The 1990 Nissan NPT-90 GTP display car sold for $22,900 at a U.S. Treasury auction, despite lacking an engine, transmission or any functional running components.
It cannot be driven.
Details of the auction and the car’s condition
The online auction ran from July 7 to July 14, and the buyer paid the hammer price without a buyer’s premium. The vehicle must be collected from a lot in Houston, Texas. Wrapped in Nissan’s red, white and blue livery, the prototype bears a large rear wing, covered headlights and gold‑centred wheels fitted with Goodyear slicks. Names of former drivers Bob Earl, Chip Robinson and Geoff Brabham appear along the side panels.
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Inside, the right‑hand‑drive cockpit includes a single racing seat, a Simpson harness, a MOMO steering wheel and a dashboard populated with gauges and switches. All of the lighting, switches and fire‑suppression equipment are decorative only; the car has no drivetrain, meaning it cannot move under its own power.
History of the original Nissan NPT-90
The genuine NPT‑90 was built by Nissan Performance Technology Inc. for the IMSA GT Championship, a North American sports‑car series that operated from 1971 to 1998. Introduced midway through the 1990 season as a successor to the GTP ZX‑Turbo, the racing version captured three victories that year and helped Nissan clinch both the constructors’ championship and the drivers’ title with Geoff Brabham.
Unlike the display model, the race‑ready version was powered by a twin‑turbocharged VG30 V6 engine delivering roughly 950 bhp. The combination of that power and advanced aerodynamics made it a formidable contender during the final era of IMSA GTP competition.
Before the recent Treasury sale, the display car changed hands at an online classic‑car marketplace in February 2025, fetching $27,500. It later entered a nationwide government auction run by Apple Towing, a program that disposes of seized or forfeited property. Funds raised support law‑enforcement activities and can compensate victims of fraud. The specific case that led to the car’s seizure was not disclosed.
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Because the vehicle cannot be registered, driven or entered in competition, its value rests on its rarity and visual authenticity. Collectors with ample garage space might view it as a striking centerpiece, though practical use is limited to static display.
Potential owners will still need a separate vehicle to transport the heavy chassis, as the NPT‑90 itself cannot be driven. The auction’s terms placed the responsibility for removal on the purchaser, a standard condition for seized assets.
While the price is lower than what a used sports car like an Audi TT or Porsche Cayman might cost, the purchase offers something different: a piece of motorsport history that, in its original form, once roared around circuits at nearly a thousand horsepower.
