V10 out of 10 | Six of the best

Think about it, and there are actually a few more V10s for sale that you might imagine first. For example, there is no Lamborghini on this list. But of course, some choose for themselves, and there seemed no better place to start a celebration of all things ten-cylinder than with perhaps the most famous of them all: the Viper. Despite being on the market for almost a quarter of a century, and through three generations, there was never a time when an 8.0-liter (or 8.3, remember) V10 felt even remotely sensible in an all-American hot rod. That’s why it became such a cult classic; over-motorized cannot even be described. The engine is at least 2.3 liters bigger than anything else here. And that’s really cool. In the days of supercar yearbooks, when every Viper looked exactly like this one, its stats – not to mention its incredible looks – were almost unbelievable. It has only traveled 9,000 kilometers in 30 years, and at least 20 of those have been in Britain. Hold on tight…

Nothing shows off the diversity of V10-powered cars quite like the Viper and Carrera GT. No, really. Although they were clearly two-door, two-seat, rear-wheel-drive, ten-cylinder roadsters, the Dodge was a true working-class hero, with its truck engine, simple interior and questionable build quality. Conceived from a stillborn Le Mans project and with its exquisite carbon construction, the CGT is an aristocrat through and through. Launched in the glory days of the naturally aspirated supercar (think Enzo, Murcielago, Zonda), the CGT went unloved for a while and values ​​fell. The tie-up was tricky, there were more of them than some rivals, and a financial crash a few years after launch all conspired against it. At one point they were less than €300,000 – now you can add at least a million to that, for an example like this silver over terracotta car from 2004. But values ​​now seem safe, with collectors raving about the design, the driving experience, the manual – and that incredible engine. PH’s largest supercar and for good reason.

The early 2000s were truly the heyday for the V10 in series production cars, with manufacturers keen to showcase what they had learned in contemporary motorsport. BMW leaned into that reality with enthusiasm; The partnership with Sauber F1 may not have had much success on the track, but the dedication to the engine configuration has produced some truly iconic M cars. The E60 and E61 M5, plus the E63 M6, could never be described as perfect, but they were hugely exciting thanks to a spectacular engine. Another V8 in an M5 wouldn’t have created the same mystique as the S85-powered cars; the rarity of the configuration means that every V10 delivers an experience like no other. This PH Auctions car has had a fortune spent on it over the years (and would probably appreciate similar treatment in the future), looks stunning in Interlagos Blue and has been in the owner’s possession for eight years. So expect plenty of bids next to yours from Tuesday.

Of course, the great thing about the M5 was that such a huge engine could be massaged into a family car and appear semi-normal. The great thing about the R8 Spyder is – as with almost every drop-top supercar – that the V10 experience is vividly at the forefront. Especially if you chose to buy the six-speed manual transmission, which this 2011 example proudly features. While any R8 offers a well-rounded and reasonably refined solution to second-hand roadster ownership, the presence of a clutch pedal inevitably means there’s something powerful and DIY about the Spyder – especially when you’re interacting with the components of such a sinewy engine. But the payoff, especially in this day and age, is palpable everywhere, not least in the pinch-me soundtrack. It’s easily theatrical enough to make Phantom Black Pearl seem like a virtue.

Sublime, meets ridiculous. A purist could be forgiven for holding our feet to the fire when it comes to mentioning the Touareg, while the mighty Gallardo is apparently at fault – but the jumbo-pulling V10 TDI, a model almost as unlikely as the W12-engined version that VW also chose to build – is an old favorite at PH, and here for its novelty value of 4.9 liters (not to mention of the tribute to his death). A history lesson is hardly necessary these days (a small child might tell you that ten cylinders are at least four more than any diesel Touareg could ever need), so suffice it to say that the combination was one of Ferdinand Piëch’s more eccentric follies.. Or maybe another moment of dastardly, chin-stroking genius. Whatever your preference, you can buy a V10-powered family SUV for the equivalent of pocket change today. And after you take your brave pill, of course.

Another favorite to see us at home. In its own way, the development of the LFA competed with the anything-is-possible atmosphere that characterized Piëch’s decision-making. Toyota had about as much divine right to make a supercar as Belgium has a moon rocket. But (much like a moon landing) the LFA showed what was possible when you committed the considerable resources and ingenuity of a large organization to one sky-blue project. The result was one for the ages, perhaps more appreciated in the aftermath than at launch, but rightly praised for the extraordinary engine Toyota chose to install in the nose. It differs in many ways from the cheerful Viper, but both typify the exciting approach that makes the V10 loom large in the imagination.