skeptical, and Panther never allowed independent testing. Only two cars left the factory in England.

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Vector W8

The legendary Vector W8 was a wedge-shaped, V8-powered monster presented in 1990. It was an ambitious project by the Vector Aeromotive Corporation. They wanted to produce the most advanced supercar in the world by using aeronautical technology and materials in car production. The W8 had a space frame chassis with a Kevlar body reinforced with special plastic (via Supercars).

The engine was a typical American powerhouse, the Chevrolet small block V8. They paired it up with twin turbochargers to produce 625 hp, which was impressive. The company claimed that the 6.0-liter twin-turbo engine was capable of 1200 hp at full boost. However, they suggested drivers not use full boost for extended periods since it would affect engine durability. The Vector W2 cost $450,000, which was an enormous sum for the day. Despite being featured in numerous movies, TV shows, and computer games, it failed to translate into sales success. When production ended in 1993, the Vector Aeromotive Company managed to produce only 22 examples of this fantastic supercar.

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Dauer 962 Le Mans

If you ever wondered what driving a Le Mans racing car on the street would be like, here is the answer. This car is the ultimate supercar ever built since it is so extreme and fast that it could put most of the latest supercars to shame despite the fact it’s over 20 years old. On the other hand, 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 Autozine).

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 potent than the racing model since the race cars had to have air restrictors and the street cars didn’t. So the Dauer 962 produced 750 horsepower from its 3.0-liter turbocharged flat-six engine. The performance figures were also crazy. The 0 to 60 mph time was 2.8 seconds and its top speed was 251 mph. However, the problem with this model was that it needed to be more for most owners. Since most supercar owners buy their cars to show off, production was only 12 copies.

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Hennessey Venom GT

If you’re into domestic supercars, you certainly know about Hennessey from Texas. In the last few decades, they have been one of the biggest names in aftermarket muscle and performance car parts and conversion kits. Since 2011, they have also been supercar manufacturers thanks to the Venom GT (via Hennessey).

The Venom GT is not a 100% American car, but a British-American hybrid. It’s based on the Lotus Elise but significantly modified and widened with different suspension, brakes, and drivetrain. Practically everything is new and different from the original car. The power comes from a 7.0-liter LS2 V8 engine with three power levels – 800 hp, 1000 hp, and 1200 hp. The Venom GT was available as a coupe or convertible. It held the world record for the fastest production car from 0-186 mph (0-300 km/h) with an average time of 13.63 seconds. Production was ended in 2017 after 13 cars were made.

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Axiam Mega Track

The French Mega Track was one of the most interesting forgotten supercars ever produced. It was built by the Axiam company in the mid-’90s. The Mega Track was the first and only off-road supercar ever built. How is it that a supercar capable of off-roading has an adjustable suspension that can turn it from a regular car to an SUV in seconds?

The complicated system allowed 8 to 13 inches of ride height so 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, producing 400 hp and powering all four wheels. The concept had its drawbacks, as the Mega Track was a heavy and oversized car. It weighed over two tons and had a length of over five meters, more than the Mercedes S-Class. The Axiam company, known for producing small microcars and various automotive industry components, needed more time and interest to promote the Mega Track further (via Top Speed).

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Falcon F7

In 2009, American car designer and businessman Jeff Lemke established Falcon Motorsports, a company dedicated to building high-performance, limited-production supercars. Their first car, the Falcon F7, debuted at the 2012 New York Motor Show (via Falcon).

Some believe the Falcon F7 is the coolest-looking supercar on sale today. Its silver paint, sharp front end, futuristic interior, and aggressive stance make it a great-looking vehicle. Its power comes from a naturally aspirated, all-alloy 7.0-liter V8 engine with 620 to 680 hp. The Falcon also announced a twin-turbo version with 1100 hp. Production was minimal and the Falcon F7 earned praise from car magazines and customers worldwide.

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Isdera Imperator 108i

Isdera is a small and ultra-exclusive manufacturer of supercars out of Germany. It was a project by Eberhard Schultz, an ex-Mercedes engineer, in 1969. Over the years, Isdera produced only a few models, all of which used Mercedes parts and engines. The company became known for its exclusive production approach. All their products could be considered lost and forgotten supercars. But the Imperator 108i is the coolest and best looking so it deserves a place on this list. It was introduced in 1984 and remained in production until 1993, during which time 30 examples left the factory (via Motor1).

The car had 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 machines with 5.6 and 6.0 liters of displacement produced by Mercedes. The performance was respectable, with 5.0 seconds 0-60 times and a top speed of over 170 mph. The design had a characteristic wedge shape and one exciting feature – a periscope rear-view mirror. Despite the exciting 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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Mitsuoka Orochi

One of the world’s most obscure supercars comes from Japan in the form of the Mitsuoka Orochi. It was a great-looking two-seater with Lamborghini doors and a controversial design. The Mitsuoka company was known for building restomoded cars based on regular models. Still, in 2006, they decided to enter the supercar market with a highly exclusive Orochi named after a mythical Japanese dragon, a name that influenced the car’s design (via Auto Express).

The Orochi is based on the Honda NSX platform but powered by Toyota’s 3.3-liter V6 engine with 240 hp. That’s not much for a supercar. But the car is light and elegant so the performance is satisfying, to say the least. The Orochi was never intended to be sold outside of Japan or selected Asian markets, especially not in the USA. The car was only made in right-hand configuration, and Mitsuoka was interested in something other than foreign buyers.

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Monteverdi Hai 450 SS

The Monteverdi company was a Swiss manufacturer of high-end coupes and limousines. They became famous thanks to their elegant creations, which featured Italian styling, German quality, and American engines. All models featured Chrysler engines, which provided the raw power that European manufacturers of the period lacked (via Supercars).

The new model, the Hai 450 SS, was born in 1970 and had an entirely new chassis, body, and a Hemi 426 V8 engine in the back. The name “Hai” is 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 recession and 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 worth a ton of money.

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Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale

It’s 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 strange, obscure, and rare model that is very fitting for this article. The TZ name is present in Alfa’s history from the ’60s when it made several sports and racing cars named TZ 1 and TZ 2. The T stands for Turbulare and the Z for Zagato, the designer house. Only nine vehicles left the Zagato factory (via Car Throttle).

The Alfa Romeo TZ 3 was the previous generation Dodge Viper ACR-X, but 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 6 time, and a 200 mph top speed. Despite the fancy new Italian suit, great V10 engine, perfect driving dynamics, and legendary name, Alfa sold only nine copies. Today, almost no one remembers the Alfa Romeo 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 bodies and chassis, Venturi created several beautiful, fast cars. They left their mark in the history of obscure supercars with their magnificent 400 GT model from the mid-’90s. Visually similar to the Ferrari F40, the Venturi 400 GT also used a twin-turbocharged engine. But in the Venturi’s case, it was a 3.0-liter Peugeot V6 enhanced to produce 400 horsepower in street trim (via Car and Driver).

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 top out at over 180 mph. It was faster than Porsches or Ferraris of the day. Venturi participated in many races, including Le Mans. It even had its racing series where wealthy amateurs could race their Venturis in match races. Unfortunately, the cruel financial reality caught up with Venturi’s big ambitions. The company was closed, first in 1997 and then again in 2000. Venturi withdrew from racing before that and managed to produce less than 100 examples of the fantastic 400 GT, which has since been lost in corridors of time.

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Lister Storm

The Lister company is a racing outfit that built cars for 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 brutally fast four-seater Gran Turismo coupe capable of breaking speed records and transporting its passengers in comfort. The new model was the Storm featuring a V12 engine with 550 hp (via Lister).

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 larger tires and 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, only four customers ever ordered it despite having such brutal power, a 4.0-second 0 to 60 mph time, and an over 210 mph top speed. The reason was simple: the car looked ugly to many. 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, and all that is left of this exciting venture is the KZ 1 model. The KZ 1 was born in 2004 and had good construction with a carbon fiber tub. An S62 V8 engine from the E39 BMW M5 was good for over 400 horsepower (via Top Gear).

The performance was excellent since the KZ 1 was light and balanced. 0 to 60 mph was possible in 4.0 seconds while its top speed was 200 mph. The specifications and features in popular magazines added to the hype. But then the price was released and the KZ 1 hit the wall. Ascari priced this car at a very hefty $400,000, more than a comparable Ferrari or Porsche, which sealed the destiny of the KZ 1. Only around 10 cars left the factory.

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Bristol Fighter

Bristol is one of the craziest companies in the world. But it’s not because of its models, which are strange. It’s more for its business policy. The company barely made any money for decades and operated only one showroom. They 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 uncompromised performance and a fresh design. That was how the Bristol Fighter was born (via Autocar).

Photo Credit: Marc Vorgers/Classic Car Garage

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 carries the tradition of using Chrysler engines. The fighter has 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 due to several reasons. The Lotec Company produced it in the early 2000s. The prototype caused much attention when it was first shown in 2001, but ever since, news about this crazy supercar has been pretty scarce. Some say that only two examples left the factory, and others claim the Sirius never progressed beyond the prototype stage (via BTR).

However, the Sirius is still one of the most potent and exciting machines. Its heart is a twin-turbo Mercedes V12 engine that develops around 1300 hp. The Sirius is unbelievably fast, with a five-speed manual transmission and just 2800 pounds of curb weight. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3.7 seconds and its top speed is an insane 285 mph.

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Lost Treasures: These Forgotten Supercars Are Worth Huge Cash

Panoz Esperante GTR-1

Cizeta-Moroder V16T

Mosler MT900

Panther 6

Vector W8

Dauer 962 Le Mans

Hennessey Venom GT

Axiam Mega Track

Falcon F7

Isdera Imperator 108i

Mitsuoka Orochi

Monteverdi Hai 450 SS

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale

Venturi 400 GT

Lister Storm

Ascari KZ 1

Bristol Fighter

Lotec Sirius

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