The Strangest Supercars Ever Sold

From Bond Cars to Batmobiles - Discover the Most Unusual Financed Supercars

Picture yourself walking into a finance meeting, ready to discuss your next vehicle purchase. Now imagine the broker's expression when you explain that you'd like to arrange funding for a jet-turbine-powered Batmobile replica or a gold-plated Ferrari commissioned to replicate a car from a film. Welcome to the wonderfully eccentric world of unusual supercar finance!

While we’ve never funded any vehicle quite that unusual here at Elev8 Finance, it got us thinking about what the world of high-end vehicle finance has witnessed over the years. And trust us, there are some truly extraordinary purchases out there! So without further ado, here’s our list of the strangest supercars ever financed…

The 10 Cars Featured in This Article:

1964 Aston Martin DB5 (Original Goldfinger Promotional Car)
Original 1966 George Barris Batmobile
1989-Style Turbine-Powered Batmobile
Warner Bros. Official Tumbler Batmobile Replicas (2024)
Jay Leno's 2006 GM EcoJet
Eric Clapton's Ferrari SP12 EC
Jay-Z & Beyoncé's Rolls-Royce Boat Tail
Rolls-Royce Sweptail
Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta
Vector W8 (1989-1993)

1964 Aston Martin DB5

When 007's Company Car Became a Million-Pound Investment

Let's start with perhaps the most famous "strange supercar" story of all: the Aston Martin DB5. And yes, we know - an Aston Martin DB5 is hardly strange. Unless, that is, it's one of the original gadget-laden Bond cars from Goldfinger!

In August 2019, one of only three surviving DB5s used to promote the 1964 film sold at auction for an eye-watering $6.4 million (approximately £5.3 million). This particular DB5 wasn't just any promotional vehicle - it was the real deal, complete with thirteen working modifications including Browning .30 calibre machine guns in the front fenders, wheel-hub-mounted tyre slashers, a retractable rear bulletproof screen, and the legendary passenger-seat ejection system.

Let’s face it - celebrity provenance and Bond association add serious value to an already exceptional vehicle.

Original 1966 George Barris Batmobile

Holy Financing, Batman! The Batmobile Market

If financing a Bond car sounds unusual, imagine arranging funding for a fully functional Batmobile?! Yet over the decades, that's exactly what many collectors (and a surprising number of everyday enthusiasts) have done.

The Batmobile market is remarkably diverse, ranging from budget-friendly builds to multi-million-pound investments. The truly remarkable examples, however, command serious money. The original 1966 Batmobile - George Barris's iconic creation based on the 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car - sold at auction in 2013 for $4.62 million!

1989-Style Turbine-Powered Batmobile

Turbine-Powered Justice: Because Some Dreams Need Jet Fuel

Between the budget builds and the multi-million-pound originals sits perhaps the most remarkable Batmobile replica ever created: Ohio-based Casey Putsch's turbine-powered 1989-style Batmobile. This isn't just a fibreglass body on a donor chassis - it's a functioning jet-powered vehicle that actually works as advertised.

When this particular turbine Batmobile appeared at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction in America in 2023, it sold for $220,000 (approximately £175,000), which is pretty substantial for a replica vehicle.

Warner Bros. Official Tumbler Batmobile Replicas (2024)

Because Subtlety Was Never an Option in Gotham City

But perhaps the most ambitious Batmobile project currently underway is Warner Bros. Discovery's official Tumbler replica programme. Only ten of these Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy-inspired vehicles will be built, each priced at an eye-watering $2.99 million (approximately £2.4 million).

However, there's just one catch: they're not road-legal. Which means buyers need private land to enjoy their purchase, adding yet another dimension to the financing conversation when these vehicles finally go to auction.

Jay Leno's 2006 GM EcoJet

When Celebrity Money Meets Imagination

It probably comes as no surprise, but some of the strangest financed vehicles are those commissioned by celebrities with very specific visions. Take Jay Leno's 2006 GM EcoJet, for instance.

The renowned car collector and former Tonight Show host didn't just buy an exotic car - he collaborated with General Motors to create a 650-horsepower supercar powered by a Honeywell LTS101 turbine engine.

Running on bio-diesel, this one-off creation is as much an engineering marvel as it is a statement piece. The exact cost has never been disclosed, but GM's involvement suggests there was significant investment from Mr Leno.

Eric Clapton's Ferrari SP12 EC

Hand-Built Horsepower for Rock Royalty

Then there's Eric Clapton's Ferrari SP12 EC, a one-off creation from Ferrari's Special Projects Division based on the 458 Italia.

So, what was the guitar legend's initial budget for his bespoke masterpiece? Somewhere around £3 million, so we’re told. The final cost, though, is a cool $4.7 million (approximately £3.8 million). But when you're commissioning Ferrari to build your dream car, budgets tend to become somewhat flexible!

Jay-Z & Beyoncé's Rolls-Royce Boat Tail

Luxury So Bespoke It Deserves Its Own Album

Perhaps the most extravagant celebrity commission in recent years is Jay-Z and Beyoncé's Rolls-Royce Boat Tail. This elaborate coachbuilt creation came with a staggering $28 million price tag (approximately £22.5 million).

As you’d imagine, the car features a complex folding tailgate that reveals a champagne service complete with bespoke coolers and a parasol - because apparently, regular Rolls-Royces just aren't opulent enough.

Rolls-Royce Sweptail

Ultimate Automotive Exclusivity

Beyond celebrity commissions lie the truly unique one-off creations - cars commissioned by ultra-wealthy individuals that will never be replicated. For example, take the Rolls-Royce Sweptail, revealed in 2017 at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este event in Italy.

Based on the Phantom Coupe platform, this bespoke creation featured styling inspired by classic coachbuilt cars and yacht design, with a pointed rear that earned the car its name. The reported price? Somewhere in the region of $13 million (approximately £10.4 million).

Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta

A One-Off Open-Top Legend Dipped in Gold

Ferrari's Special Projects Division has been particularly prolific in creating one-offs for discerning clients. The P540 Superfast Aperta, commissioned by Edward Walson (son of the cable television inventor) in 2008, is a modern interpretation of the gold-coloured Ferrari 330 LMB from the 1968 film Spirits of the Dead.

More than deserving of its place on our list, the car took inspiration from an obscure Fellini movie, proving that sometimes the most unusual automotive dreams stem from the most unexpected places.

Vector W8 (1989-1993)

The American Dream That Nearly Wasn't

And finally, on to one of the more strange supercar stories in automotive history: the Vector W8, America's audacious attempt to take on Ferrari and Lamborghini at their own game. When the W8 finally arrived, it was unlike anything else on the road - resembling something more like KITT from the 1980s David Hasselhoff TV classic, Knight Rider.

The price? An eye-watering $450,000 in early 1990s money - roughly $1 million in today's terms when adjusted for inflation. That put it squarely in the territory of the most exotic Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the era, and was once owned by tennis legend Andre Agassi.

The Investment Perspective: Are Strange Supercars Smart Money?

Here's where things get interesting from a purely financial standpoint. While conventional wisdom suggests that unusual, limited-production vehicles should appreciate due to their rarity, the reality is more nuanced. Quite often, it comes down to personal opinion and the value to the buyer.

What’s clear is that not all unusual vehicles appreciate in price. Some, particularly those that were controversial or poorly received when new, struggle to find buyers years later. The key factors that drive appreciation in unusual vehicles include provenance and story, build quality, cultural relevance, practicality, and, let’s not forget, that all-desirable official documentation.

Financing Unusual Cars: What It Actually Takes

So what does it actually take to finance one of these more unusual machines? The process differs significantly from arranging finance on even a "regular" supercar.

Of course, you can expect enhanced due diligence. For vehicles without comparable sales data, lenders rely heavily on professional valuations, often requiring multiple independent assessments. For cars that don't yet exist (such as one-off commissions), the manufacturer's reputation and the client's deposit structure become paramount.

Perhaps most importantly, specialist knowledge of the industry becomes non-negotiable. Arranging finance for a truly unusual vehicle requires a broker who understands not just the numbers, but the market, the manufacturer, the vehicle's place in automotive history, and the realistic prospects for value retention or appreciation.

Your Next Exceptional Vehicle Purchase

At Elev8 Finance, we pride ourselves on understanding that every exceptional vehicle purchase tells a story. Sometimes that story involves a pristine Bentley Continental GT. Other times, it involves explaining to lenders why a client wants to finance a gold Ferrari commissioned to replicate a car from a 1968 Fellini film.

But what’s important to understand is that both conversations start in the same way: with a client who has a vision, and our commitment to making that vision a reality through appropriate, tailored financing solutions.

Do you have a supercar purchase in mind? Contact us today, and let's discuss what drives your automotive dreams.