McLaren F1 supercar sells at auction for $28m

This machine is often thought of as the best car ever built and one example just sold at auction for an outrageous price.

A 1995 McLaren F1 sold for $28m.

The majority of cars lose value over time, but a few special gems can make owners a tonne of money.

McLaren’s legendary F1 supercar from the 1990s is one such machine. One example sold at auction this week for about $28m in the US.

The McLaren F1 had head-turning butterfly doors.

Only 106 examples were ever built with prices originally starting at about £540,000 ($1.02m).

The $28m machine is the 25th example built and has just 242 miles (389km) on the clock.

It was the only F1 finished in “Creighton Brown” paint and the interior is kitted out with dark brown and tan leather upholstery.

This McLaren F1 comes with all the original matching luggage, watch, complete tool kit, owner’s manual and service book. It also is fitted with the original tyres.

The $28m car had a unique paint colour.

The McLaren F1 is often in the conversation as the greatest car ever built.

It was conceived by legendary formula one designer, Gordon Murray, and is one of the most driver focused road going cars.

The McLaren F1 was the first road-going machine to use F1-style technology with wild aerodynamics and extensive use of carbon fibre in its structure.

The supercar has a central drivers seat.

Power comes from a 6.1-litre V12 naturally-aspirated V12 engine that makes 461kW and 600Nm and is paired to a six-speed transmission. It had a top speed of more than 386km/h, which was the record speed for a road-going car for a long time.

The F1 has a three-seat layout with the driver sitting in the middle and two passenger seats setback to either side of the front seat.

McLaren used gold foil in the engine bay.

McLaren also used gold foil as a heat reflector in the engine bay of the F1, 16g of the precious metal was used in each car.

British comedian Rowan Atkinson famously crashed his McLaren F1 twice before selling it for about $15m in 2015.

There was one example in Australia, but it was sent back to England for repairs and it is unclear whether it has returned to our shores.

Mr Bean actor Rowan Atkinson with the McLaren F1 Supercar.

Despite its exorbitant price tag the McLaren F1 isn’t the most expensive car ever built, this title belongs to a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO that sold for close to $100m several years ago.

Other Ferrari GTOs have sold for ultra high prices including a $66m example that went under the hammer in 2018

The most expensive Australian built car was a pristine 1971 Ford Falcon GT-HO, which sold for $1.15m in February this year.

This price eclipsed the previous record set in January this year for a limited edition HSV Maloo GTSR W1.

Originally published as McLaren F1 supercar sells at auction for $28m