Billionaire Middle Eastern prince built the fastest supercar on Earth worth $3,000,000, then it vanished
Published on Nov 08, 2025 at 12:22 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Nov 06, 2025 at 3:25 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Henry Kelsall
A Middle Eastern prince and billionaire built the fastest supercar on earth, the mysterious Mercedes-Benz Lotec C1000 worth $3 million, and then it vanished.
The Mercedes-Benz Lotec C1000 is a one-off supercar that was conceived by a mysterious prince from the Middle East, along with German engineer Jürgen Lotterschmid.
Developed by Mercedes and Lotec, it had a huge V8 engine under the hood, and cost $3 million to produce.
It was claimed to have a top speed of nearly 300mph, but not long after its unveiling, the car vanished for years before appearing again at a Dubai auction.
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Why the Mercedes-Benz Lotec C1000 was built
Kurt Lotterschmid founded Lotec in the late 1960s, and it built cars such as Group 5 racers and custom one-offs.
Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, CEO of Emirates Airlines, came to them wanting something special, and commissioned the car in 1995.
That is what led to the C1000, with Lotec developing the supercar and Mercedes-Benz providing the power.
It had a racing-bred skeleton thanks to its carbon fiber monocoque.
The car resembled the Sauber Group C prototypes from some angles, as well as the Mercedes CLK GTR.
Under the hood was a Mercedes M117 V9 engine, twin turbocharged by Garrett turbos.
All in, the car made 1,000hp, and had a theoretical top speed of 268mph.
It never reached that speed, but did achieve 186mph.
The car also came with an eight-page owner’s manual, even though it was only a one-off.
What happened to the fastest supercar on Earth?
The car disappeared for decades, becoming an enigmatic rumor.
However, it was sitting safely in North Carolina, maintained by technician John Hooper.
Eventually, collector Jonathan Weisman bought the car after it reappeared at a Dubai auction.
This confirmed that the car did indeed exist and that it had been well looked after over the years.
Curated, the Miami restoration outfit, helped to give the car a refresh and get it back on the road.
The Lotec C1000 does still exist and still runs, and it’s had more publicity in the last 12 months than ever before.
It is remarkable not only that the car was built, but that it still exists in original form in 2025.
Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
