The Quickest Low Production Cars From The 2000s

In the 2000s, many small car manufacturers came up with supercars that could steal a Ferrari’s lunch money. Unfortunately, most of these companies went bankrupt. Occasionally, some of these forgotten gems are popping up at auction sites, and they deserve a second look. Moreover, some of them are easy to maintain since they rely on underpinnings coming from big brands, such as Audi, BMW, or Chevrolet.

In this list, we cover ten of the rarest and quickest cars from the 2000s that stirred emotions when they appeared on the market. Unfortunately, most of them are hard to find. We couldn’t even get a price for some since none have been advertised on auction websites in the U.S., Europe, or U.A.E. in the last decade.

HotCars analyzed performance cars and supercars from the 2000s based on total units produced to come up with a list of low-production, desirable cars. Vehicles that had stronger desirability among enthusiasts upon their release but less attention now (including how often they appeared on ‘best vehicle’ lists online) were factored into model selections. Additionally, vehicles from automakers considered to be well-known were not selected. The following are ranked from slowest to fastest, according to their 0-60 MPH times.

10 2004 Panoz Esperante GTLM: 4.7 Seconds

Units Produced: 234

Panoz Esperante GTLM Highlights

The Esperante GTLM, The Winner From LeMans

After successfully launching the Esperante model in 2000, the American car manufacturer introduced the GTLM version in 2003 for homologation reasons. It was powered by a supercharged Ford V8 engine. Panoz made the car using a lightweight aluminum chassis that kept the weight down and helped with performance. Furthermore, the GTLM version sported an aerodynamically improved bodywork compared to its regular Esperante stablemate. Its designers probably looked back at the Panoz Esperante GTR-1 when they made it since they used several ideas from that LeMans-ready supercar.

Moreover, the GTLM continued using Ford’s engines and the front-mid-mounted engine solution that helped the car achieve an excellent weight distribution and withstand up to 0.98g of lateral acceleration. It is also worth noting that an Esperante GTLM won the GT2 class at Le Mans, beating the Porsche team by a lap. The Esperante GTLM doesn’t come up for sale often, but when they do, they’re worth considering for their motorsport heritage. According to Hagerty, it’s believed only 234 units of the Esperante were produced.

9 2003 Wiesmann MF4: 4.6 Seconds

Units Produced: 118

Wiesmann MF4 Highlights

Factory-Made Restomod

The German car manufacturer was a dream come true for two brothers who wished to have their names on a spectacular, retro-design-styled sports car. The result was a series of products, including the 2003 MF4. Just like Veritas, this automaker relied on BMW engines. The MF4 stunned its customers with its high performance, high-quality interiors, and unique styling.

Thanks to its many underpinnings shared with production BMW models, about 118 units of the Wiesmann MF4 were made, according to Bonhams. Maintenance was straightforward, and besides the body panels, most other parts were already available. However, the history of the Wiesmann company was complicated, and in August 2013, it filed for bankruptcy. But that was not the end of it. In 2022, the car manufacturer announced the project Thunderball, an all-electric retro-styled supercar for the next generation. Hopefully, it will make it to the market.

8 2004 Bristol Fighter: 4.0 Seconds

Units Produced: 13

Bristol Fighter Highlights

The British Supercar With A Viper Heart

This is one of the scarcest British cars ever made by an established automaker. Bristol was a brand that made vehicles based on BMW chassis and drivetrains, but the Fighter was different. It sported a massive eight-liter V10 under its long hood. Does this engine ring a bell to you? Yep, you got it right! It was a Dodge Viper engine placed on a British lightweight sports car. This is just one reason why the Fighter was so special and different from the rest of its stablemates.

Unfortunately, the automaker could only make 20 Fighter chassis, according to SLJ Hackett auction house. Yet, only 13 units of the Bristol Fighter seem to have been made, but there are no official records from the factory. No wonder it is almost impossible to find a complete, original one for sale these days. But when it was new back in 2004, it had a price tag of $300,000, and that kind of money could get you at least two Dodge Vipers on your driveway.

7 2005 Ascari KZ1: 3.8 Seconds

Units Produced: 50

Ascari KZ1 Highlights

A British Supercar With A German Heart

The British car manufacturer Ascari introduced the KZ1 in 2005 and took its name from the famous racing driver Alberto Ascari, two-time Formula 1 World Champion. It featured a carbon fiber chassis and bodywork. Its interior was a collection of bespoke switches and buttons, and its performances were stellar. Unfortunately, so was its price tag of $423,000 in 2005, or $677,671 in today’s money.

A detailed look back at the Ascari KZ1 revealed that the car needed 430 work hours to be built, and that didn’t include the S62 V8 engine carried over from BMW. As a result, the car manufacturer made just 50 units of this astonishing supercar, according to Classic Driver.

6 2005 TVR Sagaris: 3.7 Seconds

Units Produced: 211

TVR Sagaris Highlights

A New Base For TVR’s Inline-Six

The British car manufacturer TVR launched the Sagaris in 2005. It’s said 200 units of the TVR Sagaris were made, according to British specialists KGF Classic Cars, but there is no official data since there are no factory records available. Unfortunately, the car couldn’t pass the restrictive Euro 5 standards that came into force in September that year and imposed all cars to have ABS, and the Sagaris didn’t have that feature. Moreover, it wasn’t fitted with an airbag either. But what it had was an excellent balance that made it very fast around corners thanks to its newly-developed chassis. In addition, the inline-six under the hood was paired exclusively with a five-speed manual that sent all the power to the rear wheels. Thanks to its plastic bodywork, the car had about the same weight as a Mazda Miata but offered three times more power than the Japanese roadster. And that’s one of the 10 reasons why we love the TVR Sagaris.

5 2005 Gumpert Apollo: 3.1 Seconds

Units Produced: 35

Gumpert Apollo Highlights

Audi Powered The Apollo Project

The Gumpert Apollo deserves a special place on this list since just 40 units were made, according to Which Car, and all of them were sold. In 2013, the automaker went bankrupt, only to return a year later with another astonishing project named Gumpert Intensa Emozione, of which 10 units were supposed to be sold. However, only two are known to exist.

The Apollo project started in 2000, and with some input from Audi, the car finally made it on the market in 2006, and it was praised for its qualities. The four-ring brand also provided the twin-turbo V8 that propelled the supercar, and that was one of the things that made the Gumpert Apollo so special. Surprisingly, a racing version of this model made it to the 24 Hours of Nurburgring and finished on the podium.

4 2009 Veritas RS III: 3.1 Seconds

Units Produced: 30

Veritas RS III Highlights

The Ultimate German Dream Car

The Veritas RS III has an intriguing story since the brand was born more than seven decades ago in Western Germany. After a long absence, the brand revived miraculously in the 2000s and went to its former partner, BMW, for an engine. As a result, in 2009, the re-born automaker launched the RS III roadster that was powered by a 5.0-liter V10 (S86B50) carried over from the BMW M5 and M6.

For some, the RS III was the ultimate dream supercar, and its specs could make some Italian supercar makers go back to their drawing boards. Unfortunately, Vermot AG, the company that made the car, went dormant in 2014, and there are no signs that it will return again. According to a copy of the press release from the company, a total of 30 units of the Veritas RS III were to be produced, with five sold even before production, with a further eight under reservation. The company also claimed a waiting list of 100 customers for the Veritas.

3 2005 Mosler MT900S: 3.1 Seconds

Units Produced: 20

Mosler MT900S Highlights

‘Star Wars’ Creator George Lucas Owned One

The American brand Mosler Automotive unveiled the prototype of the MT900 in 2001, and the street version came in 2005. This supercar was designed for those who knew how to tame a beast since the twin-turbocharged V8 engine sourced from a Corvette produced enough oomph to shred the car’s tires instantly. Its Porsche-sourced six-speed manual was the only solution the automaker offered to its customers.

The technology behind the vehicle was stellar and included a carbon fiber monocoque tub and body panels. The Mosler MT900s was popularly regarded as the American answer to the Noble supercar. But the car manufacturer played it well and installed a luxurious cabin fit for those willing to pay a six-figure price on this American supercar, such as the filmmaker George Lucas, who took delivery of the first production model in 2006. According to Bonhams, only approximately 20 units of the Mosler MT900s were built, and few were listed on auction websites in the last decade.

2 2008 Rossion Q1: 2.8 Seconds

Units Produced: 89

Rossion Q1 Highlights

Ford-powered British Supercar Made In the U.S.A.

Some supercars couldn’t be imported into the U.S. due to technical rules and safety regulations. But still, some people found loopholes for that, and that’s how the Rossion Q1 was born. Looking at the car, you might say, “Wait a minute, that’s a Noble M400,” and you’d be right to say that, since the American car manufacturer produced the Q1 on the same moldings that Noble used for the M400. It even featured the same turbocharged Duratorq V6 engine. But, unlike the British M400, the Q1 boasted 450 hp for street use, and the car manufacturer said that they could boost it above 500 ponies. The vehicle was basically a kit car that customers could assemble or have someone else do the job for them, such as Gator Motorsport, according to whom less than 100 were made.

1 2006 Caparo T1: 2.5 Seconds

Units Produced: 25

Caparo T1 Highlights

A Formula 1 Car For The Road

The British car manufacturer Caparo Vehicle Technologies tried to breach into the supercar segment with the T1 in 2006. After several unsuccessful events with unreliable and dangerous situations, the automaker went bankrupt, but not before building 25 units of this incredible vehicle. The T1 is a testament to what British engineering could create using a small, 3.5-liter V6 engine. Thanks to advanced aerodynamic solutions, the T1 could withstand high lateral accelerations, but only when it was driven at high speeds. Moreover, it was one of the quickest cars to hit 60 mph from a standstill in its time.

There were many interesting things to know about the Caparo T1, a vehicle whose aerodynamics could produce more downforce than it weighs. Unfortunately, as per Secret Classics, Caparo had produced and sold just 16 units by 2012, out of the 25 it planned to make per year, before falling into administration in 2015.

Sources: Classic, Hagerty, Bonhams, KGF Classic Cars