Supercars

This Australian supercar was the most expensive car in the world at one point

  • It was built as a road-going variant of a Le Mans race car
  • Only seven of them were ever built
  • The car’s development also has an interesting story

Published on Aug 12, 2024 at 5:04 PM (UTC+4)
by Nalin Rawat

Last updated on Aug 12, 2024 at 7:14 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

Built by a Le Mans racing legend, the Schuppan-Porsche 962 was the most expensive car in the world at one point.

Its predecessor, the Porche 956, had already distinguished itself by winning six straight Le Mans, breaking a record run of wins.

The Porche 962 continued its legacy as the era’s greatest Group C car.

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The man behind the Australian supercar

At-one-point-this-Australian-supercar-was-the-most-expensive-car-in-the-world
Aston Parrott

In 1983, Vern Schuppan claimed the biggest win of his career, when the Aussie triumphed at Le Mans in a third factory Rothmans Porsche 956.

That same year, he also won the All-Japan Endurance Championship with a Porsche 956B.

This turned him into something of a celebrity in Japan.

Not unlike the winner of the Japanese Reverse Driving Trial – potentially the most exhilarating and weirdest motorsport out there, but that’s another story.

Back to Schuppan, and the Japanese Art Sports Corporation (ASC) reached out to him for their most ambitious project yet, a road-going supercar – the Porsche 962.

Although there are other iconic Porsche race cars, this is the only one to be called the most expensive car in the world.

This-Australian-supercar-was-the-most-expensive-car-in-the-world
Aston Parrott

The Aussie was no stranger to race car engineering.

He had formed Team Schuppan Limited (renamed to Vern Schuppan Ltd) after retiring from racing in 1987.

Once approached by the ASC, he started developing the road-going Porsche 962 supercar.

It would soon be known as the most expensive car in the world.

The Australian invested £2 million into the venture, but the timing couldn’t have been worse.

As the new venture started in the early 90s, the world descended into an economic meltdown. 

Most expensive car in the world

The-Schuppan-Porsche-962-was-the-most-expensive-car-in-the-world
Aston Parrott

Japan was also hit hard and ASC scaled back its order from 50 to 10 road-going Porsche 962 supercar.

This led to a legal battle between Schuppan and the ASC.

But not before a total of seven cars had been built.

The Schuppan-Porsche 962 came in two specifications priced at around $1.5 million.

At that point in time, it was the most expensive production car in the world.

Thankfully we can take a look at this Australian supercar in its full glory, thanks to some amazing photos courtesy of Aston Parrott.

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Nalin started his career by working with various national newspapers in India. He has also worked as a writer/editor for many popular websites, while still pursuing his journalism and mass communication degree. Working as a digital nomad has allowed him to inform and educate through his work. When he is not writing, you can find him playing video games or travelling the mountains on his bike.