Top 10 One-Seater Cars You Should Have In Your Garage (2024)

Two-seater vehicles aren't exactly practical, but this layout is usually associated with sports cars, so you sacrifice practicality for fun and speed. Things become even more complicated with a single-seat layout, but this means a lighter construction and more freedom to improve aerodynamics.

The fastest race cars out there are usually single-seat cars, so a road-legal vehicle with just one seat is a hot dream. Personally, I'm a big fan of the Morgan 3 Wheeler, but since this car has two seats, it doesn't have a place on this list. But here are 10 single-seat vehicles that should be fun to own either for their performance specs or compact dimensions.

Tramontana R

Built by a small Spanish manufacturer from Barcelona, Spain, the Tramontana R is a Formula One car for the road in terms of design. But unlike a Formula One car, it features clamshell fenders front and rear. Another major difference is the closed-off co*ckpit, which looks quite cool thanks to a jet fighter-inspired design.

The Tramontara R isn't as hardcore as it looks. Creature comforts include an audio system and air conditioning. To aid movement over road bumps, the suspension features a hydraulic lift that raises the car. Buyers in need of some extra luxury could opt for a diamond-lined interior. While these features add weight, they barely hamper the Tramontara's performance.

Performance Specifications

It's powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V-12 engine borrowed from Mercedes. The mill cranks out 720 horsepower, a massive amount given the curb weight of only 2,795 pounds, enabling an under-four-second dash to 60 MPH and a top speed of 201 mph. The Tranmontara has evolved a lot since its debut in 2007, as the manufacturers toil to draw more speed from the car.

Carver One

While the Tramontana brings Formula One on public roads, the Carver One combines the features of a car with those of a motorcycle. It has three wheels, one in the front and two in the rear, but it features a steering wheel.

Only 130 inches long and 51 inches wide, the Carver One tips the scales at only 1,418 pounds. The engine is rather tiny at 0.66 liters, but its output of 65 horsepower and 74 pound-feet is enough to push the One from 0 to 62 mph in 8.2 seconds and up to a top speed of 115 mph.

Performance Specifications

The Carver was unique in that the body tilted when you turned the steering wheel. A buzzer would beep and the dashboard lights would turn red as the Carver approached its 45-degree maximum lean angle. This ability to lean into corners made it one of the most unique 1-seater cars in production. Carver currently makes an electric version of the One, which has a maximum range of 80.7 miles.

BAC Mono

BAC Mono is a more popular choice when it comes to street-legal race cars with just one seat. The Mono was introduced in 2011 and it has remained relatively unchanged all these years, despite some updates operated by Briggs Automotive Company. Also inspired by Formula One cars, the Mono is the result of a cooperation between engineers from Cosworth, Hewland, Sachs, AP, and Kumho Tires.

Performance Specifications

BAC has released various versions of the Mono, the latest featuring a naturally aspirated inline-four engine based on the Ford Duratec powerplant and co-developed with Mountune Racing. It attaches to a six-speed manual gearbox with ratios that can be customized to meet the buyer's requirements. BAC claims that the latest Mono's suspension settings make it more forgiving on the road without compromising performance.

The BAC Mono returns supercar-like performance with a 0 to 62 mph sprint of 2.7 seconds and a top speed of 170 mph. It's also very agile, the kind of car you can use to set new records on the Nurburgring.

Formula Ford Eco-Boost

Ford has quite a rich history in motorsports and at some point it decided to build a 1-person car that could be legally driven on the streets. As the name suggests, it's the kind of monoposto you could use to start a one-make formula racing series with your rich friends. These were actually conceived for a handful of Formula Ford championships, but were also available as customer cars.

Performance Specifications

The 1.0 Formula Ford featured a three-cylinder engine from the Ford Fiesta. However, the power unit in the racing car featured a bigger turbo, increasing power output to 170 horsepower. The minimalist cabin featured no creature comforts or driver distractions.

To make it road legal, Ford fitted exterior lighting and a tax disc holder on the front wheel. It lapped the Nurburgring in just seven minutes and 22 seconds, which is quicker than many supercars.

Mazda Miata Mono-Posto

Introduced in 2000 and based on the second-generation MX-5, the Miata Mono-Posto is essentially a sleeker Miata without a windscreen and a covered passenger compartment. It was inspired by cars like the Lotus Eleven and the Jaguar D-Type, a Mazda executive told MotorTrend.

Performance Specifications

The Mono-Posto lacked conventional doors and had a spartan co*ckpit, suggesting that it was biased more towards performance runs than road trips. Intent on building a car that would best the Miata, Mazda sought help from aftermarket tuners, who drew more performance from the Miata's engine.

Sadly, the concept didn't catch on and Mazda never put it into production. So this is a single-seater you can't actually buy, but some enthusiasts built a few conversions over the years. For instance, Gorgona Cars released its sunburst yellow version of the Mono-Posto in 2022. If you're lucky you might find one for sale now and then, but it will set you back in excess of $50,000.

SUB G1 Three-Wheeler

The SUB Three-Wheeler is the third three-wheeled vehicle from our list, but it's actually different than the Carver One. While the latter features two wheels at the rear, the Sub has two wheels in the front, just like the iconic Morgan 3 Wheeler. So instead of the motorcycle type steering, it's more like a standard car.

Performance Specifications

Built by ex-GM designers Nick Mynott, Niki Smart, and Jay Brett, the SUB G1 three-wheeler was a sight to behold. The team had originally planned to use a four-cylinder engine plucked from a Yamaha R1. However, hampered by packaging issues and a desire to achieve 50/50 weight distribution, the manufacturers opted for a 1.0-liter V-Twin from the Suzuki TL 1000R bike.

Although it didn't really catch on, its 1.0-liter engine rated at 135 horsepower and curb weight of only 730 pounds combined to offer a thrilling experience on the race track. The SUB was pretty expensive when it was launched back in the mid-2000s, with the company asking $80,000 for a three-wheeler.

Palatov D1

Don't worry if you haven't heard of Palatov: it's a relatively unknown company from Oregon, led by Dennis Palatov, which builds this awesome lightweight car that resembles prototype race cars. The D1 resembles a lightweight LMP racer with its tubular frame and one-piece carbon fiber body.

Performance Specifications

It might not sound like a lot compared to modern supercars, but the 1-seat car tips the scales at only 1,100 pounds. This translates into blistering sprint times and excellent agility on twisty racetracks. Furthermore, advanced underbody aero helps generate downforce, which, working together with the optional AWD system, keeps the D1 planted regardless of surface conditions.

The D1 costs $210,245 if you buy it as a fully assembled car, but you can also go for a kit at $124,500 and build it yourself. Palatov now offers a variety of sports cars, including the more normal looking D2 and D8.

Rinspeed Advantige R1

Rinspeed has been around since the early 1990s and has already launched a series of production sports cars and concepts, some of them electric. The Advantige R1 was revolutionary, primarily because it could run on Kompogas, an energy source derived from rotting organic waste.

Per Rinspeed, the energy extracted from 220 pounds of organic waste could power the R1 for 62 miles. Another Rinspeed concept adapted to run on cleaner fuel is the Bedouin pickup, which is based on the Porsche 911 Turbo.

Performance Specifications

The R1 features a "floating" co*ckpit that sways as the car turns and, more importantly, it can be legally driven on public roads. Like most Rinspeed creations, it's quite fast as well. Thanks to its low weight, the Advantige doesn't need much power to deliver exhilarating performance. Powered by a 120-horsepower engine, the R1 hits 60 MPH from a standstill in under six seconds.

Peel P50

You probably know the Peel P50 from the famous TopGear episode when Jeremy Clarkson drove it into an office building and even an elevator. Yes, it's that small! And unlike other cars on this list, the P50 isn't a sports car. It's a microcar that Peel Engineering Company, which used to operate on the Isle of Man, built between 1962 and 1965.

Performance Specifications

The brand was reactivated in 2011 by a couple of businessmen and the P50 is back into production with a four-stoke engine or an electric motor. Pricing starts from around £12,577, which converts to about $15,978. Classic Peel P50s have exploded in value, with one example fetching over $175,000 at auction in 2016.

Despite its lack of speed, the P50's understated charm makes it one of the best three-wheel vehicles ever made. About 50 P50s were made during the first production run, which means it's quite a rare classic car.

ElectraMeccanica Solo

Here's another three-wheeler, this time with two wheels in the front. But this one looks like a really tiny hatchback and I guess we can consider it a modern version of the P50. The design is polarizing; it kind of looks like a conventional car that's sliced in half and missing one rear wheel. The shell tapers rearward, culminating in a rear-end that resembles the Carver One's.

Performance Specifications

Equipped with an electric powertrain, the Solo accelerates briskly all the way to 82 MPH, which is decent for a car designed for urban mobility. The one-seater car offers plenty of room for its solo occupant and several creature comforts, including air conditioning, heated seats, and Bluetooth connectivity. ElectraMeccanica halted production of the Solo in 2023, funneling its resources to the development of a four-wheeled EV.