True UNICORNS,,, spotted one today

[barry2952]

Can we get an understanding of what a Unicorn is, by the way?

A unicorn, to me, is a car that means something to you, is very special/rare/hard to find, and every time you try to buy/find/obtain one, you come up empty.

My 1991 Taurus SHO is a unicorn, because its a rare model thats hard to find in good condition, and is something I have wanted since before I had a drivers license.

An XJ220, while insanely rare and cool (despite being at a car show) is not what I would call a unicorn.

I would think then that all of my collector cars would be considered "Unicorns". Maybe not my '77 Town Car or '88 750iL as I've seen a few around.

My '41 Ford pick-up, stock as new, would be another unicorn, as I've only see two others that weren't hot-rodded, in some form or fashion.

[Green Panzer]

I got this one a few blocks from my house.



356 A or B rat rod, faded flat paint, rust, dents, and a grinning skull on the front fender.

-GP

[2112]

Anything out on the street that age would be considered a unicorn, but neither are really all that rare. Great spotting, though.

Yeah, sorta figured those saw pretty decent production numbers, but here in sleepy Northeast Wisconsin, I'll take what I can get.

[Dave_Car_Guy]

A Unicorn is a mythical creature, one rarely spotted and thought of as extinct. A car Unicorn would tend to be the same - the kind of thing you didn't really think existed, but yet - there it is...

aka: an extremely rare car. So, since that is open for some interpretation, I say - let's see 'em all !

[barry2952]

A Unicorn is a mythical creature, one rarely spotted and thought of as extinct. A car Unicorn would tend to be the same - the kind of thing you didn't really think existed, but yet - there it is...

aka: an extremely rare car. So, since that is open for some interpretation, I say - let's see 'em all !

I can bet no one in TCL, even Larry, has ever seen one of these in person, unless it's mine. It's the only known running LHD 1933 Continental Flyer. The Flyer was only made for one year. Most were scrapped during WWII for their steel content. There is one other that's running, and that's in New Zealand and it's RHD.

None of the judges or spectators at the 5 shows it was in last year had ever seen one outside of black and white pictures.

Even in the classic car world, this is a unicorn. It's out there to be seen. I drove it across Michigan last year and take it to cruises.

[Chipped B6]

That's not an F70. It's JG's P4/5 - rebodied Enzo.

That looks so much like the F70 spyshots it's crazy..

[romanl]

I can bet no one in TCL, even Larry, has ever seen one of these in person, unless it's mine. It's the only known running LHD 1933 Continental Flyer. The Flyer was only made for one year. Most were scrapped during WWII for their steel content. There is one other that's running, and that's in New Zealand and it's RHD.

None of the judges or spectators at the 5 shows it was in last year had ever seen one outside of black and white pictures.

Even in the classic car world, this is a unicorn. It's out there to be seen. I drove it across Michigan last year and take it to cruises.

now can we please get a picture of it on the road driving? but that is truly a unicorn

[Sherpa23F]

That looks so much like the F70 spyshots it's crazy..

Yes, it does. Ferrari looks have been heavily influenced by that car. Although I think that in the end, with the air bridges and other effects, the details and features will be markedly different.

[barry2952]

now can we please get a picture of it on the road driving? but that is truly a unicorn

We live on the east side of Michigan. This was taken on the west coast of Michigan at a Concours in St. Joseph. This is the parking lot of the Boulevard Inn. Yeah, I know it could be any parking lot. I took the picture as the guy I hired to detail the car drove away in it. It was covered in bugs. They splat pretty good at 45 mph, too.

[charlie_murphy!]

Here's a few...

One I owned...
73' 412



On our showroom floor
71' Subaru 360




At a local cruise-in
Not sure the year, but it's called a Muntz

[barry2952]

A Muntz on the street is a Unicorn, unless you're in Hollywood. I have a friend there that has 3 of them.

Those were Lincoln or Cadillac powered, I believe.

[BattleRabbit]

A Muntz on the street is a Unicorn, unless you're in Hollywood. I have a friend there that has 3 of them.

Those were Lincoln or Cadillac powered, I believe.

I'm not sure that makes them not a unicorn. I've seen one(at the Adirondack nationals hot rod show in Lake George NY of all places), and I would still call it a unicorn. I've seen more Allards, Stratos, pre-war Fiat touring cars, and street driven Hudsons than I have seen Muntzes.

Then again, I live in upstate NY. G-bodies are practically unicorns here because they are all now mostly powder...

I think in the States some of the best unicorns are 50-60s European economy cars. Borg-Wards, DAFs, things like that. I've seen exactly one street driven DAF and one track-car DAF. The street car had a sticker that said "I'm Dutch, isn't zat vierd?"

[NoXenons]

Can we get an understanding of what a Unicorn is, by the way?

[barry2952]

I'm not sure that makes them not a unicorn. I've seen one(at the Adirondack nationals hot rod show in Lake George NY of all places), and I would still call it a unicorn. I've seen more Allards, Stratos, pre-war Fiat touring cars, and street driven Hudsons than I have seen Muntzes.

Then again, I live in upstate NY. G-bodies are practically unicorns here because they are all now mostly powder...

I think in the States some of the best unicorns are 50-60s European economy cars. Borg-Wards, DAFs, things like that. I've seen exactly one street driven DAF and one track-car DAF. The street car had a sticker that said "I'm Dutch, isn't zat vierd?"

You have a 356. Would you consider my "Continental" Cabrio to be a Unicorn?

[BattleRabbit]

You have a 356. Would you consider my "Continental" Cabrio to be a Unicorn?

Debatably? It's a Pre-A, though I believe fewer Roadster Americas were made(25) so of all 356s that would probably be one the best "unicorns" of the type. A, B and C cars are relatively common, so they really aren't unicorns.

[MRVW00]

VWLarry is gone? That's a real shame. You, Larry and Dobes are some of the best reasons to come to this forum!

x2

You have a 356. Would you consider my "Continental" Cabrio to be a Unicorn?

Debatably? It's a Pre-A, though I believe fewer Roadster Americas were made(25) so of all 356s that would probably be one the best "unicorns" of the type. A, B and C cars are relatively common, so they really aren't unicorns.

YES.

Your Conti is a unicorn. I've seen a number or uber rare 356's...550's...and probably the rarest 356, the ONLY steel American Roadster.

[barry2952]

A Tucker is a Unicorn, but I just saw 7 real ones (of 48, I believe) in one place at the Glenmoor Gathering. They kind of lose their Unicorn-ish appeal when you see so many of them in one place.

A '56 Continental Mark II might be considered a Unicorn. With only 3,000 made how many have seen one in person?

[Gran Turismo]

I dont have photographic evidence but a few years back I saw a silver Zonda street parked in Malibu while going up the 1 freeway. Another time during a return commute on the 5, a yellow Koenigsegg CCX zoomed by in opposing traffic.

[barry2952]

Debatably? It's a Pre-A, though I believe fewer Roadster Americas were made(25) so of all 356s that would probably be one the best "unicorns" of the type. A, B and C cars are relatively common, so they really aren't unicorns.

It's unknown how many cars were shipped to the US badged "Continental". Only 270 Cabrios were built in '55. It's estimated that about 100 of them came to the US through the sole importer, Max Hoffman. The 356 Registry only has a few '55 Cabs registered. I think there may be about 10 left, in various stages of repair.

The Continental Division of Ford leaned on tiny Porsche and made them stop using the name. The cars, for a very short period were then badged "European", which fit the holes already punched in the fenders. Those are the rare ones. I've seen a couple of European Coupes, but never a Cabrio. I have a picture of a European Coupe around somewhere. Those are true unicorns.

[Armed Escort]

Ok, mass produced, but incredibly rare in Vancouver: MG TF, with Mexican plates, just sitting on a street in Coal Harbour.

[VR6GURU]

Does this count?

Took this pic a while back on PCH

[barry2952]

Three Muntz'

[SVT2888]

A Tucker is a Unicorn, but I just saw 7 real ones (of 48, I believe) in one place at the Glenmoor Gathering. They kind of lose their Unicorn-ish appeal when you see so many of them in one place.

A '56 Continental Mark II might be considered a Unicorn. With only 3,000 made how many have seen one in person?

I've seen a few Mark II's but I don't count in these situations since I go to so many car shows.

I've also seen a street driven unrestored Tucker.

[6cylVWguy]

Unicorn status?



I saw one of these last weekend at Home Depot. I've seen like 3 of these on the road, ever. I've seen more of pretty much every other Lotus street car than I have of these odd little 90's Lotus roadsters.

[karl_1052]

Can we get an understanding of what a Unicorn is, by the way?

A unicorn, to me, is a car that means something to you, is very special/rare/hard to find, and every time you try to buy/find/obtain one, you come up empty.

My 1991 Taurus SHO is a unicorn, because its a rare model thats hard to find in good condition, and is something I have wanted since before I had a drivers license.

An XJ220, while insanely rare and cool (despite being at a car show) is not what I would call a unicorn.

SHO
The SHO would go on to be produced for ten years in three generations, totaling 106,465

XJ220
A total of 281 road-cars(XJ220) were made
Although the XJ220 was not built in compliance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards of the United States, it has since become possible to privately import it to the US under the "Show and Display" exemption.


You're right, the SHO is more of a unicorn than the XJ220.

[neu318]

550 Spyder

Spotted one in Key West FL. Sorry for the crappy phone pic

[barry2952]

SHO
The SHO would go on to be produced for ten years in three generations, totaling 106,465

XJ220
A total of 281 road-cars(XJ220) were made
Although the XJ220 was not built in compliance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards of the United States, it has since become possible to privately import it to the US under the "Show and Display" exemption.


You're right, the SHO is more of a unicorn than the XJ220.

I thought that was pretty funny, myself.

[a2a4raddo]

Unicorn status?



I saw one of these last weekend at Home Depot. I've seen like 3 of these on the road, ever. I've seen more of pretty much every other Lotus street car than I have of these odd little 90's Lotus roadsters.

Don't know how many we're ever produced. Lotus only sold these here in the states for the '91 model year and I have only. Ever seen one on the road about a Cade ago in NYC. Unicorn for sure.

[mtbscoTT]

Don't know how many we're ever produced. Lotus only sold these here in the states for the '91 model year and I have only. Ever seen one on the road about a Cade ago in NYC. Unicorn for sure.

Weirdly, I have two friends that own these. One bought his new around '93 or so when Lotus lowered the MSRP from $40K to $30K to get rid of them. The other guy bought his used in the late '90's. I'm thinking around 600ish total were sold here. Isuzu engine and lots of parts, similar to the Toyota connection on current models.

[G_RockNYTN]

Ok, mass produced, but incredibly rare in Vancouver: MG TF, with Mexican plates, just sitting on a street in Coal Harbour.

I've been to Vancouver once in my life (a few weeks ago) and I saw that EXACT car! Pointed it out to my wife since I'd never seen one in the states. Didn't know if Canada got them or not.

[barry2952]

Spotted one in Key West FL. Sorry for the crappy phone pic

I could be wrong, but I think those are both plastic.

[GolfVIDriver]

SHO
The SHO would go on to be produced for ten years in three generations, totaling 106,465

XJ220
A total of 281 road-cars(XJ220) were made
Although the XJ220 was not built in compliance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards of the United States, it has since become possible to privately import it to the US under the "Show and Display" exemption.


You're right, the SHO is more of a unicorn than the XJ220.

Reading skills are a little lacking, aren't they?

A unicorn is something special TO YOU. An SHO is special to me. I don't really want an XJ220.

In Gone in 60 Seconds, (which I admit isn't exactly the zenith of modern cinema), Cage's unicorn was a 1967 Shelby GT500. Not as rare as an XJ220, but still special to him.

"A unicorn is the one car that no matter how many times you try to boost, something always goes wrong."

Now granted we're not stealing cars here, but in terms of buying them, that's how I define a unicorn. I have tried to buy something like 10 SHOs....and there was something wrong that stopped the deal with all of them.

Everything else is just simply rare or uncommon.

[barry2952]

Everything else is just simply rare or uncommon.

[dunhamjr]

Reading skills are a little lacking, aren't they?

A unicorn is something special TO YOU. An SHO is special to me. I don't really want an XJ220.

In Gone in 60 Seconds, (which I admit isn't exactly the zenith of modern cinema), Cage's unicorn was a 1967 Shelby GT500. Not as rare as an XJ220, but still special to him.

"A unicorn is the one car that no matter how many times you try to boost, something always goes wrong."

Now granted we're not stealing cars here, but in terms of buying them, that's how I define a unicorn. I have tried to buy something like 10 SHOs....and there was something wrong that stopped the deal with all of them.

Everything else is just simply rare or uncommon.

and what we are saying is that your definition of a car unicorn is NOT the generally accepted definition.

a car unicorn is about rareness and how nearly no one has ever seen one beyond pictures.

not how special a car is to you specifically.

try also to think of it this way.
go look to buy an SHO.
go look to buy an XJ220.

i can probably find 100 SHO's for potential purchase within a few minutes. (fyi between autotrader and CL i found 196 ads within 30 seconds)

i am nearly 100% positive i could NOT find 100 XJ220's for sale world wide even if you gave me a year to research.
edit:
hell... i dont even think i can find ONE XJ220 for sale...

[Dave_Car_Guy]

This ^