Billionaire shares million-dollar masterpiece with public

An extremely rare supercar, designed by the Mercedes Formula One team, has landed in Australia, thanks to a renowned businessman.

Seeing a hypercar such as the Mercedes-AMG ONE in the metal is an exceptionally rare experience.

With only 275 units produced worldwide and just eight ordered for Australian owners, these engineering marvels are typically the stuff we see while scrolling through social media.

Among the eight Australians who secured one of these masterpieces is businessman Lindsay Fox, who is generously sharing his prized possession with Australia.

With a hefty price tag in excess of $5 million, it’s not the most expensive vehicle Fox owns, but it certainly is one of the most exciting.

The Mercedes-AMG ONE will join Fox’s museum collection of exquisite classic and contemporary vehicles, the perfect home for such an iconic machine.

The Mercedes-AMG Project One development process took several years.

We were given exclusive access to view Linday’s new Mercedes-AMG ONE at the Fox Classic Car Collection and it’s safe to say this beautifully engineered masterpiece is better in person.

At its heart, the Mercedes-AMG ONE features a 1.6-litre V6 hybrid petrol engine derived directly from Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1 team, delivering an astonishing 782kW.

Buyers have had their patience tested by the AMG ONE, which was originally unveiled in concept form at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show.

The vast challenges of turning an Formula 1 car into a road-legal machine delayed the launch for several years.

The Mercedes AMG ONE owned by businessman Lindsay Fox will be on display to the public from Thursday 1st of August 2024. Picture: Photographer Cristian Brunelli

But Fox Classic Car Collection Venue and Events Manager Christian Ferrante said it was “worth the wait” and a “pinch me moment” when it arrived in Australia.

“Having the AMG ONE here and on display, not tucked away in a private owner’s garage, is significant,

“It’s important for the relevance of this place, which is to showcase beautiful cars and keep people interested in history,” he said.

Inside the Mercedes-AMG ONE.

Ferrante explained that out of the seven or eight AMG ONE’s owned by Australians, this one may be the only one Australia gets to see.

“If you’re an owner of this vehicle, you’ve likely got a base in Europe, and you’d just leave it there because why would you add an extra $1 million to bring it to Australia?” he said.

Head of Brand Engagement at Mercedes-Benz Australia, Jerry Stamoulis, explained the exclusivity of these hypercars.

“To secure a Mercedes-AMG ONE, you needed to be among our most loyal and dedicated customers globally,” he said.

Mercedes-AMG ONE at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Mr Stamoulis said vehicles such as the Mercedes-AMG ONE didn’t always make it into the public domain, and seeing one in person was an “entirely different experience.”

“With only 275 examples planned for production worldwide, it’s fantastic to see one of our customers showcasing it in Melbourne. We hope to see more appearing locally in the future,” he said.

Lewis Hamilton’s F! car shares its motor with the Mercedes-AMG One. Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

While the AMG ONE is illegal to drive on Australian roads, it can be driven on a racetrack, but Fox doesn’t have plans to drive the vehicle.

Fox Special Projects Marketing Strategist, Lindsay’s granddaughter Hannah Fox said Fox had never seen the vehicle driven before, but the dream would be for him to see how it performs.

“The dream is to have someone like Daniel Ricciardo drive it at Phillip Island, unleash its potential at least once. It’s a car he’s paid a lot of money for and waited a long time for, and the idea would be for him to see it light up the track,” Ferrante said.

The Mercedes AMG ONE will be added to Lindsay Fox’s prestigious car collection at Fox Classic Car Collection museum in Docklands. Picture: Supplied

The public will have the chance to view this masterpiece at a ticketed charity event on Wednesday, July 31st at the Fox Classic Car Collection museum in Docklands, Melbourne.

The event has only 70 tickets available and they’re already sold out.

Fox said the event, like the museum’s charter, was aimed at raising funds for charity.

“My grandfather is very much about giving back to the community, which is a big thing for him,” she said.

The evening will feature a performance by Melbourne violinist Patrick Roberts, who will play on a $10 million violin.

Don’t expect to see the Mercedes-AMG One on the road in Australia.

For those eager to catch a glimpse of this automotive marvel, the AMG ONE will be on display at the Fox Car Collection Museum in Docklands, Victoria, which is open to the public on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Tickets can be purchased from the Fox Car Collection website or at the door for $16 per person.

Originally published as Billionaire shares million-dollar masterpiece with public