A rare McLaren F1 GTR, one of just 28 ever produced and later modified for road use, is poised to sell for over $20 million at auction. This comes after another McLaren F1 recently fetched a staggering $25.3 million in Abu Dhabi, cementing these vehicles as the most valuable blue-chip collectibles in the automotive world.
A Racing Pedigree
The car, chassis number 27R, began its life as a competitive vehicle purchased by financier David Morrison. Driven by Gary Ayles and Chris Goodwin, it made an immediate impact, winning its debut race in the British GT Championship in April 1997. The F1 GTR also competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it was leased to Team Lark and given a distinctive livery. Despite retiring from the race, it continued to compete in other major events, including the Silverstone and Nurburgring 4-hour races.
From Race Track to Legal Trouble
After Morrison, the car was sold to James Munroe, whose wealth proved to be ill-gotten. Munroe was later arrested for embezzling nearly $4.1 million from his employer, McGraw-Hill, and his assets – including the McLaren – were seized and auctioned in 2000. This checkered history adds to the car’s mystique, making it a unique piece of automotive lore.
A Road-Legal Masterpiece
Since then, the F1 GTR has passed through several hands and was converted to road-legal specification by Lanzante over a decade ago. The current owner has held the car since 2018. It stands out as one of only three F1 GTRs to win on its racing debut, making it exceptionally rare even within an already exclusive club.
RM Sotheby’s is handling the sale, estimating a price between $18 million and $21 million. The car retains its original BMW V12 engine and is fully registered for road use in the UK.
The combination of racing history, scarcity, and a scandalous backstory makes this McLaren F1 GTR an exceptionally desirable asset for collectors. Its value reflects not just its performance, but its place in automotive history.
The auction highlights the growing trend of supercars as high-value investments, where rarity and provenance drive prices to unprecedented levels. This F1 GTR is more than a car; it’s a piece of automotive culture with a story to tell.
