The world's ten most expensive automobiles include such dreams-come-true as a street-legal, ten-cylinder Porsche race car (the Carrera GT); an electric car with a 300-hp motor ( Venturi's Fetish sports car, which just went on sale) and cars with over 1,000 hp each ( Bugatti's Veyron 16.4 and SSC's Ultimate Aero).

These kinds of cars make Ferraris and Aston Martins look like relative bargains; despite their fame, they are much cheaper than the cars on our list. Of the ten most expensive cars, only two are made by brands with household names - Porsche and Mercedes-Benz - although I guess it depends on what your household is like.

But the ten most expensive cars aren't just rare. They are beautiful, but in daring, sometimes avant-garde ways that mainstream cars can't follow. Their top speeds set records. Their technology is pioneering, and attainable only by the wealthiest of car buyers - and that's a blessing even for the non-wealthy.