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A one-off vehicle is a vehicle designed for normal circulation and produced in almost single units following specific instructions from the customer. Generally the model is made on a small or large series, with significant technical, functional and aesthetic variations between each unit. In the field of vehicles authorized to drive, the production of unique vehicles is reduced to almost one unit in each case. The easiest cases to analyze are those of cars and motorcycles.

Unique automobiles and unique motorcycles are usually kept and displayed in museums. Aeronautical vehicles, with notable exceptions, are not preserved in the same way (due to accidents and disappearances). Naval vehicles feature a myriad of unique models. A non-exclusive base of examples could be the field of sailing yachts and motorboats.

Some cases of non-legalized vehicles may be included in this article if they have particularly noticeable characteristics, such as engine, chassis, and body types.

Origin of one-off

A one-off is something made or occurring only once, independently of any particular pattern.^[1] First used in 1934,^[2] this term is employed to differentiate singular items from those in a series: e.g. "the Lincoln Futura was a one-off". It has been suggested that it is a misspelling of "one-of", but this etymology is not supported by sources such as the Oxford English Dictionary.^[3]

Cars

Before mass production, automobiles were handcrafted. First the whole car and then only the body on a factory-provided chassis. There are many unique specimens of that time. Many customers made the car custom-made. Of that mass of unique cars it is only good to expose a few. Those that, besides being in a museum, have some remarkable features.

Alfa Romeo 40-60 HP Castagna

The house A.L.F.A. Manufactured a 40/60 designated street car. Designed by engineer Giuseppe Merosi, it had a 4-cylinder in-line engine (with camshaft and cylinder head) and provided 70 hp (52 kW) with a top speed of 125 km / h. In the racing version, the power reached 73 hp (54 kW) and a speed of 137 km / h.

In 1914 the Milanese count Marco Ricotti commissioned an aerodynamic body to the specialized firm Castagna that allowed the speed of 140 km / h. This unique model was officially called "aerodynamics" and popularly was " Siluro Ricotti."^[4]^[5]

1924. Hispano Suiza "Tulipwood"

The extraordinary and well-honored Dubonnet (the heir to the snack maker Dubonnet) commissioned a racing car in Hispano Switzerland based on the Boulogne model. The bodywork was commissioned to Nieuport, an aircraft manufacturer.^[6]^[7]^[8]

Engine: 6 cylinders in line, 8 liters, 200 hp
Chassis
Bodywork: From Virginia tulip strips of wood tucked in with brass nails (some talking about rivets) on wooden notebooks. There are doubts about some technical details. There are sources that speak of the structural elements of fir. Other authors indicate an aluminum sub-body. The total weight would be 78 kg. ^[9]

Despite the luxurious appearance it was a race car. It was sixth on the Targa Florio and the fifth on the Florio Cup.

1927. Bugatti Type 41 Royale

1931. Hispano-Suiza J12.

This luxury car was stripped naked, with only the chassis and engine. All J12s were unique. The engine was V12 at 60 degrees. The engine block was machined from a 313 kg casting block. The crankshaft rotated on seven bearings. Each cylinder had two valves operated by rockers from a central camshaft. According to the designer, Mark Birkit, this solution (apparently less sophisticated than the camshafts in the cilinde head) was chosen as less noisy.

The Hispano-Suiza J12 appears in the film Borsalino & Co^[10]

1938. Hispano-Suiza H6B Dubonnet Xenia

1939. Lagonda Rapide V12 Tulipwood Tourer

^[11]

2006. Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina

American James Glickenhaus commissioned Pininfarina to create a special P3 racing body. The mechanical base was the Ferrari Enzo. The result would be designated with the reference Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina, authorized by the Ferrari house.^[12]^[13]

Rolls-Royce Sweptail

It was the costliest new car in the world at its debut in 2017.^[14]

References

^ Cordelia Hebblethwaite (27 September 2012). "Britishisms and the Britishisation of American English". BBC News Online.
^ "Definition of ONE-OFF". 24 November 2023.
^ New York Times: The Origins of ‘One-Off’, 2 July 2010
^ Gian Luca Margheriti (30 July 2015). 101 tesori nascosti di Milano da vedere almeno una volta nella vita. Newton Compton Editori. pp. 389–. ISBN 978-88-541-8612-5.
^ ALFA 40-60 HP Aerodynamics Castagna.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Me and My Car: This Hispano-Suiza was built for speed". 19 February 2012.
^ White Elephantitis
^ A Review of Wave Rotor Technology and its Applications
^ Hispanic Switzerland H6 C Dubonnet 'Tulipwood' (1924). Kcslot logbook.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ 1934 Hispano-Swiss J12 Ville coupe
^ "1939-Lagonda Rapide V12 Tulipwood Ttourer". Archived from the original on 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
^ Carlos Viniegra (27 June 2018). Amos, lacayos y vasallos: Por qué el autoritarismo persiste en el siglo XXI y como enfrentarlo. Self Published Ink. pp. 249–. ISBN 978-607-8535-48-4.
^ Ian Norris (December 2006). Automobile Year 2006/07. Automobile Year. pp. 248–. ISBN 978-2-916206-04-2.
^ Harvey, Michael (27 May 2017). "Rolls-Royce debuts its stunning £10 million Sweptail - the most expensive new car ever sold". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2017-10-03.

[1] Cordelia Hebblethwaite (27 September 2012). "Britishisms and the Britishisation of American English". BBC News Online.

[2] "Definition of ONE-OFF". 24 November 2023.

[3] New York Times: The Origins of ‘One-Off’, 2 July 2010

[Margheriti20152-4] Gian Luca Margheriti (30 July 2015). 101 tesori nascosti di Milano da vedere almeno una volta nella vita. Newton Compton Editori. pp. 389–. ISBN 978-88-541-8612-5.

[5] ALFA 40-60 HP Aerodynamics Castagna.^{[permanent dead link]}

[6] "Me and My Car: This Hispano-Suiza was built for speed". 19 February 2012.

[7] White Elephantitis

[8] A Review of Wave Rotor Technology and its Applications

[9] Hispanic Switzerland H6 C Dubonnet 'Tulipwood' (1924). Kcslot logbook.^{[permanent dead link]}

[10] 1934 Hispano-Swiss J12 Ville coupe

[11] "1939-Lagonda Rapide V12 Tulipwood Ttourer". Archived from the original on 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2019-12-13.

[Viniegra20182-12] Carlos Viniegra (27 June 2018). Amos, lacayos y vasallos: Por qué el autoritarismo persiste en el siglo XXI y como enfrentarlo. Self Published Ink. pp. 249–. ISBN 978-607-8535-48-4.

[Norris20062-13] Ian Norris (December 2006). Automobile Year 2006/07. Automobile Year. pp. 248–. ISBN 978-2-916206-04-2.

[14] Harvey, Michael (27 May 2017). "Rolls-Royce debuts its stunning £10 million Sweptail - the most expensive new car ever sold". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2017-10-03.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+A '''''one-off vehicle''''' is a [[vehicle]] designed for normal circulation and produced in almost single units following specific instructions from the customer.  Generally the model is made on a small or large series, with significant technical, functional and aesthetic variations between each unit. In the field of vehicles authorized to drive, the production of unique vehicles is reduced to almost one unit in each case.  The easiest cases to analyze are those of [[Car|cars]] and [[Motorcycle|motorcycles]].
-[[File:Porsche 911 gt1 - AIMS.JPG|thumb|The [[Porsche 911 GT1]] '98 ''"Straßenversion"'' is a street-legal racing car and a ''one-off'' of the racing version, that succeeded at the [[1998 24 Hours of Le Mans|24 Hours of Le Mans in 1998]].]]
-[[File:Beaulieu National Motor Museum 18-09-2012 (8421085818).jpg|thumb|[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang]] movie car.]]
-In the field of vehicles authorized to drive, a '''one-off vehicle''' is a vehicle that was manufactured only once. The production of unique vehicles is reduced to one unit in each case.
-The easiest cases to analyze are those of cars and motorcycles. Unique automobiles and unique motorcycles are usually kept and displayed in museums. Aeronautical vehicles, with notable exceptions, are not preserved in the same way (due to accidents and disappearances). Naval vehicles feature a myriad of unique models. A non-exclusive base of examples could be the field of sailing and motor yachts.
+Unique automobiles and unique motorcycles are usually kept and displayed in [[Museum|museums]]. [[Airplane|Aeronautical vehicles]], with notable exceptions, are not preserved in the same way (due to accidents and disappearances). [[Watercraft|Naval vehicles]] feature a myriad of unique models. A non-exclusive base of examples could be the field of [[Sailing yacht|sailing yachts]] and [[Motorboat|motorboats]].
-Some cases of non-legalized vehicles may be included in this article if they have particularly noticeable characteristics (engine, chassis, body, etc..).
+Some cases of non-legalized vehicles may be included in this article if they have particularly noticeable characteristics, such as engine, chassis, and body types.
 ==Origin of one-off==
-A '''one-off''' is something made or occurring only once, independently of any particular pattern.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19670686|title=Britishisms and the Britishisation of American English|author=Cordelia Hebblethwaite|date=27 September 2012|newspaper=[[BBC News Online]]}}</ref> First used in 1934,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-off|title = Definition of ONE-OFF}}</ref> this term is employed to differentiate singular items from those in a series: e.g. "the [[Lincoln Futura]] was a one-off". It has been suggested that it is a misspelling of "one-of", but this etymology is not supported by sources such as the Oxford English Dictionary.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/magazine/04FOB-onlanguage-t.html New York Times: The Origins of ‘One-Off’, 2 July 2010]</ref>
+A '''one-off''' is something made or occurring only once, independently of any particular pattern.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19670686|title=Britishisms and the Britishisation of American English|author=Cordelia Hebblethwaite|date=27 September 2012|newspaper=[[BBC News Online]]}}</ref> First used in 1934,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-off|title = Definition of ONE-OFF| date=24 November 2023 }}</ref> this term is employed to differentiate singular items from those in a series: e.g. "the [[Lincoln Futura]] was a one-off". It has been suggested that it is a misspelling of "one-of", but this etymology is not supported by sources such as the Oxford English Dictionary.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/magazine/04FOB-onlanguage-t.html New York Times: The Origins of ‘One-Off’, 2 July 2010]</ref>
 == Cars ==
@@ Line 16: / Line 15: @@
 The house  [[Alfa Romeo|A.L.F.A.]] Manufactured a 40/60 designated street car. Designed by engineer Giuseppe Merosi, it had a 4-cylinder in-line engine (with camshaft and cylinder head) and provided 70 hp (52 kW) with a top speed of 125 km / h. In the racing version, the power reached 73 hp (54 kW) and a speed of 137 km / h.
-In 1914 the Milanese count Marco Ricotti commissioned an aerodynamic body to the  [[Car body style|specialized firm]] Castagna that allowed the speed of 140 km / h. This unique model was officially called "aerodynamics" and popularly was " [[Torpedo|Siluro]] Ricotti."<ref name="Margheriti20152">{{cite book|author=Gian Luca Margheriti|title=101 tesori nascosti di Milano da vedere almeno una volta nella vita|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1k1FCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT389|date=30 July 2015|publisher=Newton Compton Editori|isbn=978-88-541-8612-5|pages=389–}}</ref><ref> [https://en.motor1.com/photo/3770432/alfa-40-60-hp-aerodinamica-castano/ ALFA 40-60 HP Aerodynamics Castagna.] </ref>
+In 1914 the Milanese count Marco Ricotti commissioned an aerodynamic body to the  [[Car body style|specialized firm]] Castagna that allowed the speed of 140 km / h. This unique model was officially called "aerodynamics" and popularly was " [[Torpedo|Siluro]] Ricotti."<ref name="Margheriti20152">{{cite book|author=Gian Luca Margheriti|title=101 tesori nascosti di Milano da vedere almeno una volta nella vita|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1k1FCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT389|date=30 July 2015|publisher=Newton Compton Editori|isbn=978-88-541-8612-5|pages=389–}}</ref><ref>[https://en.motor1.com/photo/3770432/alfa-40-60-hp-aerodinamica-castano/ ALFA 40-60 HP Aerodynamics Castagna.]{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
-===1922.  [[Doble steam car]]s===
-From 1922 the Double brothers built the C, D, R and F. Series models. Virtually every unit was unique, with significant changes to the chassis, boiler, engine and body.
-<gallery>
-File:1924 Doble Model E at Henry Ford Museum.jpg
-File:Doble Stoom r.jpg
-</gallery>
 === 1924. Hispano Suiza "Tulipwood" ===
@@ Line 30: / Line 22: @@
 * Engine: 6 cylinders in line, 8 liters, 200 hp
 * Chassis
-* Bodywork: From Virginia tulip strips of wood tucked in with brass nails (some talking about rivets) on wooden notebooks. There are doubts about some technical details. There are sources that speak of the structural elements of fir. Other authors indicate an aluminum sub-body. The total weight would be 78 kg. <ref> [http://bitacora.kcslot.com/post/2008/07/21/Hispano-Switzerland-Tulipwood Hispanic Switzerland H6 C Dubonnet 'Tulipwood' (1924). Kcslot logbook.] </ref>
+* Bodywork: From Virginia tulip strips of wood tucked in with brass nails (some talking about rivets) on wooden notebooks. There are doubts about some technical details. There are sources that speak of the structural elements of fir. Other authors indicate an aluminum sub-body. The total weight would be 78 kg. <ref>[http://bitacora.kcslot.com/post/2008/07/21/Hispano-Switzerland-Tulipwood Hispanic Switzerland H6 C Dubonnet 'Tulipwood' (1924). Kcslot logbook.]{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 Despite the luxurious appearance it was a race car. It was sixth on the [[Targa Florio]] and the fifth on the Florio Cup.
@@ Line 52: / Line 44: @@
 File:1937 Dubonnet rear 3150c.jpg
 </gallery>
-=== 1938. Phantom Corsair ===
-[[File:1938 Phantom Corsair (9402801968).jpg|thumb|Buick Phantom Corsair. 1938.]]
-The Phantom Corsair was built as a two-door [[Sedan (car)|sedan]]) for six passengers. A futuristic body was mounted on a Cord 810 chassis.<ref name="StoneLerner2012">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CjycAkFr-qAC&pg=PT321|title=History's Greatest Automotive Mysteries, Myths, and Rumors Revealed: James Dean's Killer Porsche, NASCAR's Fastest Monkey, Bonnie and Clyde's Getaway Car, and More|author1=Matt Stone|author2=Preston Lerner|date=5 November 2012|publisher=Motorbooks|isbn=978-1-61058-659-7|pages=321–}}</ref> This car was the result of a collaboration between young Rust Heinz (heir to the food industry tycoons Heinz) and the signing of bodywork Bohman & Schwartz. The mechanics of choice were the Cord 810 with a Lycoming V8 engine and front-wheel drive.<ref>[http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=169158 Carfolio.com/Phanyom Corsair Specifications.]</ref>
-* The cabin was very luxurious by design, imitating art deco
-* Doors had no handles and were electrically opened. Among other instruments there was an [[altimeter]] and a [[Brúixola|magnetic compass]]. A set of optical pilots indicated if the doors were not locked properly or if the radio receiver was turned on.<ref>[http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1938-phantom-corsair.htm 1938 Phantom Corsair.]</ref>
-Manufacturing intentions were void of the death of promoter Rust Heinz in a car accident.
 === 1939. Lagonda Rapide V12 Tulipwood Tourer ===
-<ref>[https://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1939-lagonda-rapide-v-12-tulipwood-tourer/ 1939-Lagonda Rapide V12 Tulipwood Ttourer]</ref>
+<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1939-lagonda-rapide-v-12-tulipwood-tourer/ |title=1939-Lagonda Rapide V12 Tulipwood Ttourer |access-date=2019-12-13 |archive-date=2019-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212213406/https://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1939-lagonda-rapide-v-12-tulipwood-tourer/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 === 2006. Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina ===
@@ Line 72: / Line 57: @@
 === [[Rolls-Royce Sweptail]] ===
-It was the costliest new car in the world at its debut in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/motoring/rolls-royce-debuts-stunning-10-million-sweptail-expensive/|title=Rolls-Royce debuts its stunning £10 million Sweptail - the most expensive new car ever sold|website=The Telegraph|date=27 May 2017|access-date=2017-10-03|last1=Harvey|first1=Michael}}</ref>
+It was the [[list of automotive superlatives#Price|costliest]] new car in the world at its debut in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/motoring/rolls-royce-debuts-stunning-10-million-sweptail-expensive/|title=Rolls-Royce debuts its stunning £10 million Sweptail - the most expensive new car ever sold|website=The Telegraph|date=27 May 2017|access-date=2017-10-03|last1=Harvey|first1=Michael}}</ref>
-=== [[Rolls-Royce Corniche#1939 experimental Corniche|2019 Bentley experimental Corniche recreation]] ===
-== Motorcycles ==
-=== 1955. Guzzi Otto Cilindri ===
-[[File:Paris - Salon de la moto 2011 - Moto Guzzi - Otto Cilindri - 002.jpg|thumb|Moto Guzzi - Otto Cilindri]]
-The engine was a water-cooled 500cc V8. Two camshafts (4 trees in total) driven by a cascade of toothed wheels. It offered a power of 78 hp (58 kW) at 12000 rpm and weighed 45 kg. It was designed by the engineer Giulio Carcano.
-The motorcycle broke the speed record with a speed of 280 km / h, a mark of would remain for 20 years. <ref name="DK20122">{{cite book|author=DK|title=The Motorbike Book: The Definitive Visual History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2d2-_t4j9SQC&pg=PA59|date=2 April 2012|publisher=Dorling Kindersley Limited|isbn=978-1-4093-7885-3|pages=59–}}</ref><ref name="Falloon20072">{{cite book|author=Ian Falloon|title=The Moto Guzzi Sport & Le Mans Bible|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VeeEWX3kSDQC&pg=PA1|date=30 June 2007|publisher=Veloce Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-1-84584-064-8|pages=1–}}</ref><ref>[https://www.motociclismo.it/moto-guzzi-8-cilindri-gp-500-1955-1957-foto-video-sound-tecnica-prestazioni-risultati-67587 Guzzi 8 cilindri GP 500 story.]</ref>
-=== 1967. [[Ossa (motorcycle)|OSSA 250 Monocoque]] ===
-=== 1991. Britten V1000 ===
-[[File: Britten V1000 01.jpg|thumb|Britten V1000]]
-This New Zealand motorcycle with very unconventional solutions proved to be very competitive in racing. Apart from the initial prototype, ten units were built with noticeable differences.
-== Aircraft ==
-=== 1927. [[Spirit of Saint Louis]]. ===
-=== 1927. Dallas Spirit. ===
-=== 1940. Grumman XF5F-1 Skyrocket. ===
-Specially configured military twin-engine aircraft.<ref>[http://www.aviation-history.com/grumman/xf5f.html Grumman XF5F-1 Skyrocket]</ref>
-[[File:The latest type of a Grumman Navy fighter - NARA - 195921.jpg|thumb|center| Grumman XF5F-1 Skyrocket.]]
-=== 1947. [[H-4 Hercules]] Spruce Goose. ===
-== Airships ==
-=== 1984. White Dwarf Airship ===
-[[Human-powered transport|Human propulsion]].<ref name="Rechs19982">{{cite book|author=Robert J. Rechs|title=An Introduction to Muscle Powered Ultra-light Gas Blimps|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4sWHsiuSKMC&pg=PA149|date=1 November 1998|publisher=Marc de Piolenc|isbn=978-0-937568-30-9|pages=149–}}</ref><ref name="Magazines1985">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_OMDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA62|title=Popular Mechanics|author=Hearst Magazines|date=January 1985|publisher=Hearst Magazines|pages=62–}}</ref>
 == References ==