16 Cars with Butterfly Doors You Can Buy in 2026 (New and Used)
Someone pulls into a cars and coffee, kills the engine, and the doors swing up and forward like wings. Every phone in the lot comes out.
So which cars actually have those doors? Here’s the full list of 16 cars with butterfly doors you can still buy today, new from a dealer or used from a real listing.
All 16 Cars with Butterfly Doors at a Glance
| Car | Years | New or used | Rough price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Sera | 1990 to 1995 (Japan only) | Used (import) | $10k to $25k |
| BMW i8 (coupe) | 2014 to 2020 | Used | $45k to $75k |
| BMW i8 Roadster | 2019 to 2020 | Used | $70k to $100k |
| McLaren MP4-12C / 12C | 2012 to 2014 | Used | $90k to $130k |
| McLaren 570S / 570GT | 2016 to 2021 | Used | $120k to $160k |
| McLaren 650S | 2015 to 2017 | Used | $130k to $170k |
| McLaren GT | 2020 to 2024 | Used | $130k to $170k |
| McLaren GTS | Current | New | Around $210k |
| McLaren 720S | 2018 to 2023 | Used | $200k to $260k |
| Maserati MC20 / MCPura | Current | New | $240k to $300k |
| McLaren Artura / Artura Spider | Current | New | $250k to $275k |
| McLaren 750S / 750S Spider | Current | New | $330k and up |
| Mercedes SLR McLaren | 2005 to 2009 | Used | $400k+ |
| Saleen S7 | 2002 to 2009 | Used | $600k+ |
| Ford GT (2nd gen) | 2017 to 2022 | Used | $900k+ |
| Ferrari F80, Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, Mercedes-AMG ONE | Current (limited) | Sold out, resale only | Seven figures |
Quick Picks: The Highlights
- Cheapest car with butterfly doors: Toyota Sera. You can import one for about the price of a used Camry.
- Cheapest modern car with butterfly doors: BMW i8. US dealer support and parts you can actually order.
- Cheapest new car with butterfly doors: McLaren GTS, at around $210,000.
- Best for daily driving: McLaren GTS (new) or BMW i8 (used). Both are the most comfortable and livable on this list.
- Best convertible with butterfly doors: BMW i8 Roadster for value, McLaren Artura Spider or Maserati MCPura Cielo if you’re buying new.
- Best value real supercar: used McLaren 570S. The cheapest way into dihedral doors on a mid-engine car.
- Rarest and most expensive: Ferrari F80 and Mercedes-AMG ONE. Both are limited runs and sold out from the factory.
The List: Every Car with Butterfly Doors
1. Toyota Sera
A tiny early ’90s Japanese coupe with a glass canopy roof, and now legal to import under the US 25-year rule.
Here’s the fun part: the Sera is often said to have inspired the doors on the legendary McLaren F1, after designer Gordon Murray reportedly took a close look at one .
If you buy one, plan on fresh gas struts right away, since 30-year-old originals are usually tired.
2. BMW i8 (Coupe)
Before it hit showrooms, the i8 played a starring role in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011), where Tom Cruise’s team drove the concept version through Mumbai. On a used one, lift each door halfway and let go. If it drifts down, the struts are getting weak.
3. BMW i8 Roadster
Same doors as the coupe, with a soft top. Racing fans may recognize it as a Formula E safety car [VERIFY season].
4. McLaren MP4-12C / 12C
The car that kicked off McLaren’s modern road car era. At launch, McLaren F1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button helped show it off to the world.
One thing worth testing on a used 12C is the touch-sensor door opening, since owners have reported glitchy behavior over the years.
5. McLaren 570S / 570GT
The “sweet spot” used McLaren. If it looks familiar, you’ve probably driven one virtually, since it’s been a regular in racing games like Forza Horizon [VERIFY specific titles].
6. McLaren 650S
The 650S was the car that bridged the 12C and the 720S, and a GT3 race version competed in endurance racing around the world.
7. McLaren GT
McLaren’s grand tourer, built to be easier to live with. McLaren made a point of saying the rear luggage area can fit a golf bag or a pair of skis, which is not something you hear about most supercars.
8. McLaren GTS
The current “daily” McLaren that replaced the GT. It’s lighter than the car it replaced [VERIFY weight difference] and keeps the same door style.
9. McLaren 720S
A big step up in performance from the 570S, and now a strong used buy. Gamers know it from Gran Turismo Sport, and it’s been a favorite of car YouTubers for drag races against much pricier hypercars.
10. Maserati MC20 / MCPura
The name says a lot: MC20 stands for Maserati Corse 2020, a nod to the brand’s racing history and the year it launched. The Cielo convertible keeps the butterfly doors. Maserati has since refreshed and renamed the line to MCPura [VERIFY current US naming and model year].
11. McLaren Artura / Artura Spider
McLaren’s entry point to its current lineup. The name is a mix of “art” and “future,” according to McLaren. The Spider keeps the same doors with a folding hard top.
12. McLaren 750S / 750S Spider
The higher-performance McLaren in the regular lineup. The “750” is a simple clue: it refers to its 750 metric horsepower (PS).
13. Mercedes SLR McLaren
The SLR name goes back to the 1955 Mercedes 300 SLR that Stirling Moss drove to victory at the Mille Miglia. Mercedes later built a special Stirling Moss edition in his honor. Now a collector car.
14. Saleen S7
America’s own mid-engine supercar. Movie fans may remember it from Bruce Almighty (2003) and the 2014 Need for Speed movie. Very few were built [VERIFY production count].
15. Ford GT (2nd Gen)
Ford picked its original buyers, and it took that seriously. Ford sued wrestler and actor John Cena for selling his GT early, which broke the resale agreement owners signed. The race version also won its class at Le Mans in 2016, 50 years after Ford’s famous 1966 win.
16. The Sold-Out Hypercars: Ferrari F80, Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, Mercedes-AMG ONE
Technically new, but if you didn’t already have a relationship with the brand, you’re not getting one from the factory. You’ll only find these through secondary sales, usually above sticker.
- Ferrari F80: butterfly doors, limited run [VERIFY production count]
- Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale: named after the 1967 original, one of the most beautiful Alfas ever made. Very limited and sold out at launch
- Mercedes-AMG ONE: uses an engine derived from Mercedes’ Formula 1 power unit. Limited and sold out
Before You Buy: 4 Things to Know
1. Check Your Garage Height
Butterfly doors go up, so low beams, opener rails, and shelves can get in the way.
Rough overhead clearance with doors fully open:
- BMW i8: around 6.5 to 7 feet [VERIFY with BMW owner’s manual]
- McLaren (most models): around 6.5 feet [VERIFY with McLaren owner’s manual]
- Toyota Sera: under 6 feet
Most residential garages are 7 to 8 feet tall at the door opening, so you’re usually fine. Park your current car where the new one would go and measure straight up from where the door tip would be.
2. Tight Parking Spots Are Actually Easier
Butterfly doors move up as they move out, so they often need less side room than a long coupe door. According to McLaren’s own marketing, the dihedral design is meant to make access easier in tight spaces [VERIFY wording on McLaren site]. Just watch tall curbs on the passenger side.
3. Rain Gets In
Open the door in the rain and water can drip onto the seat. Salt belt owners should also check hinge and strut mounts, since salt collects there.
4. Gas Struts Wear Out
A weak strut means the door won’t stay up, which is a real safety issue for your head.
| Car | DIY parts cost | Shop install total |
|---|---|---|
| BMW i8 | $300 to $600 [VERIFY with BMW parts catalog] | $800 to $1,500 [VERIFY with RepairPal or BMW dealer] |
| Toyota Sera | $150 to $350 aftermarket | Few shops will touch it, plan on DIY |
| McLaren (570S, 12C) | $800+ | $1,500+ at McLaren dealer |
What About Aftermarket “Lambo Door” Kits?
Those Civics and Mustangs with vertical doors at car meets use conversion kits. Most are scissor style, not true butterfly. Quality varies a lot, some insurers may raise rates [VERIFY with your insurer], and they usually hurt resale value. A used i8 or an imported Sera gets you factory-engineered doors with less hassle.
Want to compare value against other fast cars? Our list of cars with the best power-to-weight ratio is a good next read. And if you want a fun second car outside the exotic world, our guide to the best cars for single guys has plenty of options that still turn heads.
FAQ
The Toyota Sera is the cheapest, often found for under $25,000 imported. For a modern car with US dealer support, a used BMW i8 is the most affordable option. Expect strut and maintenance costs either way.
The McLaren GTS, at around $210,000. Confirm current pricing with a dealer.
No. Lamborghini’s V12 models use scissor doors, which swing straight up from a hinge near the front fender. Butterfly doors swing up and outward. Their V8 models use regular doors.
They can be. They often need less side space than long coupe doors, which helps in tight parking spots. The downsides are overhead clearance in low garages, rain getting in when open, and gas struts that wear out over time.
Your Butterfly Door Checklist
Before you contact a seller, do this today:
- Measure your garage ceiling and look for low beams, opener rails, and shelves
- Decide new or used and set a budget that includes strut replacement
- Check the curb height where you usually park
- On a test drive, open each door halfway and let go to test the struts
- Open the doors after the car sits for a while, especially in cold weather
- Inspect hinge mounts and door seals for rust or water marks
- Call your insurer for a quote before you sign anything
- For a Sera, confirm import paperwork and title before money changes hands
