V12 power has a reputation for being reserved for lottery winners, yet a surprising number of twelve‑cylinder sports cars now trade for used‑car money. As values soften and more enthusiasts chase analog experiences, several classic and modern V12s have slipped into genuinely attainable territory. The following ten cars show how buyers can access flagship engines, serious performance, and real collector intrigue without spending new‑supercar cash.
1) Mercedes-Benz SL600
The Mercedes-Benz SL600 appears in guides to reasonably priced V12 sports cars because it delivers flagship engineering at a fraction of its original cost. With its 6.0‑liter twelve‑cylinder and two-seat roadster layout, it fits the classic grand touring brief while still offering serious straight-line pace. Buyers get period-leading safety tech, a power hardtop, and a cabin that feels far more expensive than current asking prices suggest.
For enthusiasts, the SL600 shows how depreciation can turn a once-exclusive halo model into an attainable weekend car. The car’s complex hydraulics and electronics demand careful pre-purchase inspections, but that complexity is exactly why values remain accessible. For shoppers willing to budget for maintenance, it is one of the clearest examples of V12 glamour that now sits within reach of used‑SUV money.
2) Jaguar XJS V12
The Jaguar XJS V12 is repeatedly singled out as one of the best cheap V12 cars available, with one report stating that cheap V12 options include this long‑running British coupe. Separate coverage goes further, declaring that “The Jaguar XJS V12 is the cheapest V12 sports car you can buy,” and another source calls it “the cheapest V12 Sports Car On Earth,” underscoring how low prices have fallen for a twelve‑cylinder Jaguar. That combination of prestige badge and bargain pricing is rare.
Doug DeMuro’s audience has even debated the car’s reputation, with one discussion noting “230 votes, 190 comments” and arguing, “You need to buy them in pairs to keep one on the road. Also, it’s categorically not a sports car.” Those caveats highlight the stakes for buyers: the XJS V12 offers unmatched cylinder count per dollar, but ownership rewards those who accept its quirks and treat it as a stylish grand tourer rather than a track tool.
3) BMW 850Ci
The BMW 850Ci earns a place among undervalued sports cars that enthusiasts can realistically afford, with car expert Doug DeMuro listing it in a group of undervalued machines. As part of the original 8 Series, the 850Ci pairs a V12 engine with pillarless coupe styling and advanced features such as multi-link rear suspension and available four‑wheel steering. Despite that engineering, prices have lagged behind more obvious icons from the same era.
For buyers, the 850Ci illustrates how complex, high‑spec cars can slip under the radar when maintenance scares off casual shoppers. DeMuro’s inclusion signals that informed enthusiasts see long‑term potential in these cars, especially as analog grand tourers gain attention. Those willing to prioritize service history and specialist support can access a V12 BMW that feels far more special than its current market value suggests.
4) Ferrari 400i
The Ferrari 400i is consistently cited as one of the cheapest ways into a Prancing Horse, with lists of bargain Ferraris highlighting it as a relatively attainable V12. Broader surveys of the market note that “Yet the used market has softened, and enthusiasts can now acquire iconic Prancing Horses for under $110,000 USD,” showing how older four‑seat models like the 400i sit at the lower end of Ferrari pricing. That context makes its front‑engine V12 layout particularly compelling.
Other research points out that “Most of the best used Ferraris on our list are sub $100,000. At the low end we found Ferraris for under $50,000 that were great value and still remarkably good,” reinforcing how 2+2 cars often open the door to ownership. For shoppers, the 400i’s automatic transmissions and understated styling may keep values in check, but they also make it a usable classic that can be driven rather than stored.
5) Maserati Quattroporte IV
The Maserati Quattroporte IV appears among bona fide sports cars under $30,000 that can keep up with a Porsche 911, with one guide to sports cars under placing it alongside more obvious performance coupes. Although it is a sedan, its compact footprint, sharp steering, and performance‑focused drivetrains give it genuine pace. In period, the car targeted German benchmarks, and that intent still shows in its chassis tuning.
Positioning the Quattroporte IV against a 911 underlines how far sub‑$30,000 buyers can stretch into exotic territory. While maintenance and parts availability require commitment, the car’s presence on lists of serious 911 alternatives signals that it offers more than just a badge. For enthusiasts, it represents a way to access Italian performance and character without crossing into six‑figure budgets.
6) Mercedes-Benz 600 SEL
The Mercedes-Benz 600 SEL is another flagship that now qualifies as a reasonably priced used V12 sports sedan, sharing space with other accessible twelve‑cylinder models in overviews of reasonably priced V12 cars. As the long‑wheelbase W140 with a V12, it was once a symbol of executive excess, loaded with technology and built to a standard that prioritized durability over cost savings. Today, that over‑engineering is available for a fraction of the original price.
For buyers, the 600 SEL demonstrates how depreciation hits large luxury sedans especially hard, even when they share engines with more overtly sporting models. The car’s weight and size mean it is more of a high‑speed cruiser than a track machine, yet its effortless acceleration and refinement still deliver a sports‑car‑adjacent experience. Enthusiasts who value comfort and torque over lap times can find remarkable value here.
7) Aston Martin Virage
The Aston Martin Virage is highlighted among the best cheap V12 cars that can be bought used, appearing in curated lists of standout V12 cars that no longer demand supercar money. With its hand‑built construction, distinctive styling, and twelve‑cylinder power, the Virage offers a traditional Aston recipe that once commanded a significant premium. As newer models have arrived, earlier cars have slipped into more approachable price brackets.
That shift matters for enthusiasts who want a V12 from a storied British marque without stretching to modern flagship prices. The Virage’s presence in affordability roundups signals that the market now treats it as a realistic option rather than a fantasy. Buyers who accept the running costs of a low‑volume exotic can secure a car that still turns heads and carries strong brand cachet.
8) Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2
The Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 is another model Doug DeMuro identifies as an undervalued sports car that remains within reach for determined buyers, grouping it with other affordable exotics. As an early front‑engine V12 2+2, it delivers classic Ferrari proportions and a sonorous twelve‑cylinder while avoiding the stratospheric prices of two‑seat icons. Its understated styling and four‑seat layout help keep demand, and therefore prices, relatively contained.
Market analyses that describe “Some Ferraris” as surprisingly affordable, and note that “At the low end we found Ferraris for under $50,000 that were great value,” provide context for where the 365 GT4 2+2 can sit. For collectors, that makes it a strategic entry point into vintage V12 ownership. As interest in analog grand tourers grows, cars like this may see renewed attention from buyers who previously focused only on mid‑engine models.
9) Ferrari 412
The Ferrari 412 continues the theme of bargain four‑seat V12s, appearing alongside the 400i in lists of the cheapest Prancing Horses available. Broader coverage of the market notes that “Most of the best used Ferraris on our list are sub $100,000,” and that “At the low end we found Ferraris for under $50,000 that were great value and still remarkably good,” a range that captures the 412’s reputation as a relatively attainable classic. Its evolution of the 400 series adds incremental refinements without a dramatic price jump.
Other commentary points out that “Today, the resale value of both models lingers in the $40,000 range, making the 348 an attractive buy,” showing how even mid‑engine Ferraris can sit near the 412 in pricing. For shoppers, that comparison underscores how four‑seat V12s remain among the least expensive routes into Ferrari ownership. The 412’s automatic transmissions and subtle styling may limit demand, but they also make it a usable, long‑legged cruiser.
10) Bentley Continental R
The Bentley Continental R rounds out the list as a surprising inclusion among bona fide sports cars under $30,000 that can keep pace with a Porsche 911, with one guide to 911 rivals placing it in that performance conversation. Although better known as a luxury coupe, its powerful engine, substantial torque, and high‑speed stability give it real capability. In period, it was one of the fastest and most expensive Bentleys ever built.
Seeing the Continental R mentioned alongside traditional sports cars highlights how depreciation reshapes the market for ultra‑luxury performance models. For under $30,000, buyers can access a hand‑finished grand tourer that once catered to a tiny, wealthy clientele. The trade‑off is higher running costs and a focus on effortless speed rather than razor‑sharp handling, but for many enthusiasts, that blend of presence and pace is exactly the appeal.
More from Wilder Media Group: