Sometimes, a car launches in such small numbers that there are considerable fights to place an order for one. Okay, that’s a slight exaggeration, but limited editions are something very few of us will ever own.

These unique vehicles aren’t limited to just performance cars either. Family cars and daily drivers can often have their exclusive editions.

This list contains 24 of the best in the world regarding limited edition vehicles. These are worth every penny, thanks to their overall performance, stunning looks, or the features they offer over a standard model.

Bugatti Chiron La Voiture Noire

Bugatti Chiron La Voiture Noire 
Image Credit: Bugatti.

The La Voiture Noire is a super-exclusive, one-off edition of Bugatti’s Chiron hypercar. Bugatti debuted the one-off at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, a tribute to the Type 57 SC Atlantic, one of Bugatti’s most famous products.

A Bugatti customer commissioned the Lo Voiture Noire, with Bugatti designer Etienne Salome designing the hand-built carbon fiber body. Under the hood, the 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged engine is the same as the Chiron, and the hypercar has nods to the original Type 57, such as the piece of trim running from the front of the vehicle to the rear spoiler, which mimics the dorsal fin of the original car.

Mazda MX-5 Le Mans

Mazda MX-5 Le Mans
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

It’s not the prettiest limited-edition car in the world. But the 1991 Mazda MX-5 Le Mans celebrates one of the Japanese manufacturer’s most outstanding achievements. It’s a special edition of its roadster celebrating Mazda’s victory at Le Mans that year with the 787B prototype.

The MX-5 had the same green and orange livery as the race car. Under the hood, each MX-5 had a 150 hp 1.6-liter twin-cam engine, which produced an extra 36 hp thanks to a BBR turbo. Mazda produced just 24 MX-5 Le Mans, each with a certificate signed by Johnny Herbert, one of the 787B’s drivers.

Renault Clio Williams

1993 Renault Clio Williams
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

In 1992, Nigel Mansell won the F1 world championship, driving his Williams FW14B with Renault power. Renault celebrated the Briton’s achievement the following year by producing a special, limited-edition Clio bearing the Williams name.

The Williams name was just a marketing ploy, but Renault still provided the British team with its engines at the time. Initially, Renault produced just 2,500 Clio Williams, but they were so popular that the French manufacturer produced two more batches in 1994 and 1995, bringing the total production number up to 12,100 units. Each had a modified 2.0-liter 16-valve engine from the Renault 19 under the hood.

Skoda Felicia Fun

Skoda Felicia Fun
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

Of all the vehicles on this list, the Felicia Fun is the most outrageous. Skoda based the Felicia Fun on their Felicia pickup truck, except in the bright yellow Felicia Fun, the rear seats could also come out into the pickup bed area. Providing the rear passengers with a spontaneous convertible experience.

Despite its pickup truck origins, Skoda aimed to sell Felicia Fun in the lifestyle market. This fun theme continued inside, with frog logos on the upholstery and an abundance of yellow material on the gearstick, handbrake, door cards, instrument panels, and steering wheel. Under the hood, you had a choice of a 67-hp 1.3-liter engine, a 74-hp 1.6-liter, and a 1.9-liter 63-hp diesel.

BMW M5 Edition 35 Years

BMW M5 Edition 35 Years
Image Credit: BMW.

In the summer of 2019, BMW released the M5 Edition 35 Years. As the name suggests, it celebrates 35 years of the iconic saloon, which has remained one of the best in its class for over three decades.

Under the hood is a 616 hp twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine, the same engine we find in the M5 Competition. The speed figures are impressive, with a top speed of 155 mph and a 0-62 mph time of just 3.3 seconds. As you would expect, there are typical BMW special edition exterior features such as the badging, the matte-metallic gray paint, and the model-specific alloy wheels.

Fiat Kung Fu Panda

Fiat Kung Fu Panda
Image Credit: Pinterest.

One of the most unusual limited-editions on this list is worth the money based on its name and unusual looks alone. Fiat loves a whacky special edition, and at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, they took the covers off the Kung Fu Panda.

Of course, it was a special tribute to the Dreamworks animated film Kung Fu Panda 3, using the classic Fiat Panda as its basis. The block and white body had black Panda eyes around the headlamps, and the main character’s head was on the headrests. They are slightly creepy, but they work well. It was a fun play on one of Fiat’s most popular vehicles.

Audi R8 RWS

Audi R8 RWS
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

Audi’s launch of the R8 RWS in 2018 came as a surprise. The company had not built a rear-wheel drive car since the 1930s, but the German manufacturer changed that with 999 examples of the R8 WS.

Audi produced the R8 RWS in coupe and convertible body styles. The car weighed over 110 lbs lighter than the standard R8, as Audi had removed the multi-plate clutch center differential, front driveshafts, and prop shafts. The special edition worked, as a year later, Audi made the rear-wheel drive R8 a part of the range, and the V10 RWD went on sale in 2020.

Mazda RX-7 Bathurst R

Mazda RX-7 Bathurst R
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

The Mazda RX-7 was already a winner when the Japanese manufacturer decided to create a special version of the car. Mazda wanted to commemorate its success at the Bathurst 12 Hours race in Australia, winning the event from 1992 to 1994.

Mazda introduced the rare RX-7 Bathurst R in 2002. The company produced just 650 units of the RX-7 with the lightest power-to-weight ratio. Despite Mazda’s success in Australia, the manufacturer only made the Bathurst R available in the Japanese domestic market.

Bentley Continental GT Number 9 Edition

Bentley Continental GT Number 9 Edition
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

In 2019, Bentley marked its centenary year, which led to some special vehicles leaving the factory. It produced 100 examples of the Continental GT Number 9, all handcrafted by Mulliner. The design for this Continental GT took heavy inspiration from Bentley’s motorsport heritage.

Most notably, it took inspiration from the famous, supercharged Blower Bentley that the British manufacturer raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1930. Sir Tim Birklin, one of the original Bentley Boys, was one of the car’s drivers. So Bentley added a piece of wood to the GT Number 9s taken from the driver’s seat of Birklin’s racecar. Bentley took the wood, set them in resin, and placed them backlit in the middle of the center dial.

BMW Z3 M Coupe

BMW Z3 M Coupe
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

The BMW Z3 arrived on the scene in 1995, and three years later, BMW added the M models to the range. This included the Z3 coupes, produced in a limited run, but their unusual looks divided BMW’s customers. Some went as far as to say the car looked like a clown shoe or bread van,

The Z3 Coupes, however, was clearly a labor of love for those working on them. BMW’s engineers developed the Z3 M Coupe outside of regular work. They added a new roof and fitted the car with the potent 3.6-liter straight-six. BMW produced just 6,791 Z3 M Coupes, and 269 had a more powerful 315 hp engine under the hood.

Peugeot 306 Rallye

Peugeot 306 Rallye
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

Peugeot is no stranger to hot hatchbacks, and one of its very best was the limited edition 306 Rallye. A rally car for the road, Peugeot produced just 500 306 Rallyes, stripping the car of all unnecessary electronics and interior trimming to bring the weight down.

The 306 Rallye weighed just 2,563 lbs, and the French manufacturer built the car on the basis of the 306 GTi-6. Peugeot worked hard to get the most out of the two-liter engine under the hood rather than focusing on optional extras or cosmetic features. As a result, the 306 Rallye was good for 137 mph and 0-60 mph in just 6.9 seconds.

Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale

Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale 
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

The Ferrari 360 is one of the best supercars the Prancing Horse produced in the 2000s. Yet it was able to make it even better, thanks to the very rare but focussed 360 Challenge Stradale (CS). Under the hood is a naturally aspirated flat-plane crank 3.6-liter V8 producing 425 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque.

That power is enough to propel the supercar from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. Ferrari derived the 360 CS’s transmission from its F1 car semi-automatic transmission, and the Italian manufacturer was able to save 242 lbs of weight compared to the standard 360. The 360 CS is one of the best and most underrated Ferraris of the 21st century.

2001 Fiat Seicento Michael Schumacher

2001 Fiat Seicento Michael Schumacher
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

We put this car here for a few reasons. Firstly, it bears the name of F1 legend Michael Schumacher. Secondly, small cars like the Seicento are scarce. Finally, it is just a lot of fun.

Yet the Seicento Michael Schumacher was more than just a regular Fiat with an F1 driver’s name on it. The little Fiat has an Abarth sports suspension and a close-ratio transmission, and its lightness makes it a joy to throw into the corners. Under the hood was a tiny 1.1-liter four-cylinder engine, producing only 54 hp, but you could go up to 359 miles on one tank. Fiat produced just 2,500 examples of the Seicento Michael Schumacher.

1980 Ford Mustang McLaren M81

1980 Ford Mustang McLaren M81
Image Credit: Mecum Auctions.

McLaren Engines was the U.S. division of the British Formula 1 team. In the early 1980s, Ford partnered with McLaren to produce one of the rarest versions of the Mustang muscle car.

This was the 1980 McLaren Mustang M81. Adorned in the familiar Papaya of McLaren, the muscle car started as a regular Fox-Body Mustang before McLaren upgraded the engine, added IMSA-style wheel arches, a new hood bulge, and various other bits and pieces. The 2.23-liter turbocharged engine produced 174 hp, and McLaren and Ford only produced ten M81 Mustangs.

Shelby Super Snake Mustang 50th Anniversary

Shelby Super Snake Mustang 50th Anniversary
Image Credit: Ford Performance.

Any car celebrating a milestone in the history of the Ford Mustang or Shelby will be a winner. In 2017, Shelby took the covers off the exceptional Super Snake Mustang 50th Anniversary, commemorating the Anniversary of the legendary Shelby Super Snake.

The 500 Shelby Mustangs each had Ford’s 5.0-liter V8 under the hood, which produced 670 hp, but that could rise to 750 hp with the addition of a Whipple or Kenne Bell supercharger. Other changes to the Msutang included the new nostril hood, various stripes, and super snake badging—each of the 500 Mustangs cost $69,995, including the price of a base Ford Mustang GT.

Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary

Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

The gorgeous Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary marked the end of an era for the Plus 8. It came as the car was about to lose its naturally aspirated, BMW-sourced 4.8-liter V8 engine, and Morgan produced just 50 of these exceptional sports cars.

That number was equally divided into Blue Speedsters and British Racing Green convertibles. Each Morgan had their own unique number, and owners would also get a bespoke Christoper Ward watch with their car. It was an impressive car, with 367 hp and a 0-62 mph 4.5 seconds.

Lotus Elise 20th Anniversary

Lotus Elise 20th Anniversary
Image Credit: Lotus.

It seems wild talking about a particular, limited edition version of the Lotus Elise with the demise of the internal combustion engine from the British manufacturer’s range. Yet here we are, discussing the Elise 20th Anniversary, which also makes us feel old.

As the name suggests, the Elise 20th celebrated 20 years of the sports car in 2015. The first Elise debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1995. The Elise 20th had the Elise S’s more powerful engine under the hood. The 1.8-liter supercharged powertrain produced 217 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque. Four classic Elise colors, blue, green, yellow, and silver, were available on the Elise 20th.

Ford Focus RS Mk1

Mk1 Ford Focus RS
Image Credit: Wiki Commons

Everyone loves a hot hatchback, and Ford’s Focus RS Mk1 is one of the finest from the 2000s. It might only have 212 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque from the turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but the RS Mk1 is incredibly fun to drive, thanks to its weighting 2,844 lbs.

Ford gave the RS Mk1 a 65 mm wider track, and it also had the Focus RS’s Quaife Torque Biasing Differential. This clever system aided in traction by taming the power that went to the front wheels, although it did earn a reputation for aggressive torque management.

Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster

Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

A lot of the latter versions of the Pagani Zondas were special editions. The Italian supercar manufacturer couldn’t quite bring itself to axe the Zonda as the Huayra drew ever slower.

Not that we complained, because the Zonda is still one of the best supercars of the modern era. Near the end of its production run, Pagani introduced the Zonda Cinque Roadster. This exclusive version had a carbo-titanium monocoque chassis and a paddle-shift transmission. Under the hood was a 699 hp Mercedes-AMG V12, propelling the supercar to a top speed of 217 mph.

Nissan R390

Nissan R390
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

When Nissan wanted to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the late 1990s, the Japanese manufacturer had to produce a road-going version of its R390 GT1. So Nissan did the bare minimum, making just one R390 for the road the company never sold.

The sole R390, now residing in the Nissan Museum, had the same 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged VRH35L V8 under the hood as the R390 GT1. Power was 550 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, and the remarkable-looking supercar was an absolute monster. Former F1 driver Erik Comas would later convert an R390 GT1 to road use; such was his love of the car.

Venturi 400 GT

Venturi Atlantique 400GT
Image Credit: Pinterest.

The Venturi 400 GT was the last car from the French manufacturer before it went bankrupt in 2000. Thanks to its financial difficulties, Venturi produced less than 100 units of the 400 GT, with 15 road versions and 73 for racing.

Each of these striking sports cars had a biturbo 3.0-liter V6 under the hood, producing 408 hp. This engine propelled the 400 GT to a 0-62 mph time of just 4.1 seconds. The Atlantique version of the 400 GT has a 3.0-liter 24-valve V6 under the hood, producing 302 hp. Both examples had a five-speed manual transmission, and the top speed of the 400 GT was a dizzying 186 mph.

Aston Martin Victor

Aston Martin Victor
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

It might cost up to $5 million, but the remarkable Aston Martin Victor is worth every dollar. This one-off is the latest from Aston Martin’s Q Advanced Operations department, and Aston utilized their previous Vulcan as the basis for Victor.

Under the hood, a massive 7.3-liter V12 with 836 hp and 613 lb-ft of torque resides. A simple six-speed manual transmission handles all that power firmly in the hands of one very lucky owner. The Victor is the finest one-off ever created, with sensational styling and power creating an instant modern classic.

Mercedes-Benz AMG ONE

Mercedes-Benz AMG One
Image Credit: WikiCommons.

The ambitious Mercedes-AMG ONE is a technological marvel. Because under the hood of the hypercar is the same 1.6-liter turbocharged hybrid V6 as the 2016 Mercedes Formula 1 car. At nearly $6 million, Mercedes will have breathed a sigh of relief when the troubled hypercar finally entered the delivery stage of its development.

Combined, the AMG ONE produces 1,049 hp. It has a top speed of over 200 mph and some of the most advanced aerodynamics of any modern performance car. Mercedes will only ever produce 275 examples of the ONE, making it one of the rarest hypercars ever.

Ford Racing Puma

Ford Racing Puma
Image Credit: Wiki Commons

It may be exceptionally rare and prone to rust, but the Ford Racing Puma is one of the best small sports cars produced. Ford had planned to make 1,000 of them, but it could only shift 500.

That was largely down to the over $25,000 asking price. Yet you got a 1.7-liter 153 hp hot hatch with superb handling, a great stance, and brilliant new bodywork. Ford worked hard on new bodywork to enhance the Puma’s appearance. At the same time, the 1.7-liter engine, co-developed with Yamaha, was a high-revving masterpiece that, combined with a new exhaust, produced a soundtrack worthy of a larger engine.

Author: Henry Kelsall

Henry is a freelance writer, with a love for all things motoring whether it be classic sports cars, or Formula 1 racing. He has freelanced for over eight years now, mostly in automotive matters, but he has also dabbled in other forms of writing too. He has a lot of love for Japanese classics and American muscle cars, in particular the Honda NSX and first-generation Ford Mustang. When not writing, Henry is often found at classic car events or watching motorsports at home, but he also has a curious passion for steam trains and aviation.

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