Whats the rarest car you've ever owned?

"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
12/13/2013 at 12:37 • Filed to: None

I saw CRZRSN posted this morning about his Mustang being !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! of 2,013 painted GHG, and then Boxer_4 brought up his dads !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! was one of 34, and it reminded me of one of my (sadly) long gone cars which was 1 of 23.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

I acquired my 1992 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 by chance. I had recently visited my cousin in Ohio who had just purchased a C5 Z06 (new at that time) and took me for a ride in it. It was the first, truly fast car I rode in. While I was gone, a friend got his long broken 1993 VR-4 running, and promptly took me for a ride in it upon my return home. I fell in love. It sat like the vette, and was fast (not as fast as the vette), and could be had for way less money.

I worked my ass off putting in 60+ hours a week at a golf course all summer to save for this car. By the end of summer I had saved a little over $7,000. My friend then agreed to sell me his car for $7,000. Great! I thought. But come time to sign the paperwork over, his father said no (title was in his dads name).

Furiously desiring for such a car, I took to the internet, and as luck might have it, I found a 1992 3000 GT VR-4 in sandstone grey metallic for $6,500 about an hour from my house, and I promptly purchased it, not knowing exactly what I had just stumbled upon. [below: few days after I brought her home pictured with my other two rides of the time]

The car was fully loaded with every option available in 1992. including the coveted glass roof. As I got to learning more and more about these cars, I came across a some information pertaining to build specs. My car, a 1992 3000 GT, painted in Sandstone Grey Metallic, in VR-4 trim, with the glass roof option, was one of 23 to be built globally in that same configuration. Only 12 in that exact configuration were shipped and sold in the US.

Sadly, my time with her was short lived, as she had a penchant for blowing motors and spending all the money I didn't have. In the end I parted her out and junked the rest.

For these crimes I will pay dearly one day, I know.

What is the rarest vehicle you've owned?

DISCUSSION (100)

Party-vi > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:40

1949 CJ-3A. I've only ever seen one other similar vehicle on the road (a red CJ-2A) and even at the Willys meet in Westminster, MD there weren't that many.

505Turbeaux > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:41

white on white 1964 VW 21 window bus with ambulance options (dual tank etc.) One of 14 made like that.

total production within a model range - 1983 Audi Quattro

Also had one of 52 white 1987 Audi GT coupes with the lipstick red leather interior

PatBateman > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:42

I once owned a green 1993 Dodge Dakota Sport with squiggles on the side. Be jealous.

Kinja'd!!!

f86sabre > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:42

My 2003 Evo. One of approx 5000 built for 2003. Not sure how it breaks down by color. There are a few blue ones around. I still love that car.

Kinja'd!!!

Tom McParland > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:43

How do you find out production numbers for a car? I don't think my '05 LGT wagon was super rare, but I never saw another one like it in my area.

Slave2anMG > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:43

I had a 2004.5 VW Passat TDI, one of about 11,000 imported that year; I currently have an '02 New Beetle 1.8T "color concept" car, one of 2000...and I suspect it's a pretty rare variant as it has a 5 speed and not a manual tranny. The wheels are stock, the yellow leather seats are stock, the yellow stitching is stock, all stock. The color is called Double Yellow, not the standard daisy/sunshine yellow Beetles used.

Kinja'd!!!

HammerheadFistpunch > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:43

Well it depends on what you mean by rare. I mean there are thousands of permutations of almost any car, and then you modify it and make it unique. Im going to go ahead and guess you mean rare in the sense that the major factory options and general production run makes it rare.

I don't have any numbers for my cars, but how many people could have possibly ordered a green 1996 rav4 with the manual and the Torsen rear LSD? Not many.

My last car was pretty rare: 2005 forester xt manual (~1500 imported to the US)

My current ride is #3743 of 4744

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
12/13/2013 at 12:43

I have a friend up here with a '49 he is restoring. I will grab a pic this weekend from him for you. Replacement engine to a later 4 cyl though. Original color was red with yellow wheels ?!?

CAR_IS_MI > Tom McParland
12/13/2013 at 12:46

generally someone who works for the manufacturer leaks the information online after the stumble across it, then someone else who has a lot of free time organizes the information to make it more understandable or searchable. This usually only happens with something that is either rare to begin with or becomes desirable in its later years, nobody really cares to compile this information for Civics.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:46

2003 Ford Focus SVT. 1 of 1010 in Infra-Red of the model year, but 1 of less than ~250* with the Cold Weather Package and Audiophile sound system.

*based off of forum research, not official numbers

PelicanHazard > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:46

My current car.

Nothing particularly rare as far as model is concerned. There are tens of thousands of Dart Limiteds. What makes it rare are the options. Mine has no leather, the turbocharged 1.4L engine, and a manual (among other missing options like dual zone auto AC that were made standard on Limiteds for the 2014MY). Less than 400 Darts in my configuration exist, though an accurate number is hard to pin down because the limited run of 500 Mopar'13 Darts are classed as Limiteds.

CAR_IS_MI > HammerheadFistpunch
12/13/2013 at 12:47

Yes I do mean rare from the factory, either in color combos or options or both.

Nibbles > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:47

I had a 1987 Toyota 2WD Pickup, SR-5 22R- TE . It was a unicorn

I lament its death on a daily basis

offroadkarter > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:49

First off as I posted the other night, I love 3SI's, I would love to own a 1G VR4 one day.

Secondly, the rarest car I've ever owned and still own is my 04 marauder, only 11,052 made between 03-04, only 980 made in DTR (04 only color), and having the optional moon roof and heated dark charcoal seats puts it down in the 300ish range.

#2063 / 3214 04's

#694 / 980 DTR's

505Turbeaux > Slave2anMG
12/13/2013 at 12:49

yeah I remember they had some weird ones, early in the run wasnt there a Reflex yellow and some variant on blue they only made a few of?

Hoccy > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:51

Not sure how colour, upholstery and engine affects this, but my 142 was 1 out of 66 560 produced in 1970. The Galant I owned must've be a lot more common, even if it had some rare Euro-only combinations.

Kinja'd!!!

STREPITUS > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:52

miata.net shows that there were only 2096 Mariner Blue Miatas made for the 1992MY.

Kinja'd!!!

Combined with my Mustang that makes 2 out of 4109.

Before that I had a 2005 Audi TT roadster. I found that there were 3939 of them built, but no breakdown by color/engine.

Can't find the numbers for the 1997 Audi A6 Avant I owned before that.

CAR_IS_MI > Nibbles
12/13/2013 at 12:52

A TE! Nice!

raygone > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:53

I don't know exact numbers, but my 1998 Mustang GT Spring Edition in Atlantic Blue with the white hood stripe. I know the Spring Eds. came mainly in Yellow/Black stripe, but I know this is a Spring because it was the only 'Stang that year to come with the hood stripe and these wheels.

Kinja'd!!!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:53

On the basis of option set, God only knows with my Rover. They tended to say no two ever left the factory alike, but I don't know specifically that a '66 Station Wagon trim with high option interior, US spec, deluxe hood is that rare. Poppy Red all over original color, perhaps.

Diesel Rabbit pickup in red on red with A/C: probably not hideously rare, but marginally so.

'93(?) Buick Century wagon in white/fake wood: Har har.

'87 Diesel E-series Benz - relatively uncommon for its model year, more so after US spec ones tended to soot-screen clog themselves into oblivion, but limitedly rare. Common as dirt electrum-ish color.

'63 Ranchero with no options: uncommon back then - fcuk no. Uncommon now - sure. Dark green - at least it wasn't white.

CammedCTSV > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:53

2002 35th Anniversary Camaro SS

CAR_IS_MI > offroadkarter
12/13/2013 at 12:54

If you want a 1st gen 3s; make sure you have lots of extra cash, make sure you have a RELIABLE DD, and make sure it has a build date after June 1992 (much stronger transmission)

Nibbles > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:55

I loved that thing! Limited slip, every option except A/C (including sunroof and power antenna). I'd bury the thing down to the pumpkin on a regular basis, kicking up rocks and shit in the church parking lot

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:55

Probably the rarest vehicle I owned was my Mitsu Tredia.

You never said it had to be a good car.

Kinja'd!!!

Jayhawk Jake > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:56

I don't know where to find specific numbers, but I saw something that said around 4500 Sonic RS's were made for the model year, and since they come in a few different colors it's probably somewhere between 1 in 1000 or 2000

doodon2whls > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:58

Kinja'd!!!

My SRT-4 ACR is pretty rare: 1 of 64... Chrysler only manufactured 1164 SRT-4's in 2005 with the ACR competition package. Of those, only 64 were built in the configuration (color & options) of my ACR.

thebigbossyboss > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 12:59

Anyways my rarest car was my Ford Tempo one of 207, 340 mad that year. My current car, the Cavalier, is a much more common vehicle.

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux
12/13/2013 at 13:02

COOOOL! That's awesome! If I were to do mine over again I'd probably get a 2.5L Jeep engine and supercharge it.

MooseKnuckles > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:03

Haven't owned a rare car. But love, LOVE. L-O-V-E. Love. When forum goers jump on one of those VIN lookup databases and it tells them exactly how many other cars were built to the same spec. Then they run back to the forum and are all "erm-mah-gerd! mah 98 Camry is rare!!!"

Josh > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:04

1989 VW Jetta Gli Wolfsburg "Helios" they only made 1500 of them, it's was a slow fun car. http://www.flickr.com/photos/2345544…

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:07

I own 2002 SVT Focus number 85, built 03/06/2002.

While they went on to build 4,788 SVT Foci in 2002, my Sonic Blue/ Blue is one of only 1184.

However, what's special about the first 100 Sonic Blue SVT Foci is that they had a different paint formula that has a slight purple tone to it in direct sunlight.

Also, owning limited production vehicles can be horrible should you need parts. At least with my SVT, God help you if you need the SVT-specific front bumper, or any number of parts that are now being discontinued by Ford.

/ThanksObama!/

NaturallyAspirated > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:08

I owned a 1999 Ford Taurus SHO that didn't have a camshaft failure. Total 1999 SHO production was only 2,247, and most of those are long dead thanks to the crappy camshafts. The little 3.4L v8 was the first engine in which Ford used swaging to attach the cam sprockets to the camshafts, and they tended not to stay attached. I had a guy re-align my camshaft sprockets and then TIG weld them in place.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:08

Our Maserati 228 is one of 469 ever built, and only 20 to come to the UK.

Also, being a 1990 car, It's the only one to be built for that entire year. One of one.

Even if it was built in '89, and only registered in '90 it'd still be the only one made that year.

quittywhip > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:09

It's heavy and often regarded as unreliable, but I've been a Subaru SVX addict for some time. I currently do not own any examples, but I have officially owned at least ten of these cars (not counting ones scavenged for parts). I used to co-run a shop that had specialized in working on SVXes. We converted many to manual transmissions, and performed a variety of maintenance and upgrades on those cars. I sold my personal longtime project car (and first SVX) after six years of ownership because we no longer had the shop and I wanted to go back to school. That was three years ago.

Kinja'd!!!

(My three cars sometime in 2008: a 92 SVX LSL, My 5-speed 92 Claret SVX, and a 55k mile 92 Legacy L wagon)

I redeemed myself, somewhat, because I recently saved a 92 Silver SVX from certain demise at the crusher. The car itself has 24X,XXX on it, but ran fantastic. It just had a few issues that kept it from being drivable. At $350, it was a nice quick project before I had to pack my things and move coasts.

Kinja'd!!!

Every time I had owned a SVX prior to this silver one, they had presented me with various headaches and problems. This one by far, was the cheapest I had purchased, and had the most miles and neglect, yet it restored my desire to own another pristine Subaru SVX. One day, I just may find myself in the driver's seat, again.

CAR_IS_MI > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
12/13/2013 at 13:09

Thats pretty awesome!

Slave2anMG > 505Turbeaux
12/13/2013 at 13:10

Yep, some sort of lunar blue, that reflex yellow (almost taxi yellow but more orange)...the Color Concept came in three colors - my yellow, a burnt orange, and the metallic Cyber Green. All were the same, um, concept with wheels/seats/stitching...the cyber green leather seats were a bit strong for my taste!

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Tom McParland
12/13/2013 at 13:10

No idea how reliable this data is, but I found this forum a few weeks ago when wondering the same about my 05 Legacy GT!

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthr…

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:13

'05 Legacy GT Wagon 5MT Ltd in Obsidian Black Pearl - supposedly one of 112

Kinja'd!!!

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:13

How rare was the '84 Camaro Berlinetta? Because that's probably the "rarest" I've ever owned.

Makoyouidiot > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:13

If I read it right, my '91 Alfa 164S was 1 of 1549 sold in the US that year.

jariten1781 > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:14

My old Mazda 6 wagon 5spd. There were very produced in 2004 in Steel Grey with LHD, leather, no sunroof, port installed mazdaspeed intake/exhaust, and a 5 spd. Never found out exactly how many but was told <60.

Coincidentally it ended up at a local 'no income no problem' dealer after it went to auction. I love how they put in the description that 'The previous owner had all service work done at Smart Wheels'. What a lie, the car had never been serviced there (though I did do all of my own maintenance so it's probably better for the eventual buyer than if it had been done there). No clue how they get away with that crap. They also didn't bother taking off my Texas A&M sticker, and they reinstalled the factory alloys (I had winters on steelies on it when it departed) with the wrong lug nuts. Awesome job guys.

http://www.tedbritt.com/exotic-used/Ma…

Kinja'd!!!

BarryDanger > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:15

Probably my my 1968 Datsun 2 door sedan. Rear ended and sold to a good home :(

Kinja'd!!!

Tekamul > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:15

I've owned two relatively rare cars.

My 94 UrS4 was 1 out of 2045. No idea what the color breakdown was for these, mine was green which seems the most common. My current car is a Series 10 FR-S, number plated with #2305 of 2500.

CAR_IS_MI > jariten1781
12/13/2013 at 13:16

Don't you love stealerships.

POD > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:16

Kinja'd!!!

POD > POD
12/13/2013 at 13:17

More rare because I had it in the States.

jariten1781 > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:21

Yeah, they were pretty foolish to buy it though. 5spd wagons, while 'popular' with loud folks on the internet are, in reality, nearly impossible to sell. It's going to sit on their lot for months more than likely and they'll have to bail on it for the wholesale price and lose money on it more than likely. I also noticed that they list it as an auto and don't show interior shots (though they have interior shots of almost all of their other vehicles) so they can try to trick people into coming in.

BeaterGT > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:28

2005 Legacy GT 1/228 Regal Blue Pearl, 5 speed, all options

Also my friend has a Galant VR-4 and loves the piss out of it.

BeaterGT > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
12/13/2013 at 13:35

Very nice! You beat mine becausewagon. My LGT is 1/228 in Regal Blue Pearl

quarterlifecrisis > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:37

My Vette is 1 of 2000 ish painted Daytona Sunset Orange Metallic, I'm sure to drill down more and see that it's a 1SB (heated seats/HUD/other crap), 6-speed, polished wheels, black interior probably takes it to 1 of...idk..750-800ish?

Not mine, but will eventually be (hopefully not anytime soon) is the old man's 68 Charger. It was born with a Hemi (1 of 475), a Torqueflite (1 of 264 Hemi/AT), and is LOADED. Power seats, locks, windows, brakes, steering, antenna. Console and buckets, AM/FM. Then take into consideration the color...black vinyl roof over black car with a red interior and red bumble bee stripe. We conservatively have figured, after talking to people, that with the car being optioned that way and in that color scheme to be about a 1 of 1 car.

BeaterGT > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
12/13/2013 at 13:38

Same thread I used!

505Turbeaux > Slave2anMG
12/13/2013 at 13:41

oh man I bet! I had a 20V Audi 90 Quattro, dark green with a very tasteful green leather interior. Other than that I havent seen too much green interiors since 1979

Sunray09 > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:43

1978 BMW 633 CSi Arctic Blue with Blue Leather 1 of 1200 imported into North America for that year. Great car but some serious trailing throttle over steer...nearly killed me..lifting off at 90mph in a sweeping right hander...a curve I had smoked regularly in my 76 530i.

ColoradoTaco > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:45

My current car, 2001 S4 avant. One of 1540 sold in the US over two years (2001-02)

Kinja'd!!!

Pearson Hurst > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:46

The rarest car I've owned (that I know of) would be my 2005 Dodge SRT-4 ACR edition. Only 1,175 ACRs were produced, only 433 of those were in black. Mine had the sunroof and premium sound package, but I can't find a breakdown beyond the production numbers by paint code, so mine was 1 of less than 433.

Kinja'd!!!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 13:48

Thanks :) It's great in some respects, but an utter ballache in others. It doesn't share any panels with any other Biturbos, so finding replacements is tricky.

The crazy thing is that my dad used to pass another one going the other direction when he used to daily it to work.

ColoradoTaco > BarryDanger
12/13/2013 at 13:50

That's your car (or was?) cool, I snapped this pic of it parked downtown last Summer.

Kinja'd!!!

BarryDanger > ColoradoTaco
12/13/2013 at 14:01

Yep that was it, ticket under the wiper and everything! I wish I didn't sell it but at the time I had no space for a 3rd car and was tired of fighting my insurance company about the damage to the back end. I haven't seen it but I hear its up in evergreen getting fixed up by a father/son team.

Textured Soy Protein > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 14:04

Every car I've bought has been sorta rare. Not particularly rare, sorta rare.

My current BMW 135is is a 2013-only model, and only available in North America. Not sure on production numbers.

My current Jeep G AND CHE OKEE is a super special limited edition 1-of-1 example.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

I had an '06 Mazdaspeed 6, which there were something like 10,000 made.

I had a '99 Miata 10th Anniversary Edition . 7500 made, 3500 imported to the US.

I also had a '92 Integra GSR (not the actual car in the link). All I could find for production numbers was "less than 5000" and it was exclusive to the US and Canada.

JEM > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 14:16

Can't decide between:

1960 Rambler American

1969 AMC Javelin SST

1974 BMW 2002tii

I'm thinking maybe the Rambler, but it's not like I see any other Javelins around either.

Louros > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 14:18

'97 M-edition, one of ~3,000

Kinja'd!!!

I also owned a San Remo Red 2004 WRX, don't know the exact number but it was by far the rarest color that year

Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 14:25

2010 Nissan 370z 40th anniversary 6MT. 1 of 500. I don't know what the statistics on auto vs manuals are though.

Kinja'd!!!

DocWalt > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 14:43

You killed a sandstone VR-4? :(

CAR_IS_MI > DocWalt
12/13/2013 at 14:47

Yes, I know, I am a horrible person!

DocWalt > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 14:49

indeed :|

CAR_IS_MI > DocWalt
12/13/2013 at 14:51

I was young, and dumb, and made some mistakes. I've tried to make penance for this sin.

Takuro Spirit > jariten1781
12/13/2013 at 15:08

Had a customer come through our store (Mazda dealer) looking for accessories for one before driving it back to Canada.

This was a few years back right after they stopped making them, one had popped up at a used car lot in town and they flew down to buy it.

I'd love to find one some day, so long as the engine has been taken care of. Lots of timing chain, coils, and converter problems on those.

GeeEcksPee > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 15:15

When I was shopping for a replacement for my first car ('98 Grand Prix GT), I had the chance to own one of these:

Kinja'd!!!

1998 Grand Prix Daytona 500 edition. IIRC, it was #1,242 of 1,500 produced. I can't remember if it had a sunroof, but if it did, it would have been 1 of 200 specifically optioned that way. The Medium Gulf Blue Daytona GPs are rarer than the Galaxy Silver ones (2,000 produced) from '00. Unfortunately, the seller was asking too much for too many things wrong with it.

Takuro Spirit > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 15:16

I had a bit of a unicorn, I guess.

Kinja'd!!!

1998 Isuzu Hombre, with basically a work truck package. It was a 4cyl 2WD with upgraded suspension, rear bumper, and A/C.

That's it. No radio, no carpet. Traded it in after putting 40k on it in two years, and it couldn't keep rear pinion seals in it, and started to make noise from the rear end even though I took meticulous care of that thing.

And yes, that included many burnouts. Yes, it was very good at smoking a rear tire.

jariten1781 > Takuro Spirit
12/13/2013 at 15:26

Mechanically mine was perfect ~90k miles in 9 years. The rest, not so much. Two window motors stripped the plastic teeth. Handles to drop the rear seats constantly failed (3 times in warranty, once after but I never replaced.). Lots of interior issues and I'm very delicate with car interiors: bits fell off, hinges broke, springs fell into crevices and rattled. The auto climate system leveler would constantly select face and require many annoyed button presses to get it to cycle to defrost or feet (problem from day 1, went in at least 10 times for it to different dealers and always got the : cannot duplicate). Right front fog constantly blew (all other bulbs were original). Rear wiper motor burned out. Most fun was when the drivers door locking mechanism decided to jam shut.

But all in all it was a great car with a bunch of minor annoyances. Took me back and forth across the country multiple times and never left me stranded in -20 to 110 degree temps

Takuro Spirit > jariten1781
12/13/2013 at 15:29

Ah yes, thee olde, "lock you in the car" failure of the driver's door latch.

I think there was a bulletin to replace the mode selector on the HVAC for that issue. I think.

mycarneverruns87 > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 16:20

I had a 1990 Mustang coupe LX 5.0 5-speed that was a very desirable wild strawberry in color. I am not sure of the engine, trans, and interior color production options but I do know that they only made 734 coupes that year in wild strawberry. It was a sharp car I had a ton of fun with.

Kinja'd!!!

davedave1111 > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
12/13/2013 at 16:30

Your dad used to daily it...??! I have no words. I assumed you must have picked it up as a wreck.

Did he buy it new?

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 16:42

I think the rarest for me, when you look at make, model and body style, was the 1987 Honda Civic Wagovan I had at one point. Only a few hundred of those were sold in North America in any given year.

But the Civic, when you look at the basic design and global sales for that generation, was not the rarest.

If you only look at the Make/Model, then the Ford Festiva would be the rarest at about 350,000 produced by Kia and shipped to Ford over 5 years.

But the Festiva was also the Mazda 121 and Kia Pride. So it wasn't the rarest generation of a basic design I've owned.

For the rarest basic design, I'd say it would be the 2000 Saab 9-3 I had... at around 400,000 to 450,000 produced from 1998 to 2002.

Some might argue that the 9-3 shared a lot with the Opel Vectra... but it was mainly just hard points. More than half of the parts where unique to Saab for that generation... including the engine.

I'm not really into owning rare cars at this point.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > davedave1111
12/13/2013 at 16:53

Yup. For around 4-5 years I think. He saw it in a classified priced about a grand higher than he could afford. A month later, he saw it advertised again for half as much as the chap who'd bought it had crashed it into a concrete bollard. A spot of bodywork and it was good to go.

Ran like a top as well. I think we might lead a charmed life when it comes to unreliable cars. We've had quite a few between us, and so far none of them have been bastards to us.

MoFinWiley > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 17:01

2003 Dodge Dakota 4.7V8, Regular Cab, Manual Trans. Fully loaded in Graphite.

I had to order from the factory to get it that way. I eventually put in a Viper-spec T56.

then some 'person' rear ended it at about 40 mph. I survived, truck did not.

911e46z06 > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 19:12

I had a '49 Willys that's pretty rare, and even more rare as a legitimate work truck.

Kinja'd!!!

My Porsche is rare too. I don't remember the exact number, but there are less than 30 in this color and trim. And color/trim aside, the whale-tail Cabs are rare sights.

Kinja'd!!!

Slow4o > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 19:43

My '03 SVT Focus is one of 110. In '03 they hardly made any SVT's that weren't either Grabber Orange or Screaming Yellow (I think those are the color names) and mine is CD Silver. On top of that it has the European Appearance Packages, which was another rarity, so my car is supposedly pretty rare.

JGrabowMSt > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 21:21

Next summer I am still planning to buy a car that is one of less than 300. A number I wont be able to verify until ownership. Supposedly, prior to 1997, AMG did factory tuning on less than 300 cars. Yes, many cars are badged, but if that 300 is correct, then badged cars were sent back after delivery. Id like to know how many cars AMG really did do. SL600s are rare to begin with....the factory paperwork is in a box somewhere in my bosses basement, Ill dig when I get ready to buy...

Gokart Mozart > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 21:52

1962 Studebaker Champ

6749 units built with 5517 for domestic U.S. sale.

How many were still around in 1987 when I bought it who knows. Had to get rid of it a year later because of title issues.

SCR - The Soup Of The Day is Bread > CAR_IS_MI
12/13/2013 at 22:12

Definitely my 1989 Mercedes 300CE, of which the best pocture I can find is this one, unfortunately. Let's see, I believe it was 1 out of only 1300 or so produced that year total, and I have NEVER seen another one in this bizarre color combination. In fact, googling only brings up a TTAC article that my car was featured in. I do remember trying to find production numbers per color for these and never being able to. Given the rarity of the cars already, there couldn't have been more than a dozen sold like this in the NA market.

Kinja'd!!!

BigBadSubaru > quittywhip
12/14/2013 at 02:17

It's probably a toss up between my SVX, and the Mazerati Biturbo I had before I was old enough to drive. Dad had a friend who was always coming across projects, got it for like 100 bucks, had a bad head but I was 13 and Dad and his friend thought by the time I was 16 we'd have it running.. Sadly a few months later we moved to Oregon and HP wouldn't pay to move it since it didn't run, so back to Dad's friend in went. Never did hear what became of it.

Derpwagon > CAR_IS_MI
12/14/2013 at 08:23

Kinja'd!!!

My 1 of 70 satin white pearl, non-limited, 5 speed manual 2005 Subaru Legacy GT station wagon.

TR6driver > CAR_IS_MI
12/14/2013 at 08:28

1956 Standard Vanguard Sportsman . 1 of 12 left according to the club in England, 1 of about 900 built, and the only one in the US. We drive it regularly and even autocross it on occasion .

p00pyd00p > CAR_IS_MI
12/14/2013 at 13:11

just bought a 2004 pearl white lancer raliart sportback (wagon), pretty rare not sure of the numbers but this is the only one I have ever seen, got it as a replacement for my silver with blue-black interior audi a4 avant (wagon) 5spd v6 (pretty rare too). Also I own a 2004 white crossfire with red and black interior in a 6spd manual, should be pretty rare too haha.

p00pyd00p > CAR_IS_MI
12/14/2013 at 13:11

somemarine > STREPITUS
12/14/2013 at 17:59

I had a 1992 Miata in Mariner Blue. Gave it to my dad for his birthday two or three years ago. Drove it over thanksgiving, of the countless cars I've owned that's still the most fun to drive.

Kinja'd!!!

Drove it cross country like that.

somemarine > CAR_IS_MI
12/14/2013 at 18:11

Without having to go into technicalities about colors and option combos I can still say I owned a rare car. 2005 Saab 9-2x. Then again, that was just one of countless imprezas. One of 8,500 total. 1,911 Linears with a Manual in the U.S.

I also had a 1999 Miata 10th Anniversary Edition. One of 4500.

According to a google search I just did my E36 M3 vert was one of 2252 with a manual. One of 517 that were black.

@CrzRsn's research tells me my 1992 Miata was one of 2096 in Mariner Blue.

Finally, and definitely the most rare, I can't imagine anyone besides me is dumb enough to be driving a 1995 wrangler without power steering.

CAR_IS_MI > somemarine
12/14/2013 at 18:21

I still want a 9-2x aero. Was going to replace my 9-3 with one but it never panned out

somemarine > CAR_IS_MI
12/14/2013 at 18:30

Depends on what you like about the 9-3. The Aero is a much better driver's car, but the 9-3 is much more comfortable and efficient. I'm talking both generations of 9-3s because I've owned an OG 9-3 and an SS.

If I found an Aero at a good price I'd pick it up in a second.

CAR_IS_MI > somemarine
12/14/2013 at 18:33

I hada 99 9-3. long gone now. I just want to build an insane subaru platform with a saab body and walk all over people in it.

Newsboy > CAR_IS_MI
12/16/2013 at 13:44

Kinja'd!!!

1994 Subaru SVX, 1 of 1,666.

Bought it with 183k miles for $750, drove it about 1,500 miles, then sold it for $1,000 to somebody with more time and patience than I have. It needed new rocker cover gaskets, main bearing seals, suspension bushings, sunvisors, brakes, rear wheel bearings, CV joints, driver side quarter panel, exhaust system...

Someday I may buy another, rip the H-6 out, and drop it into a dis-used Impreza or Forester chassis.

fintail > CAR_IS_MI
12/16/2013 at 21:46

My E55 is probably it - in tectite with the exact same options, probably no more than 30 units sold in NA that year.

Kinja'd!!!

yurikaze > Louros
12/17/2013 at 01:57

Nice! I had one too!

Kinja'd!!!

BeaterGT > quarterlifecrisis
12/17/2013 at 23:04

Please put pictures up or drop me a link brotha man!

quarterlifecrisis > BeaterGT
12/17/2013 at 23:09

Which one?

BeaterGT > quarterlifecrisis
12/17/2013 at 23:17

Preferably, the Charger.

quarterlifecrisis > BeaterGT
12/17/2013 at 23:21

From the last time the car was outside...in 2006.

Kinja'd!!!

Edit: Ah yes, 20 year old me in the background. And don't mind the extraneous letters surrounding where I tried to post a picture. Never done that before...

BeaterGT > quarterlifecrisis
12/17/2013 at 23:24

Looks great, thanks for that.

quarterlifecrisis > BeaterGT
12/17/2013 at 23:40

No problem. It currently has no drivetrain, or hood, and has been on jackstands since I left it that way in April. progress. ish.