Rare Cars: The World's Most Exclusive Rides

Over time, great artisans have emerged to build a tiny number of cars that blur the line between appliance and art, expertly using machine-making to create masterpieces. This comprehensive compendium was curated by noted automotive journalist and authority A.J. Baime and features more than forty motorcars produced between 1931 to today, many of which can command tens of millions of dollars. Whether you’re a current or aspiring collector, or just a fan of one-of-a-kind vehicles, this volume offers readers the next best thing to getting behind the wheel.

Across the globe—from Japan to Detroit, England to Turin—the list includes all the famous marques, everything from the Toyota 200GT Roadster built for the Bond movie You Only Live Twice; James Dean’s infamous Porsche 550 Spyder; and one of Ralph Lauren’s favorite Ferraris. Some vehicles in this book are deemed fine art because of their engine, such as the first Ferrari (the 1947 125 S) powered by the revolutionary, race-winning Colombo V-12.

Some of these cars are so unique that they border on the bizarre, such as the 24-karat gold-plated DeLorean, part of a 1980 promotion with American Express. Others fetch headline- making prices, like the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, which sold for a world-record $142 million. And then there are the new wave of automobiles— think a cult electric model dreamt up by a Croatian teenager (the Rimac Nevera Time Attack) to a car so exclusive that, when a driver crashed one of them in 2022, it became international news (the Pagani Zonda Barchetta). All these cars share two things: timeless beauty and shocking rarity. All of them exist in so few numbers that you’ll be lucky to ever encounter one in real life. And all of them are about trailblazing engineering ideas, world-conquering racing pedigrees, and sculptural perfection. 

To pay homage to the materials of these iconic automobiles, the book’s hardcover is adorned with a mounted metal title plaque and fabricated in rubber, which is lightly scented with an exclusively made rubber-infused essence. The luxury clamshell is handcrafted in sleek metal with an interior lined in hand-stitched Italian leather.

Complimentary white gloves and signature canvas tote bag are included with each purchase from Assouline's Ultimate Collection.