When most people see a BMW X5 they see an old German airplane company making an SUV appeal to the mass market commoners. What you don't see is the possibility that some X5's have rolled out of the factory pre-sold with a price tag of exactly $1,000,000 US dollars! What looks like a standard station wagon could be someone's passion project, childhood dream car, and, perhaps, their whole retirement savings! It's bizarre to think how certain enthusiasts could look at the same four-wheeled machines - engine, transmission, tires, features, and body all the same - and say "I wouldn't take this one if you paid me, but this one I would sell my kidney for!"
These aren't just speculative prices or some investor telling a reporter what he thinks his investment will sell for. These are cars that actually sold at auction for the price listed herein, and would be sold for as much again if anyone was foolish enough to sell them! So what makes these cars so darn valuable, despite beige and nondescript exteriors? What's the difference that makes an enthusiast balk, while the uneducated casually walk by? Here are 10 cars that might just answer those questions.
9 2022 Audi RS6 Avant - $112,000
While the layman could possibly mistake this wagon for a Volkswagen Alltrack, it's actually one of the fastest wagons of all time. A closer look reveals the 22-inch wheels that propel it 0-60 in just 3.1 seconds, impressive for any car that weighs a bridge-breaking 4,960 lbs.!
It can rip around a track with all-wheel drive and has great driver feedback with a rack-and-pinion steering setup. The inside has plenty of legroom for five adults, an optional moonroof, and almost every commodity the modern driver could want. The only thing missing is exterior style!
8 1992 Land Rover 110 200Tdi - $185,000
The full name of this one is the 1992 Land Rover Defender 110 200Tdi "The Landrovers" Oakwood Edition, which lends a little credit to its price tag. While the most valuable Land Rover ever sold reeled in a $600,000 USD price tag (the 2-millionth ever sold), this one isn't some one-off novelty.
As the Tdi implies, this is, in fact, a 2.5-liter inline-four turbo diesel engine (a replacement, in this case). What's surprising is the purist quality of the condition of the entire vehicle, restored by "The Landrovers" team in the Netherlands, then shipped to the US in 2020.
7 1972 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R - $193,304
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The unknowledgeable might mistake this body for an old Civic or even a Ford Escort, but because of the heritage the 2000GT-R has birthed, it's now flying off the auction shelves for almost $200,000 and is said to be on track for a $400,000 tag in the next ten years (not investment advice).
When first released in 1969, the Skyline 2000GT-R rocked the racing world before its upgrade in '72. It had dual-overhead cams and a 6 cylinder that ran its 2,524 lbs body hard with 160 horsepower.
6 2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S e-Hybrid Sport Turismo - $203,000
At the most basic level, this is just a wagon with extra-beefy wheels. Some say it's the ugliest new Porsche and shouldn't even get the Porsche badge. Well, they may be wrong. A basic Panamera is capable of taking four adults up to 200 mph with a little bit of tuning.
A turbo with Porshe's so-far-successful electric system to boost it to 690 horsepower, well... that gets you a 2.7 second 0-60 time! AND it's environmentally conscious! Bone stock it can go 196 miles per hour so yes, the same models go for as low as $87,000 off the lot, but the upgrades sure earn their dollars!
5 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B - $312,000
If you parked this next to another STI, or even a WRX, heck! Let's say a plain Impreza from 1998, the only thing most people would notice is the way the steering wheel is on the right-hand side. That's because this one is only sold in Japan, and won't legally cross the ocean until export laws allow it to in 2023.
While that's not impressive, its creation and performance are, including the legendary rally driver Collin McRae and his multiple wins with Subaru as they used the 22B to steal world titles repeatedly. The 22B makes 280 horsepower with a little 2.2 boxer engine, and it's unique in that it allowed drivers to control the electronic rear differential, the precursor to their unbeatable "symmetrical all-wheel drive."
4 1981 BMW M1 - $405,000
Pop-up headlights and a wedge shape that was ahead of its time made this doorstop of a car a legend. What makes it so confusing for people is the flood of wedge-shaped cars (affectionately called "wedgies") that came before and followed after it, each less valuable than the next. A confused fellow might call it a 90's Nissan Z or late 80's Corvette, or even a DeLorean.
This classic had an unassisted rack-and-pinion steering, mid-engine inline 6, and made 260 horsepower. From the ground up it was made to win races and put BMW on the map. Sadly, it retired shortly after starting due to Jochen Neerpasch, the driver responsible for the M1's success, left due to the M1's controversy around it not living up to standards. This particular one was owned by Paul Walker.
3 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America - $1,000,000
For such an old and plain-looking car, especially one made by a foreign country in America, it's hard to imagine very much hype around an ancient sportscar like this. While the one pictured is very unique due to being one of 181 made in left-hand drive, and even less made with a hardtop, this one was lucky enough to have just one owner for 30 of its 66 years of life.
Still, many more common models go for as much as $1,500,000! Why? The Aurelia was a replacement to Lancia's flagship the Aprilia. They took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at Targa Florio, and from there grew the racing legend that would become Lancia.
2 2000 BMW X5 Le Mans Concept - $1,000,000
The normal 2000's X5 only made 285 horsepower and sold for just $49,400 each. The Le Mans Concept was stuffed with the INSANE P-75 V12 giving it over 700 horsepower, which makes sense because the engine was originally developed for McLaren F1! It was called "Le Mans" as a tribute to their success at Le Mans with the same engine.
The car is considered a concept because very few were made but they are still in circulation nevertheless. They had no backseat and a driver-side roll cage to go with the Recaro bucket seats. It could go 193 miles per hour and fell just seven seconds behind the modern Audi RS Q8 on the Nürburgring.
1 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6: $1,242,000
Normally when you picture a Chevelle you think of a respectable pony car with a patina that the owner "decided to leave like that," or a barn finds that even die-hard fans hesitate to pursue. Well in 2006 one Chevelle sold at auction for a cool $1,242,000. It was one of just 23 ever built with the big block LS6 engine, and it pushed 450 horsepower... in the '70s! This is cool and all, but 1.2 mil? Well, being that it was the first car that GM let break the 400 horsepower barrier, and it had an even-rarer white convertible ragtop, then it makes more sense.
The icing on the cake was its wins at the 1970 NHRA Northeast Division Championship, 1970 NHRA World Finals, and 1970 Supernationals. Admittedly, its hype wasn't eternal... it now is worth between 600k and 800k but, man! What a valuation for what was essentially an old Chevy Cruze with a truck motor stuffed inside.