Hommell Berlinette RS

The Hommell Berlinette RS is one of those rare automotive gems that emerged from sheer passion rather than corporate strategy. Crafted by Michel Hommell, a French automotive enthusiast and magazine publisher, the Berlinette RS was born from a reader survey in the early '90s, which asked enthusiasts to describe their ideal sports car. And boy, did Hommell deliver.

Beneath its fiberglass shell, the Berlinette RS packs a mid-mounted Peugeot-sourced 2.0-liter inline-four engine, good for around 167 horsepower—not earth-shattering by today's standards, but in a car weighing barely 950 kilograms, it feels positively ballistic. Its handling is pure, unfiltered joy, thanks to a rigid tubular chassis and double wishbone suspension at all corners—engineering choices that speak volumes about Hommell's uncompromising vision.

Visually, the Berlinette RS channels the spirit of classic Alpine and Renault rally cars, with compact proportions, aggressive stance, and purposeful simplicity. It's a car that whispers its motorsport heritage rather than shouting it, yet anyone who knows their automotive history will instantly recognize its pedigree. While it never achieved widespread fame, the Berlinette RS remains a beloved cult classic, revered by those lucky enough to have experienced its visceral charms firsthand.