Some automakers built rare models that vanished into history, leaving collectors chasing them decades later.
Mass-market automakers occasionally break from their usual formula of building large numbers of similar cars. Every so often, a manufacturer creates something unusual enough to surprise even its own audience. Some of those cars were produced in tiny numbers, making them rare today and, in some cases, highly prized by collectors.
Here are 10 unusual models from well-known automakers that most people rarely get to see.
The Millenia was designed as a more upscale sedan than Mazda's mainstream offerings, but the top-of-the-line Millenia S had something even more unusual under the hood.
Instead of a conventional V8, Mazda installed a supercharged 2.3-liter V6 using the Miller cycle. The engine produced 210 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque, combining strong performance with impressive efficiency for its era.
The technology was ahead of its time, but the Millenia S was expensive to build, relied on unfamiliar engineering and came from a brand better known for mainstream cars. Those factors helped limit its appeal.
To celebrate the MX-5 Miata's 25th anniversary, Mazda created a special limited edition that was extremely difficult to get in the U.S. Just 100 examples were offered to American buyers.
The anniversary Miata wore a distinctive Soul Red exterior with 25th Anniversary badges on the front fenders. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder produced 167 horsepower, but Mazda paid special attention to the engine's internal components. Engineers hand-selected lightweight, well-balanced pistons, connecting rods and a flywheel to improve the engine's response.
Chevrolet planned just 500 examples of the Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition, making it one of the rarest versions of the C6-generation Corvette.
The "Carbon" name referred to the extensive use of carbon fiber, including the rocker panels, front splitter, roof panel and hood. The special Corvette combined the lightweight Z06 with several chassis and braking upgrades borrowed from the ZR1.
Under the hood was a naturally aspirated 7.0-liter LS7 V8 producing 505 horsepower, paired with a six-speed manual transmission.
Infiniti developed a special version of its FX luxury SUV with Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel, who was closely associated with the brand through its Red Bull Racing partnership.
Only 150 FX Vettel Edition SUVs were produced for Western Europe, the Middle East and other markets. The special model used a 5.0-liter V8 producing 420 PS, along with a revised exhaust, a lower ride height, aerodynamic upgrades and carbon-fiber components.
The result was a much more aggressive version of the normally luxurious FX, combining SUV practicality with sports-car-inspired performance.
The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale was essentially a road-going version of the company's Tipo 33 racing prototype. It brought genuine racing technology to a street-legal sports car and was built almost entirely by hand.
Only 18 examples were produced between 1967 and 1969. Its 2.0-liter V8 developed roughly 227 horsepower, while the lightweight aluminum construction helped the car reach about 162 mph.
The 33 Stradale also became one of the earliest production cars to use dramatic butterfly-style doors, adding another distinctive feature to an already extraordinary design.
BMW originally expected the luxurious 507 roadster to sell in much larger numbers. Instead, high production costs forced the company to build just 252 examples, and the model reportedly caused substantial financial losses for BMW.
Around 200 examples are believed to survive today, and they have become major attractions at collector-car auctions.
One of the most famous was the 1957 BMW 507 owned from new by racing legend John Surtees. In 2018, his car sold at the Goodwood Festival of Speed for more than $5 million, becoming one of the most expensive BMWs ever sold at public auction.
The 2014 Nissan GT-R Track Edition was created for buyers who wanted an even more track-focused version of the already formidable GT-R.
Nissan limited U.S. production to just 150 cars. The Track Edition used the GT-R's 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6, rated at 545 horsepower, while receiving a specially tuned suspension, additional brake cooling, a carbon-fiber rear spoiler and lightweight wheels.
The rear seats were removed and replaced with a lightweight carpeted storage area, while the suspension received specially tuned Bilstein dampers and stiffer springs.
When Audi prepared to end U.S. sales of the TT RS, it marked the occasion with a limited Heritage Edition inspired by the legendary Audi Ur-quattro.
Just 50 examples were built for the U.S. market, divided into five color combinations with 10 cars in each.
The Heritage Edition retained the TT RS's turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine, producing 394 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Power was sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Ferrari 365 California is one of the rarest open-top Ferraris ever built. Just 14 examples were produced between 1966 and 1967, and surviving cars only occasionally appear at major auctions.
The four-seat convertible featured hand-built Pininfarina bodywork and a 4.4-liter Colombo V12 producing 320 horsepower. Ferrari quoted a top speed of about 152 mph.
With only 14 cars made, the 365 California has become a particularly prized target for Ferrari collectors.
The Fiat 8V was an unexpected sports car from a company better known for affordable everyday vehicles. Introduced in 1952, it used a 2.0-liter V8 and was produced in a variety of body styles by Fiat and Italian coachbuilders.
Only 114 examples were built between 1952 and 1954. Depending on the engine version, output ranged from roughly 105 to 125 horsepower.
The 8V was not a commercial success, but it proved much more successful on the racetrack. It competed effectively in the 2.0-liter GT class and continued winning the Italian championship in that category for several years.
For a company associated with inexpensive transportation, the Fiat 8V remains one of the strangest and most collectible cars in its history.