Ultra-Rare McLaren F1 LM-Spec Sold For Record-Smashing Price

Aug. 18, 2019 6:45 PM ET by Jay Traugott Auctions / 11 Comments

It's now the most expensive McLaren ever sold at auction.

Last month we told you about a certain McLaren F1 set to graze the auction block at this weekend's Monterey Car Week auction at Pebble Beach. Projected to fetch a price between $21 million and $23 million, the gavel has officially fallen for this one of two F1's modified by McLaren into "LM-Specification." The price? A cool $19,805,000, which includes all associated fees. While this figure may have fallen slightly short of initial expectations, RM Sotheby's has confirmed this is still the most expensive McLaren F1 ever sold at auction.

Originally painted Midnight Blue Pearl with a black interior, its second owner decided to do something completely different. They shipped the car back to the factory in Surrey, UK in 2000 for a very special commission job.

The resulting LM specifications include not only its current Platinum Silver Metallic exterior and tan leather interior, but also a horsepower bump. The BMW-built naturally aspirated 6.1-liter V12 now produces an unrestricted 680 hp over the standard 627 hp. The added power also required some exterior modifications by way of additional downforce components such as that huge rear wing, revised front end, and unique side air vents.

There are also racing-spec dampers and springs, 18-inch GTR wheels, two extra radiators, and upgraded exhaust system. F1 chassis no. 18 first rolled off the production line in 1994 and has since been driven only 13,352 miles.

Over the years, it has been shipped back to McLaren Special Operations for regularly scheduled maintenance. The seller, New Zealand collector Andrew Bagnall, owned the F1 for 12 years, but for whatever reason, decided to part with it and take the money. Who is the new owner who plopped down a serious chunk of change? Unknown, but Top Gear claims it's an American collector. Hopefully that person, who has great taste in cars, will add some mileage because cars like this must be (carefully) driven.