One of the lowest mileage McLaren F1s in the world is for sale… again.
This 1995 McLaren F1, painted in a unique shade of Creighton Brown, sold at auction during the 2021 Pebble Beach Auto Week for $20,465,000. Now, almost three years later, it’s back on the market. And it has barely been driven by its new owner.
At the time of its sale through Gooding & Company in 2021, this F1’s odometer read 387 kilometers, or approximately 240.5 miles. It exceeded its estimate by $15 million, making it one of the most expensive cars sold that year and the most expensive car ever sold through Gooding & Company during Auto Week.
In the almost three years since that sale, whoever bought this F1 hasn’t driven it much. A new auction for the car, to be held at Sotheby’s Sealed on May 13, reveals that chassis number F1 029 now has 410 kilometers, or 254.8 miles, on the odometer. This means its new owner has only put 14 miles on the odometer in three years of ownership, which equates to less than five miles per year. Tragic.
We can understand why someone with a vested interest in this McLaren might want to keep the mileage low. Of the 64 road cars built, it is one of the most compact examples in existence, making it extremely sought after by collectors. RM Sotheby’s estimates that F1 cars have appreciated in value by about $1 million per year, so any additional mileage would likely hurt those gains.
At the same time, if you’re rich enough to buy a McLaren F1 for over $20 million, surely taking a small hit for extra mileage would be worth the thrill of driving it, right? The F1 is touted as the best drivers’ car of all time, so what’s the point of owning one if you never get to drive it?
This car has probably sat in air-conditioned garages throughout its life, and that’s a real shame. Whoever buys it this time will have a chance to change that. The car is expected to sell for more than $20 million in its online auction, but because it’s being sold through Sotheby’s Sealed, the public won’t know the final hammer price.
Whatever the price, it’s probably worth it. We just hope that the winner will enjoy this F1 as it should be.
