R350-million Seized Supercar Auction
Following a complicated series of legal disputes, the Swiss government seized and auctioned an exclusive supercar collection belonging to Teoforin Nguema Obiang, son of Equatorial Guinea’s president. A total of 25 cars were auctioned in Switzerland raising a total of R350-million, with the majority of the funds being redistributed to charities in Equatorial Guinea. Let’s take a look at 8 of the most exclusive cars that were sold.
#8: McLaren P1 – 1 of 375
The P1 is the first of many hypercars to make this list, but what makes it unique is its Formula One derived hybrid powertrain. It uses a 673kW twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 to reach speeds of up to 350km/h. It sold for R19,3-million with 972km on the clock.
#7: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 – 1 of 450
The Veyron made headlines a while back for being a really quick supercar thanks to its 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engine. It produced 736kW of power and could reach a top speed of 408km/h. It sold for R20-million with just over 5000km on the clock.
#6: Porsche 918 Spyder – 1 of 918
The exclusive Porsche hybrid hypercar makes use of a 4.6-litre V8, coupled to a pair of electric motors to produce a total of 652kW of power and will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.8-seconds. It was sold for R23,7-million and only did 580-kilometers on the clock.
#5: Aston Martin One-77 – 1 of 77
This is one of the most exclusive Aston Martin’s ever made. In fact, it’s so exclusive that if you bought one of them back when they were new, Aston Martin would host a party for you to celebrate it. It’s powered by a 7.3-litre V12 engine and is capable of a 354km/h top speed. It sold for R23,7-million.
#4: Lamborghini Reventon Roadster – 1 of 15
The 6.5-litre V12 powered Reventon is one of the rarest modern day Lamborghini’s. It’s based on the notorious Murcielago and can reach a top speed of 330km/h thanks to the 493kW of power at its disposal. The Reventon was sold for R29,8-million and had done just under 2400-kilometers on the clock.
#3: Ferrari LaFerrari – 1 of 499
Along with the P1 and 918, a LaFerrari was also seized and auctioned for a bargain price of R33,3-million, a cool R10-million less than its market related price of R40-million. It had just 500-kilometers on the clock, which means it was still pretty new. It’s powertrain consists of a 6.3-litre V12 and an electric motor to produce 708kW of power, accelerating the LaFerrari from 0-100km/h in 2.4-seconds.
#2: Koenigsegg One:1 – 1 of 7
The people of Koenigsegg refer to this car as the world’s first ‘mega car’ thanks to the monstrous twin-turbo 5.0-litre V8 that produces a whopping 1000kW of power (or a megawatt). It also boasts a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio, and this allows the Koenigsegg to accelerate from 0-400km/h in 20-seconds before reaching its top speed of 440km/h. The last time one of these went on sale was in 2016 and it fetched R78,5-million. The seized One:1 was sold for R70,2-million.
#1: Lamborghini Veneno Roadster – 1 of 9
The holy grail of the collection is one of the most sought after supercars ever made – the Veneno Roadster. It carried a price tag of just over R53-million when it was new, but this one sold for a record-breaking R126,3-million, earning it the title of the most expensive Lamborghini ever. It had less than 350-kilometers on the clock. The Veneno is powered by a 551kW 6.5-litre V12, enabling a top speed of 355km/h and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 2.8-seconds.
Also worth a look: the The 80s are back: Lamborghini unveils new Countach LPI800-4 and the Lamborghini announces its first fully electric vehicle .
FAQ
Q: What was the most expensive car sold at the seized supercar auction?
The Lamborghini Reventon Roadster was likely among the most expensive, being one of only 15 ever made with its 6.5-litre V12 engine, though the article doesn't reveal the final auction price for this ultra-rare hypercar.
Q: How much money did the seized supercar auction raise in total?
The Swiss government auction of 25 seized supercars raised a whopping R350-million in total, with most of the proceeds going to charities in Equatorial Guinea.
Q: Which hypercar had the lowest mileage at the auction?
The Porsche 918 Spyder was practically brand new with only 580 kilometres on the clock when it sold for R23.7-million, making it one of the lowest-mileage hypercars in the collection.
Q: Why were these supercars seized and auctioned by the Swiss government?
The cars belonged to Teodorin Nguema Obiang, son of Equatorial Guinea's president, and were seized following complicated legal disputes, with the Swiss government then auctioning them off and redirecting funds to charity.
Q: What makes the Aston Martin One-77 so special compared to other supercars?
The One-77 is incredibly exclusive with only 77 ever made, and Aston Martin would actually throw you a party if you bought one new, plus it packs a 7.3-litre V12 capable of 354km/h and sold for R23.7-million at auction.
Should You Buy It?
Unless you've got R20-million burning a hole in your pocket and access to exclusive hypercar auctions, these seized supercars aren't exactly your typical weekend shopping spree. The McLaren P1 at R19.3-million, Bugatti Veyron at R20-million, and Porsche 918 Spyder at R23.7-million represent the absolute pinnacle of automotive engineering, but they're investment pieces for the ultra-wealthy rather than practical purchases. If you're lucky enough to afford one of these legendary machines, the Porsche 918 Spyder offers the best value with its hybrid tech, incredibly low 580km mileage, and future collectibility, but honestly, most of us will have to settle for admiring these automotive unicorns from afar.
