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One-seater cars emphasize the freedom of solo driving, a feeling many of us can relate to.
In one of the many awkwardly amusing scenes in the sitcom Schitt's Creek, the character Johnny Rose - portrayed by Eugene Levy - tries to explain to his slow-witted mechanic friend Bob why he likes test-driving new cars alone.
"I like to experience the car one-on-one. Just me and the machine, you know what I mean?" asks Johnny. Bob didn't have a clue, but Johnny's statement will resonate with every gearhead or Formula 1 driver, and you can add bikers to that list, too. After all, what greater selfish satisfaction is there than a joyride without the distraction of a single passenger?
That experience is amplified in one-seater cars, a configuration that remains rare today simply because it's utterly impractical, as has been the case from the start. Even the first production car, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, had enough space for two.
Here's a look at some unique one-seater cars.
Prime Driving Position
Before we get into single-seater cars, we must touch on seating position. Although not every one-seater car places the driver in the center, several do, and this capability is one of the configurations' distinct advantages.
The driver sits right in the middle in the new Gordon Murray Automotive T.50. This isn't a one-seater, as the T.50 has two smaller passenger seats positioned further back on each side of the driver. A center seat is not only aesthetically exciting, but the view from the T.50's driver's seat allows the car to be accurately positioned. That's not to say that every single-seater automatically offers excellent visibility.
"You have a great view. You can see corners easier - the apexes - whether they're right-hand or left-hand," said supercar constructor James Glickenhaus when speaking with Car and Driver.
Gordon Murray also said the offset between a driver's seat and pedal box in the late 1980s was one of the reasons the iconic F1 had a central seating position. Finally, sitting in the center enhances crash safety from the side, simply because the driver is further from the doors.
McLaren Solus GT
This track-only racer started life as a gaming concept car, so the fact that it grew from that into a car you could buy is amazing. The Solus GT's single seat is placed in the car's center. Drivers have to climb up and step down into the cabin - see the video below - since there is no traditional door, only a wraparound canopy that slides forward.
Once seated, your ankles are nearly in line with your hips, much like the driving position in an F1 car. The seat is specially molded to each customer's body, the kind of customization you get when you spend around $3 million on an 829-horsepower V10 hypercar.
All 25 units of the Solus GT have already been sold out.
McLaren Solus GT
| Power | Price | 0-62 |
|---|---|---|
| 829 hp | Over $3 million | 2.5 seconds |
Ferrari Monza SP1
One of only a handful of modern supercars with a single seat, the Monza SP1 forms part of Ferrari's limited Icona series cars - essentially, these are the most evocative cars in the brand's portfolio.
The SP1 has one seat on the left and a flat, closed area on the right where a passenger usually sits. The driver's co*ckpit contains all vital controls, and there is only a virtual windshield, not a traditional one - contributing to it not being street-legal in the USA - to deflect airflow over the driver's head. A two-seater Monza SP2 is also available.
Along with its sensational styling, the Monza SP1 has a 6.5-liter V12 producing 799 hp. At around $1.8 million, it's the ultimate indulgence for diehard Ferrari fans unwilling to share their pride and joy with anyone else.
Ferrari Monza SP1
| Power | Price | 0-62 |
|---|---|---|
| 799 hp | ~$1.8 million | 2.9 seconds |
BAC Mono
Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) is a British brand behind the single-seat BAC Mono road-legal sports car.
Founded by two brothers who consulted for brands like Porsche and Bentley, they put the first Mono into production in 2011. Back then, power was derived from a 2.3-liter Ford Duratec four-cylinder engine making around 280 hp, but since the car weighed under 1,200 pounds, it had a ridiculous power-to-weight ratio. The Mono R produces 343 hp from its 2.5-liter Mountune engine but retains its single-seat layout, while the new Mono revealed in 2023 makes 315 hp and weighs only 1,257 pounds.
Americans had a tricky route to BAC Mono ownership until local dealers were established a few years ago.
BAC Mono (2023)
| Power | Price | 0-60 |
|---|---|---|
| 315 hp | Over $250,000 (estimated) | 2.7 seconds |
Formula Ford EcoBoost
Over half a century ago, Formula Ford was introduced as a new motorsports category for single-seater, open-wheel racing. The format helped to nurture young talent, including a few who later achieved success in Formula One, with Ayrton Senna being one of them.
Around a decade ago, the street-legal Formula Ford EcoBoost was one of the products of this racing category. The single-seat racer has a 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine, but with a six-speed sequential gearbox and barely any weight to carry around, it's a riot to drive.
Although Caterham's lineup of cars has more retro styling and two seats, the Formula Ford EcoBoost offered a similarly stripped-down experience for those who value engagement over everything else.
Ford Formula EcoBoost
| Power | Price | 0-60 |
|---|---|---|
| 203 hp | N/A | Under 3.5 seconds |
Ferrari 499P Modificata
Announced in 2023, the 499P Modificata is a limited-series track car conceived for non-competitive use. Based on the 499P that won at Le Mans, the Modificata retains the single-seat configuration of that racer. Developing a track-only car from a racing car, not a production model, is rare for Ferrari.
The 499P Modificata is a hybrid with a mid-rear mounted V6 and an electric motor on the front axle. Combined, the system produces 858 hp. According to Ferrari, the Modificata delivers "exactly the same driving experience as the crews who drove the racing cars" at Le Mans.
Ferrari 499P Modificata
| Power | Price | 0-60 |
|---|---|---|
| 858 hp | $3 million (estimated) | 2.5 seconds (estimated) |
Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH Strada
One of the newest single-seater cars on this list, the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH Strada, is a road-going version of the 2024 Le Mans Hypercar. Built by the Italian brand Isotta Fraschini, which was founded in 1900, the company is in the midst of a revival, and the Tipo 6 LMH Strada is some way to do it.
The four-wheel-drive hybrid has a carbon monocoque and body, a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, and a front electric motor. The V6 alone produces 697 hp, and the electric motor contributes another 268 hp. That's enough to send the driver and nobody else to a top speed of around 230 mph.
At 3,250,000 Euros, the price works out to around $3.55 million dollars at current rates.
Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH Strada
| Power | Price | 0-62 |
|---|---|---|
| 697 hp (V6) 268 hp (electric motor) | ~$3.55 million | 2.8 seconds |
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170
This extreme drag racer is the only "conventional" coupe on this list. It comes with a single seat as standard to save weight, although it can be optioned to seat five like other Challengers. This outrageous coupe makes 1,025 hp when running on an E85 ethanol fuel mix, allowing it to reach 60 mph in a silly 1.66 seconds.
You'll need a prepared drag-strip surface to achieve that, but whichever way you look at it, the SRT Demon 170's performance is outrageous for a gas-powered car - or any vehicle, for that matter. The NHRA-certified quarter-mile time is under nine seconds, and it can reach 215 mph.
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170
| Power | Price | 0-60 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,025 hp | $96,666 | 1.66 seconds |
Palatov D1
Palatov Motorsport is based in Portland, Oregon, and the D1 was developed to appeal exclusively to track enthusiasts. This single-seater produces 430 hp from its 3.0-liter Hartley V8 engine, but the weight-to-power ratio of around 2.2 lbs per horsepower truly stands out.
The car only weighs around 1,100 lbs and measures just 42.6 inches in height up to the top of the rollbar. According to the Palatov website, you can buy a kit car for $124,500 or a complete car for $210,245. It may not look nearly as glamorous as a Ferrari Monza SP1, but the D1 costs a fraction of the price and delivers a next-level experience on a track.
Palatov D1
| Power | Price | 0-60 |
|---|---|---|
| 430 hp | $124,500 (kit car) $210,245 (complete car) | 2.5 seconds (estimated) |
Peel P50
While all the other cars on this list take advantage of a single-seater layout to optimize driver engagement, the Peel 50 does so to create an impossibly small footprint. Once driven by Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear, the Peel 50 is a single-seater microcar measuring 54 inches in length and 41 inches in width - certain sources quote a width of 39 inches. Even an original Mini Cooper hatchback would tower over this crumb of a car.
Supported by three wheels, the P50 was built in the 1960s - and went into production again in improved form in the 2010s, including a fully electric model.
The P50's disdain for excess is reflected in its 49cc engine, which uses just one cylinder. Originally producing just over four hp, it had a top speed of 38 mph. The unladen weight of 130 pounds allows an adult to hop out and pull the Peel P50 behind them like a large briefcase. Originally, the P50 cost £199 - or around $250 at current rates. They're worth far more today, with the few originals considered collectors' items.
In 2018, it was reported that around 15 modernized Peels are sold annually.
Peel P50
| Power | Price | 0-60 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hp (original) | ~$250 (original) | N/A |
Single-Seat Concept Cars
Several single-seat concept cars have been designed through the years, and two are Mazda MX-5 Miatas. Debuting at the SEMA show in 2000, the Miata Mono-Posto was based on the second-generation MX-5 but had one seat, no traditional doors, and a minuscule wind deflector ahead of the driver. The recent Gorgona Cars NM Concept is a hodgepodge of NA and ND Miata, built by Italian company Gorgona Cars.
The Triumph TR25 was one of our favorite concept cars of the year. It has a scissor door and is based on the BMW i3. With just 181 hp, it trades excessive power for a relatively lightweight body and loads of charm.
The strange Rinspeed Advantige R One Concept wasn't only notable for its single-seat co*ckpit. It also had a height of just 38 inches and ran on biofuel made from kitchen and garden waste. It's so low that a stunt driver could theoretically drive it under a flatbed trailer.
The Lamborghini Egoista ('egoista' is Italian for 'selfish'), Polestar Synergy, and Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo are all more exotic single-seater concepts. While the Ferrari and Lamborghini may never become production models, there is hope that the Polestar Synergy will, based on a positive response to its design.
Tesla Semi
An honorable mention goes to the Tesla Semi, which is unusually designed with a single center seat. Tesla claims this offers superior visibility, while dual screens on either side of the steering wheel provide a view to each side via cameras. These complement the traditional physical side mirrors. When the Semi is stationary, the driver has enough space alongside the seat to stand up or even change clothes. A jump seat is available for a passenger.
