It isn’t often that a rare car climbs out of the woodwork after spending years and years hiding away. However, it does happen, as the 1988 Cizeta-Moroder V16T prototype, a supercar that has always been hidden away from view, has resurfaced once again.
This is by far one of the rarest supercars ever made. Looking a bit like a Lamborghini thanks to the influence of ex-Lamborghini employees, the Moroder V16T was built by Cizeta Automobili from 1991 to 2003. It was also produced by music composer Giorgio Moroder and designed by Marcello Gandini. However, over that period of time, just 11 were ever produced.
That number included one prototype car and one Spyder version. The remaining nine were all coupes. If you have never heard of the car or its builder, then that is understandable. The V16T was the only model ever produced by Cizeta Automobili, and as such it is incredibly valuable in 2026.
One of the cars has just appeared on RM Sotheby’s. And this isn’t just any Moroder V16T. It is chassis number 001, the very first example of the supercar, and the one prototype that the company built. If the last time it went for auction is anything to go by, then it will fetch well over $1 million.
Why the Prototype Cizeta-Moroder V16T Is So Special
There are some notable differences between the prototype car and the production versions of the Cizeta-Moroder V16T. Chassis 001 has larger side air intakes, as well as a unique diagonal body crease. The dashboard is also different from the production versions, as are the supercar’s side mirrors.
The finish is equally special. Cizeta finished the prototype in a striking Pearl White, with a gorgeous red leather interior complementing the design perfectly. Sitting under the hood is a transverse-mounted 6.0-liter V16 engine. Yes, you did read that right. As the name of the car suggests, it has a massive V16 engine under the hood.
That gives the supercar 540hp and 400lb-ft of torque. The performance was incredibly impressive, giving it a 0-60mph time of 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 204mph. The car being sold was actually used for the debut of the supercar, at an event in Los Angeles in 1988 that was hosted by comedian and automotive enthusiast Jay Leno. The car was kept in Giorgio Moroder’s garage for 33 years, and it was eventually sold by RM Sotheby’s in January 2022, where it went for $1.3 million.
Why Wasn’t the Cizeta-Moroder V16T a Success?
The prototype was the only car built under the Cizeta-Moroder partnership before it was dissolved. The car then became the Cizeta V16T, with the Moroder dropped from the name. The company still hoped to produce one car a month, making it 12 a year, yet in total just nine production examples were ever built. The company produced an initial batch from 1991 to 1995.
The financial slowdown and the failure of the car to comply with US road-car rules and regulations, as well as its high asking price, restricted the car’s customer base. In fact, it was only ever sold on a made-to-order basis. The final example of the car so far was rolled off the production line in 2003, although production has never officially concluded.