The world's most expensive motorcycle, the Dodge Tomahawk, has failed to attract a genuine buyer after a month on sale.

Neiman Marcus, the ultra-swank Texas-based retailer, is selling the first Tomahawk via its Christmas Book catalogue, its annual staple of over-the-top artefacts.

Prospective buyers who call a dedicated telephone number must satisfy a financial background check, sign a letter of intent to go through with the deal - and pay a 50 per cent deposit, or about $394,000.

The first qualified buyer gets the Tomahawk, although Dodge will build and sell up to nine more if there is demand, says spokesman David Elshoff.

The Tomahawk, with pairs of wheels front and rear, made its debut at January's Detroit motor show.

Its aluminium frame attaches the engine block of its 8.3-litre V10 - which produces about 375 kW and 710 Nm - to such incidentals as the front and rear suspensions.

Dodge says the replica of the Tomahawk shown in Detroit is being sold as a symbol of Chrysler spirit and innovation and is intended only as a piece of automotive sculpture.

Neiman Marcus describes the Tomahawk as a little gem ... a true collector's piece with cutting-edge design and art-deco-inspired style.

In January, Dodge predicted the concept would sprint from rest to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds, on to a theoretical top speed of nearly 650 km/h.

 

I was under the impression that the Tomahawk wasn't certified for road use (read: "who'll notice my pretentious *** riding it if I can't drive it on the street?").

That's a pretty big pricetag for a racetrack only status symbol...

 

It's ugly, it's unoriginal, "rediculous" doesn't even come close to describing the pricetag for what you're getting....and what's with the claims of "300+ mph?" Riiiight.

Maybe there really aren't any people out there with more money than brains.

 

If they only sell one, think of how much it will be worth in 25 years.

 

With a price over $750,000, it would probally be cheaper to pay West Coast Choppers here in LB to make a Viper powered bike for you instead (at least you'd be able to drive it on the street).

 

I can't imagine wasting the asking price on that ugly monstrosity.

One could build a bitchin' 1000+ HP Viper for that and still have plenty of change. And the Viper would look way better too!

 

I have a feeling those import sport bikes would eat it for breakfast on an actual roadcourse.

 

Wonder what they'd give me if I traded in my Lear Jet.

 

I wonder why it hasn't sold yet? Could it be because it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars and can't really be used?

 

Dayum, the guy on one of those crappy car shows on TV said it would cost 250k and I thought that was too much.

 

Why does that thing cost so much? It's just a viper motor with wheels. You can buy any number of custom built bikes, jet planes, and full out race cars for less than that.

 

proof again that some concepts should remain concepts

(and really this was even too stupid for a concept---what waste of money and time they spent on that)

 

what a waste of an engine...

besides; my first impression at the 2003 NAIAS was: "Honestly, how safe is that thing at really high speeds? And what kind of person with the ballz to afford it will open it up at WOT?"

it still looks like a really expensive suicide machine to me

 

Yep... not to mention most regular streets to boot. What a massive waste the Tomahawk was... just another corporate ego trip...

 

What the hell? I ordered that, maybe I failed the credit check?