10 One-Seater Cars That Redefine Driving Freedom

Two-seater cars 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 when one of those two seats is eliminated, but that benefits the car with a lighter construction and more freedom to improve aerodynamics. Just the things you need for an exciting driving experience.

That’s why the fastest race cars out there are usually single-seaters. Unless you’re a pro racer, you’re unlikely to get behind the wheel of such race cars. Worry not, because you can still get your hands on some single-seat cars without joining a race team. These single-seat cars come in a variety, from peppy kit cars to proper Le Mans hypercars with lights, including a couple of tiny little commuters. Here are the 10 best one-seater cars in the world.

1962 Peel P50

Power Output: 4.2 HP

You probably already know the Peel P50 from the famous Top Gear episode where Jeremy Clarkson drove it into an office building and even an elevator. Yes, it’s that small (and honestly, cute). 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.

The brand was resurrected in 2011 by a couple of businesspeople, and the P50 is back into production with a four-stroke engine or an electric motor. Pricing starts around £12,577, which converts to about $15,978. Classic Peel P50s have exploded in value, though, with one example fetching over $175k at auction in 2016. Despite its puny engine and dimensions, the P50’s charm makes it one of the best single-seater cars ever made, worthy of a ‘rare classic car’ title.

2018 ElectraMeccanica Solo

Power Output: 56 HP

Here’s another three-wheeler, with two wheels in the front, and this one looks like a really tiny hatchback, and safe to say, it’s a modern successor to the P50. While it looks like a conventional car at the front, the shell tapers rearward, culminating in a rear-end. It’s a polarizing design, to say the least; it looks like a traditional car that’s sliced in half and missing one rear wheel. Look beyond its funky style, and it might actually be a good electric urban roundabout.

Equipped with an electric powertrain, the Solo accelerates briskly to 82 miles per hour, which is decent for a car designed for urban mobility. The one-seat car also offers plenty of room for its solo occupant and several comfort features, including air conditioning, heated seats, and Bluetooth connectivity. ElectraMeccanica halted production of the Solo in 2023, diverting its resources to developing a four-wheeled EV.

2012 Formula Ford Eco-Boost

Power Output: 170 HP

Ford has a rich motorsports history, and at some point, it decided to build a one-person, street-legal car: the Formula Ford Eco-Boost. This car features a three-cylinder EcoBoost engine from the Ford Fiesta, but uses a larger turbocharger that increases power to 170 horsepower. The result is a car that once lapped the Nurburgring in just seven minutes and 22 seconds, quicker than many supercars.

To make it street legal, Ford added exterior lighting and a registration plate holder on the front wheel. The minimalist cabin features no creature comforts or driver distractions, either. It’s the kind of monoposto you could use to start a one-make formula racing series with your rich friends. These were eventually conceived for a handful of Formula Ford championships, too, and were also available as customer cars.

2000 Mazda Miata Mono-Posto

Power Output: 190 HP

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. Intent on building a car that would best the base Miata, Mazda sought help from aftermarket tuners, who drew more performance from the Miata’s engine. It was said to produce 190 horsepower and have an estimated 0 to 60 miles per hour time of 6 seconds.

Sadly, the concept didn’t catch on, and Mazda never put it into production. To no surprise, it even lacked conventional doors and had a spartan cockpit, suggesting it was biased more toward performance runs than road trips. So, this is a single-seater car you can’t actually buy, but some enthusiasts have 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 more than $50,000.

2011 BAC Mono

Power Output: 311 HP

Inspired by Formula One cars, the BAC Mono is the result of a cooperation between engineers from Cosworth, Hewland, Sachs, AP, and Kumho tires. The Mono was introduced in 2011 and has remained relatively unchanged since, except for some updates. It’s now powered by a Ford Duratec-based N/A inline-four that delivers supercar-like performance. It can sprint from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 2.7 seconds, reaching a top speed of 170 miles per hour.

Taking its racecar-like personality up a notch is a six-speed manual transmission with ratios that can be customized to meet your requirements. It’s also designed to be a light, agile car you can use to set new records at the Nürburgring. BAC claims that the latest Mono’s suspension settings make it more forgiving on the road without compromising performance. That’s what makes the BAC Mono the go-to choice when it comes to street-legal race cars with just one seat.

2011 Palatov D1

Power Output: 430 HP

Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of Palatov; it’s a relatively unknown company from Oregon, led by Dennis Palatov, that builds this excellent lightweight car that resembles a prototype race car. The D1 is inspired by lightweight LMP racers, featuring a tubular frame and one-piece carbon fiber body. Thanks to a 3.0-liter V-8 under the hood, this single-seater car produces 430 horsepower.

It might not sound like much compared to modern supercars, but the 1-seat car weighs just 1,100 pounds. This should translate into blistering sprint times and excellent agility on twisty roads. Plus, advanced underbody aero helps generate downforce, which, working together with the optional AWD, should keep the D1 planted at all times. The D1 costs $210,245 as a fully assembled car and $124,500 as a kit car.

2018 Ferrari Monza SP1

Power Output: 800 HP

Inspired by the legendary Ferrari 166 MM “barchetta” racers, the Monza SP1 is one of only a handful of modern single-seat supercars. It is part of Ferrari’s limited Icona series, which features only the most evocative and exclusive Ferrari models. As a result, this one-person car leaves no stone unturned with its stunning design. It features one seat on the left, a flat area on the right, and a sleek shell. To keep things clean, it uses a virtual windshield instead of a traditional one, which is why it’s not street-legal in the US.

Along with its sensational design, the Monza SP1 also delivers proper modern racecar performance. It is powered by a 6.5-liter V12 engine that produces 800 horsepower, giving the car a 0 to 62 miles per hour time of 2.9 seconds. At around $1.8 million, the Monza SP1 is the ultimate choice for Ferrari fans. And, don’t worry, Ferrari offers the Monza SP2, too, a two-seater variant that lets you share the experience with others.

2022 McLaren Solus GT

Power Output: 829 HP

The McLaren Solus GT started its life as a gaming concept car but has since grown into a track-only race car, promising an experience close to that of a Formula 1 car. It features a wraparound canopy that slides forward to let you in. Inside, the seat, especially moulded to your body, is placed in the center to put you in the heart of the action. Even the pedals are positioned to keep your ankles in line with your hips, like an actual F1 car.

Under the Solus GT‘s hood sits a 5.2-liter V10 engine, producing 829 horsepower. And thanks to its featherlight curbweight of 2,200 pounds, the car can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds, making it among the quickest one-seater cars in the world. With such performance, it stands bumper to bumper with track legends, like the Aston Martin AMR Pro. This one-seater car is limited to 25 units, which would’ve cost you a whopping $3 million if they hadn’t been claimed already.

2023 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH Strada

Power Output: 965 HP (Combined)

The Italian company, Isotta Fraschini, dates back to 1900, and it’s going through a bit of a renaissance these days. And its way of reinventing itself is by producing a road-going version of a proper 2024 Le Mans hypercar, the Tipo 6 LMH Strada. And like the real thing, this car features a single seat and a design that looks unlike anything else on the road. Honestly, this unique hypercar is an exercise in innovation.

Powering it is a four-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain, featuring a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 and a front electric motor. The powertrain pushes out 965 horsepower combined, giving the car a top speed of 230 miles per hour. It also gets a carbon fiber monocoque and shell. Priced at $3.5 million and limited to only 12 units, the Tipo 6 LMH Strada is a unique entry to the hypercar club, standing apart with its Le Mans connection and design.

2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

Power Output: 1,025 HP

The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is the only conventional car on this list, and it is the extreme drag racer version of the SRT Challenger. It features several changes over the base Challenger to maximize straight-line speed, including extensive weight shaving. That comes at the cost of all but one seat for the driver, making this a one-of-a-kind production car that looks like a 2+2 but can seat only one. (Yes, Dodge does let you add in the seats for just a dollar, too.)

With this weight, the Dodge Demon brings a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 that pumps out a whopping 1,025 horsepower on an E85 ethanol fuel mix. This allows the car to reach from 0 to 60 miles per hour in a ridiculous 1.66 seconds. It even boasts an NHRA-certified quarter-mile time of under nine seconds and a top speed of 215 miles per hour, making it one of the world’s quickest production cars.