Phantom

Segment
Sedan

If you desire the most luxurious car in the world, look no further than the imperious Rolls-Royce Phantom. For years, the big Brit has been the preferred mode of propulsion for the world's plutocrats and, thanks to a host of recent updates, it will remain so. Few cars come close to the majestic Roller; Bentley's defunct Mulsanne came close and Maybach failed dismally with the 57/62.

It wasn't always this way, though. In the bustling 1920s and '30s, several marques could give the Goodwood-based brand a run for its money - one of them was Hispano-Suiza. The luxury brand was once considered to make the finest cars in the world, a statement backed up by Jay Leno's latest video, which showcases the absolutely gorgeous 1933 J12.

Even in the middle of Leno's incredible collection, the two-door beauty stands out from the crowd. Just 120 examples of the J12 Type 68 were built, and thanks to the exceptionally rare bodywork, this one is rarer still. "The coachwork was done by Henry Binder. This is one of only nine J12s [he] made. This is the only one that's sitting on a 146-inch wheelbase," explains the Nethercutt Collection's Cameron Richards.

The gorgeous luxury car gains motivation from a 9.4-liter V12 with 250 horsepower on tap - not impressive by modern standards, but phenomenal in the 1930s. When new, the J12 was capable of reaching speeds of more than 100 mph. Richards remarks the J12 was one of the fastest cars money could buy when it was first introduced.

The cabin is crafted with the finest materials; sumptuous leather lines the four seats, uplifted only by the slab of wood trim on the dashboard and the meticulously crafted controls.

Owned new by Suzanne Deutsch de la Meurthe (an heiress and pioneer of aviation), this particular J12 has a rich and varied history. From behind the wheel, Leno has nothing but praise for the Hispano-Suiza. "This is a great motor ... [it has] a beautiful transmission, a synchromesh which had just come out in 1932. It really is fast."

As the pair cruise around Los Angeles, Leno asks Richards how much the J12 is worth. Due to its rarity, he says the Hispano-Suiza is easily worth a couple of million dollars. "[This] was the premier luxury car of the 1920s. I think it was ahead of the Rolls-Royce," adds Leno.

In recent years, the Hispano-Suiza nameplate has made a return. The all-electric Carmen Boulogne may not be as beautiful as its predecessors, but it's certainly as pricey and exclusive. Renowned car collector Michael Fux recently added one to his collection and, with just 14 examples slated for production, it's nearly as rare as the J12.