This Super Rare Isdera Spyder 036i Might Be The Most Unique Way To Spend A Few Hundred Grand

This Isdera Spyder 036i is a rare sports car that has been forgotten by many. Unlike the company that built it, it’s been relegated to history by far more successful rivals. That still doesn’t detract from the fact that it is rife with historic automobile DNA throughout its form.

This particular Isdera Spyder 036i is one of just 14 (or fewer) examples ever built. The auction house selling this car, RM Sotheby’s, says that the long build time of some 12 months per car contributed to the low production numbers. Of course, each one of those cars was hand-built so it wasn’t going to be a fast process, especially so in the 1980s.

Now’s your chance to have one of those cars with its own set of unique factory-built features that will set it apart even in the presence of every other Spyder ever built. That includes a special wide-body package, larger wheels, and a new blue interior to match the blue accents on the wheels.

The most important modification came behind the driver’s head where the original 3.0-liter inline-six Mercedes engine was ripped out and replaced with a 3.6-liter AMG unit. It now makes 276 hp, or 27 percent more than the 3.0-liter. That’s not only enough to feel a big difference, but it also manages to keep the car in line with its original lineage.

All those modifications took place in 2011 at Isdera’s factory in Hildesheim, Germany so there’s no question about their quality. In addition, this is the same example that was originally shown off at the 1989 Geneva Motor Show. For a vehicle that could be driven regularly, there sure is a lot of unique history in this car.

The auction house listed the mileage as unknown but the photos show 59,000 km (36,660 miles) on the clock. Based on other examples, it wouldn’t be too shocking to see this sports car crest over the $200,000 mark when it goes under the hammer in mid-May.

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