What Is the Most Rare Vintage Car?

There is no single car universally accepted as “the most rare,” because rarity depends on how you measure it; however, among widely recognized vintage automobiles, one-off survivors like the 1948 Porsche 356/1 Roadster (the first Porsche, built as a single prototype) and the 1936–1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic (only four built, with just two original examples known to survive) are frequently cited as the rarest and most significant.

Why “most rare” is a tricky question

Ask ten historians to name the rarest vintage car and you’ll likely hear multiple, defensible answers. “Vintage” itself is defined narrowly by many clubs (often 1919–1930), while popular usage stretches from the prewar era into the mid-20th century. And “rarity” can mean number produced, number surviving, uniqueness of coachwork, or cultural significance. Understanding these lenses helps explain why more than one car can plausibly claim the crown.

The list below outlines common ways experts evaluate rarity, which in turn shape which cars are considered “most rare.”

• Production rarity: Cars built in tiny numbers, including one-off prototypes or coachbuilt specials.
• Survival rarity: Models with very few (or a single) known survivors relative to their original production.
• Specification rarity: Unique chassis, body, or mechanical specification that makes an individual car one-of-one.
• Cultural-historical weight: Provenance, influence on automotive history, and significance to a marque.

Because a single car can score differently across these categories, consensus around a “most rare” pick is elusive; specialists often narrow the field by clarifying which definition they’re using.

Leading contenders often named by historians and collectors

One-off prototype: 1948 Porsche 356/1 Roadster

Built in Gmünd, Austria, the 356/1 was the very first Porsche-badged automobile—a mid-engined, tube-frame roadster constructed as a single prototype before Porsche moved to rear-engined 356 production. Only one 356/1 was made, and it survives in Porsche’s collection, making it a textbook example of absolute rarity and landmark historical significance.

Prewar coachbuilt icon: 1936–1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic

Jean Bugatti’s Atlantic is one of the most storied designs in automotive history. Only four Atlantics were built; two original cars are known to survive, while one famous example—often referred to as “La Voiture Noire”—has been missing since the late 1930s and remains a subject of enduring mystery. If you exclude prototypes and focus on roadgoing, coachbuilt masterpieces, the 57SC Atlantic is widely considered among the rarest and most important.

Ultra-low production luxury: 1927–1933 Bugatti Type 41 Royale

Six Royales were built during the interwar years, and remarkably, all six are known today. While that means more survivors than the Atlantic, the Royale’s combination of tiny production, immense scale, and cultural weight places it near the top of any rarity discussion for true production-era luxury cars.

Oldest-surviving one-off from a major marque: 1921 Aston Martin A3

As the oldest surviving Aston Martin, the A3 is a unique, single example from the Bamford & Martin era. It highlights another dimension of rarity: the sole survivor from the earliest chapter of a storied manufacturer’s history.

Transitional pre-Porsche: 1939 Porsche Type 64

Built for the proposed Berlin–Rome long-distance race, the Type 64 bridged Ferdinand Porsche’s prewar design work and the postwar Porsche marque. Three were constructed, with one original surviving today. It’s not a series-production car, but its scarcity and historical role make it a frequent entrant in “most rare” debates.

Other cars often (mistakenly) called “the rarest”

Many famous models are extraordinarily valuable or celebrated but do not meet a strict “most rare” standard when counted by production or survival. The short list below highlights a few commonly cited names and why they usually fall short of the absolute rarity crown.

• Ferrari 250 GTO (1962–1964): Legendary and valuable, but around three dozen were built and most survive.
• Jaguar XKSS (1957): Sixteen were produced (nine were lost in a factory fire); still rarer than most, but not a one-off.
• Ford GT40 (1964–1969): Iconic Le Mans winner with low production by modern standards, yet dozens exist in period-correct forms.
• 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 Concept: Known today as a one-survivor concept car, often cited for rarity, though it was never a production model.

These cars are scarce and historically important, but their survivor counts—while small—do not typically match the absolute scarcity of single-prototype or near-unique prewar coachbuilt classics.

The bottom line

If you define “vintage” broadly and allow prototypes, the 1948 Porsche 356/1 Roadster is a compelling answer: one built, one survives, and it launched a marque. If you restrict the field to roadgoing, coachbuilt prewar automobiles, the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic—four built, two original survivors, one famously missing—is commonly regarded as the rarest and most significant. Either way, the title hinges on definitions, but those two names consistently top authoritative shortlists.

Summary

There isn’t a single, uncontested “most rare vintage car.” By strict one-of-one survival, the 1948 Porsche 356/1 Roadster is a prime candidate. Among prewar road cars, the 1936–1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic—four built, two original survivors—stands out as a perennial choice. Rarity depends on whether you prioritize production numbers, surviving examples, or historical significance, but these cars are the most frequently and credibly cited.

What is the rarest vintage car?

• 25 of the Rarest Cars in the World and How Much They Cost (2025 Edition)
• Ferrari 250 GTO.
• Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic.
• Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR “Uhlenhaut Coupé”
• Lamborghini Veneno Roadster.
• Aston Martin DBR1.
• Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake.
• Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita.

Is there any car worth $1 billion?

We’ve all heard of cars that sell for millions of dollars, and every year prices just seem to climb higher. Does a car exist that is worth a billion dollars? Not quite yet, because apparently even the world’s billionaires have budgets. But there is now a car worth a cool $142.5 million.

What vintage car is worth the most?

1935 Duesenberg SSJ
$22,000,000 – 1935 Duesenberg SSJ
The most expensive American and pre-war car ever sold at auction is this 1935 Duesenberg SSJ. One of only two short-wheelbase versions ever built, this was also the first time an SSJ had gone under the hammer.

What is the number one rarest car?

Day. These include the 1938. Model which is privately owned by the legendary fashion mogul Ralph Lauren as well as the elusive. 1936. Model which was sold privately in 2010 for an alleged $40.