Chamberlain Searcher One: The One-Off Supercar and Its Unexpected Copies

Star Rides - Back in the 1990s, the automotive world was a playground for creativity, wild concepts, and one-off projects designed not for the masses but for icons. And when you’re Wilt Chamberlain—one of the most legendary figures in NBA history standing over seven feet tall—your car needs aren’t exactly what you’d call “standard.” This is the story of a rare gem, the Chamberlain Searcher One, a supercar so unique that it wasn’t just built to turn heads—it was engineered to fit a giant.

NBA Star Wilt Chamberlain posed along with his dreamcar called Searcher One (Picture from: New York Times)

From a distance, the car might give off Jaguar XJ220 vibes, with its long, sleek silhouette and exotic appeal. But look a little closer, and you'll find something far more bespoke. Commissioned in 1996, the Chamberlain Searcher One wasn’t just a vanity project—it was a serious performance machine, crafted with personal touches from the ground up. And it all started with Wilt himself. He wasn’t content with just buying a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Instead, he sketched out his dream ride and handed the vision over to Peter Bohanna, a talented engineer with a resume that included working on James Bond film props and futuristic vehicle concepts.

The Seacher One is a mid-engine one-off sportscar specially built for NBA Basketball star Wilt Chamberlain in the 1996. (Picture from: Drive2.ru)

Bohanna took Chamberlain’s vision seriously, beginning the process with a full-scale wooden body buck. One of the main challenges was Wilt’s towering frame—standard sports cars were out of the question. To accommodate, the car’s cockpit had to be extended by six inches, and the roofline adjusted, all while keeping the proportions sporty and aggressive. The result was a dramatic fiberglass body, one that flowed smoothly from nose to tail and screamed '90s supercar fantasy.

The Seacher One is built on a steel and aluminium monocoque with steel tube sub frame and GRP bodywork. (Picture from: Rarecomponentcars)

Bringing this vision to life required serious expertise, which came in the form of Lyncar Motor Company in the UK. Known for their experience in endurance racing, Lyncar based the Searcher One’s chassis on a Le Mans-style design, combining a steel and aluminum monocoque with a tube sub-frame for added strength. Once the body and chassis were complete, the car was flown to California for its final stages.

The Chamberlain Seacher One while sat on display at Brad's Service Center on Front St in Chicopee, MA. (Picture from: Reddit)

Stateside, the car came into the hands of Richard Paul, who initially planned to install a Jaguar V12 engine. But plans changed, and instead, the Searcher One ended up with a thunderous GM V8 mounted at the rear, putting out an estimated 700 horsepower, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. The interior was nothing short of luxurious, featuring hand-shaped aluminum details, Italian glove leather upholstery, and race-inspired seats with four-point harnesses—proof that performance and comfort could meet halfway. 

The Seacher One is powered by a rear-mounted GM V8 engine (which reportedly produces up to 700 hp) combined with a 5-speed manual transmission. (Picture from: Axialflow)

It’s said that Wilt Chamberlain spent around $750,000 to build the Searcher One. Surprisingly, despite all this effort, Wilt rarely drove the Searcher One. Aside from a few visits to the track, the car mostly sat idle, racking up barely 100 miles. It's speculated that even with the modified cockpit, the seating still wasn’t comfortable enough for Wilt’s massive frame. A supercar custom-built to fit a legend, yet it barely got the chance to stretch its legs.😲

The Auto Speciali Veleno built by Auto Speciali Ltd. based on the Chamberlain Searcher One. (Picture from: Rarecomponentcars)

But the story doesn’t end there. Years after the Searcher One was built, echoes of its design began popping up across the UK. Cars bearing a striking resemblance to the one-off machine started appearing in the mid-2000s. How could that be? It turns out Martin Slater of Lyncar had retained the original blueprints and later sold the rights to a colleague, who reimagined the design into kit cars called the Veleno and Predator.

The Auto Speciali Veleno is built on a custom spaceframe which is powered by various engines ranging from Toyota MR2, Ford V6s, and V8s with many parts are taken from Ford Granada. (Picture from: Rarecomponentcars)

These reborn versions came from a small company in Worcestershire called Auto Speciali Ltd, founded in 2006. They offered the Veleno as a kit for enthusiasts, while the Predator was built as a turn-key vehicle. Both cars carried the DNA of the Searcher One, but with far more accessible components—engines ranged from Toyota MR2s to Ford V6s and V8s, with parts sourced from various everyday models like the Ford Granada. Although the intention was to breathe new life into a remarkable design, only a handful were ever sold—four Velenos and a few Predators, with production wrapping up around 2010.

The Auto Speciali Veleno is only available as a kit car, which in the period 2006 to 2010 was sold to four buyers only. (Picture from: Rarecomponentcars)

Auto Speciali’s brief run also included replica cars like the AS 427, a nod to the iconic AC Cobra, and collaborations with other boutique car builders such as Fiero Factory (1998-2002), Euro 427 Sports Cars (2002-2003), again Fiero Factory (2003-2004), Venom Sports Cars (2004-2006) and Vindicator Cars (since 2010). But even with about 1,000 cars built under various banners, the magic faded, and the company dissolved in 2011. Vindicator Cars, one of their later partners, continued operations, but the torch carried from the Searcher One’s design appears to have dimmed. 

What remains today is a story that feels almost mythical—a car designed for a basketball giant, built with movie-set precision, then reborn in kit car form before fading into obscurity. The Chamberlain Searcher One may not have roared across highways or conquered race tracks, but its presence left a quiet ripple in the world of custom car craftsmanship. For those lucky enough to glimpse it, it’s a reminder that some legends are built not just for speed, but for the story they carry.. *** [EKA [19022022] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA | NYTIMES | GREYFLANNELAUCTION | AXIALFLOW | RARECOMPONENTCARS | MADABOUT-KITCARS | DRIVE2.RU | CLASSICANDRECREATIONSPORTSCARS | REDDIT ]

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