Range Rover Evoque

Make
Land Rover
Segment
SUV

Only 50 examples were ever built and it's not too unusual to see them come up for auction on a fairly regular basis. Still, the Maserati MC12 is no ordinary car. Heck, it's not even your ordinary supercar. Set to cross the auction block next month in Paris for RM Sotheby's event, is this 2005 Maserati MC12, the Frank Stephenson-penned, Ferrari Enzo-based dream machine. Despite sharing the Enzo's mechanicals, such as its 6.0-liter V12, the MC12 is actually longer, lower, and taller, with a lower drag coefficient.

While the Enzo has sharp body angles, the MC12 has an overall smooth design. However, the Enzo is both faster and has a higher top speed, 217 mph vs 205 mph. But the MC12 is still very special, aside from its limited production run, because it represented Maserati's return to racing after a 37-year absence. The road car you see here was built to homologate the racing version, the MC12 Corsa, of which three GT1 race cars competed with great success such as the American Le Mans Series. Maserati also won the Manufacturer's Cup in 2005 and 2007 and six Driver's Championships. As for this early build MC12, it was delivered to its original owner on January 3, 2005 in Italy.

Its second owner was also Italian, but was later imported to Germany where it's remained ever since.The current owner bought it about five years ago and drove it regularly, as one should. Of the total 7,767 miles on its clock, this owner alone added just under 1,900. All previous owners have properly maintained it from the start and was given a complete service last year. The paint is still all original and aside from an aftermarket backup camera for easier low speed maneuvers, the entire car is original as well. Now, pricing. Well, it ain't going to be cheap.

RM Sotheby's estimates a final price between 2,000,000 and 2,500,000 euros, about $2.36 million to just under $3 million. Considering the Maserati MC12 cost about $670,000 new back in '05, this is definitely a solid investment – if you have the money to begin with. Photos courtesy of Peter Singhof/RM Auctions.