YOU CAN PICK THESE V12-POWERED GT CARS UP FOR LESS THAN A NEW SUPRA COSTS

$58,300. That's how much you'll need to fork out for a new Toyota GR Supra. Powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged straight-six engine with 382 hp, the GR Supra will blast to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds.

But what to do if you want something that is less mainstream? Something with a bit more presence on the road, that will make other car enthusiasts gasp when you rock up at a car meet, and give the engine a rev? Something like, say, a V12 grand tourer? Here are 10 GTs with V12 engines that cost less than that new GR Supra. Hold on, there's a (V12) rumble in the car park!

Lincoln Continental Coupe

Years In Production: 1946-1948

Meet the last American-made V12 production car, the mighty Lincoln Continental Coupe. It was on sale from 1946 to 1948, and is powered by a 4.8-liter V12 that produces 125 hp. Yep, it's not exactly a rocket ship. The 4.8-liter V12 engine was introduced by Ford in 1936, and was developed using the company's famous Flathead V8 as a base.

The engine is renowned for its smoothness and abundance of torque. The Coupe, tipping the scale at just over 4,000 pounds, came with a three-speed manual gearbox, driving the rear wheels. Only 850 Continental Coupes were made, and you can pick one up for less than $20,000.

Jaguar XKE Series III

Year In Introduction: 1971-1974

Enzo Ferrari once said that the Jaguar XKE is the most beautiful car ever made. And powered by a 5.3-liter V12 engine, it doesn't only look like a million bucks, it is also a fast GT, able to reach almost 150 mph. The fine Jaguar V12 engine lives under the long hood, and produces 314 hp and a handy 348 lb-ft, with a four-speed manual gearbox sending the power to the rear wheels. Although some XKE models will set you back far in excess of $100,000 (like a first-edition, 3.8-liter straight-six roadster), you can pick up a useable V12 for around $38,900.

Mind, the V12 generates a lot of heat under the hood, and problems related to this heat have been known to turn XKE V12 ownership into an expensive schooling in cool classic cars.

Jaguar XJS

Year In Production: 1975-1986

The XJS is powered by the same 5.3-liter V12 that powered the XKE S3. In the XJ-S, the engine delivers 262 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. The XJS is also slightly heavier than the XKE, so performance is brisk, but it won't put your neck muscles in a spasm. A four-speed manual gearbox or three-speed automatic sends the power to the rear wheels.

By the '90s, Jaguar had increased the V12's capacity to six liters, and hiked power to 313 hp. That model is known as the XJR-S... and also sells for around half the price of that GR Supra. Lovely.

BMW 850i

Years In Production: 1990-1999

* BMW 850CSi specifications listed

When the BMW 8 Series went on sale in 1990, it landed in the middle of a financial recession and a couple of wars. It was powered by V8 and V12 engine options, with the 850i V12 the top-selling derivative. The 850i's five-liter V12 makes 296 hp, with a manual or automatic gearbox sending the power to the rear wheels. Today you can pick one up for around $22,525.

Slow sales saw the planned M8 model canceled, and the 381-hp, 5.6-liter 850CSi became the halo model in the range. These rare models now retail for closer to $100,000.

Ferrari 456M GT

Years In Production: 1992-2003

In 1990, when the first iteration of the Ferrari 456 was due to go on sale, it resembled the BMW 850i so closely, complete with pop-up headlights, that Ferrari management commissioned a redesign of the 456 to prevent folks from thinking that the Italian firm had copied the BMW. The remodeled 456 made its debut in 1992. It is powered by Ferrari's famed F116 5.5-liter V12 engine, producing 436 hp. That's enough to blast the Ferrari to 60 mph in just five seconds.

Amazingly, you can now own a later 456M model for around $50,000. Yep, for less money than a brand new GR Supra, you can have yourself some Ferrari F116 V12 magic, with all the right sound effects.

Aston Martin Vanquish

Years In Production: 2001-2007

The first-generation Aston Martin Vanquish made its debut in 2001, and right off the bat it was powered by the brand's 6.0-liter V12 engine, producing 460 hp. It was penned by Ian Cullam, famed designer of cars like the Jaguar F-Type and many more. The Vanquish is described as a neoclassic design, with its beautiful lines made up of aluminum and composite materials. But the main party trick is the 460 hp V12 engine under the hood, spinning to 7,000 rpm, producing magnificent sound effects.

The Vanquish featured as James Bond's official ride in the 2002 film Die Another Day, adding further allure. Why drive a GR Supra when you can drive the same GT as James Bond, right? It also goes for less than $50,000.

Mercedes-Benz CL600

Years In Production: 2003-2006

The second-generation Mercedes-Benz CL600 caters for folks who like to fly under the radar, and then blow the opposition out of the water, with a mountain of torque in the game. The Mercedes-Benz C215 Coupe made its debut in 1998, with a naturally-aspirated 5.8-liter V12 engine introduced into the range in 2000.

In 2003, Mercedes-Benz upped the game to the next level when it installed the M275 V12 engine in the CL. With twin-turbochargers, the 5.5-liter engine produces 493 hp. More significantly, there's 590 lb-ft of torque available, ensuring that the big coupe can blast off in any gear, at any speed. All this discreet blasting power can be yours for just over $21,000.

Bentley Continental GT

Years In Production: 2003-2011

The first-generation Bentley Continental GT went on sale in 2003, and was powered by the brilliant engineer Ferdinand Piëch's six-liter, twin-turbocharged W12 engine. The big, heavy and supremely luxurious coupe has 552 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, providing blistering performance. Today you can pick one up for around $15,000. Yep, that's less than the cheapest new car on the market, the Nissan Versa. How is this even possible?

Ferdinand's W12 design may be a brilliant one, but due to the complex design, maintenance costs can be exorbitant. Otherwise, the Bentley Continental GT is a brilliant GT, offering stunning performance in one classy package.

Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG

Years In Production: 2004-2006

Want a GT that puts your driving skills to the test, at every opportunity, combined with some occasional convertible action? The R230 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG, with its innovative fold-away hard-top roof, fits that bill perfectly. It is powered by AMG's magnificent M275 V12 engine. The six-liter engine comes with two turbochargers, and produces 604 hp and a slightly mind-bending 738 lb-ft of torque. On the road, the SL's performance is prodigious. And frankly, a little bit scary.

With all that drive sent to the rear wheels via a Speedshift automatic gearbox, the driver needs to keep a short leash on proceedings, otherwise the SL65 AMG will bite back. In short, for ultimate cross-country GT blasting power, it doesn't get much better than this. Selling for around $30,000 and up, the R230 SL65 AMG is the performance bargain of the century. Servicing, again, will require a thick wallet.

Aston Martin DB7 Vantage

Years In Production: 1999-2003

The Aston Martin DB7 started its life in 1994 as a bit of a stop-gap effort, based on the older Jaguar XJR-S coupe platform. It also came with a supercharged straight-six engine out of the Jag parts bin. By 1999, Aston Martin had seen the light, and squeezed a naturally aspirated, six-liter V12 under the hood. It was called the Vantage.

The engine upped the DB7's performance game comprehensively, enabling the GT to get to 60 mph in around five seconds. Importantly, a six-speed manual gearbox was also available, catering for gearheads who prefer the more analog driving experience the manual 'box offers. A five-speed automatic could also be had. Today you can park a first-generation Vantage in your driveway for around $35,000.

Sources:Bring A Trailer.

2026-01-31T10:09:46Z