Think of a car that always sells for insane money? Ferrari 250 GTO, right? Well, maybe there’s another, far more contemporary car that’s about to break into that same elite territory. At least that’s possibly the case if the recent auction of a McLaren F1 GTR during Monterey Car Week sets a new precedent.
Nick Mason, drummer for the legendary British rock band Pink Floyd, is probably the most well known Ferrari collector out there. His 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO was just the first in his fleet, which includes a 1953 Ferrari 250MM, F40, GTB/4 Daytona, LaFerrari, and a Ferrari 512 S that featured in Steve McQueen’s 1971 movie Le Mans. But, his non-Ferrari collection is equally beautifully curated. And, for 25 years, included the only McLaren F1 GTR produced with a factory livery.
That McLaren f1 GTR has now been sold, fetching a record-setting sum that embarrasses most Bugattis.
The Pop Art McLaren Sold For How Much?
1996 McLaren F1 GTRAlex Penfold courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
This 1996 McLaren F1 GTR, chassis 10R was the first example built to the F1 GTR 1996 specification. McLaren held on to it for track testing and promotional use, hence the Blood Red with contrasting yellow “96 GTR” graphics. In 1999, chassis 10R was converted by the McLaren factory for road use, and sold directly to Mason. Further work went into the car by Paul Lanzante’s company, Lazante being the McLaren specialist and operational partner that helped lead the Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing team to its Le Mans victory in 1995.
Through Mason’s ownership, his F1 GTR has seen some serious action, including being crashed by Mason in 2017 and by a journalist in 2009. However, Mason has an “open checkbook” approach to maintenance and Lanzante took care of a full restoration. All of this and the incredibly desirable spec led to Mason’s 1996 McLaren F1 GTR selling for an eye-watering $34,655,000.
The Most Expensive McLaren F1 Ever
1996 McLaren F1 GTRAlex Penfold courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
1996 was a vintage year for McLaren. Coming fresh off its 1995 win at Le Mans, the McLaren F1 GTR 1996 became the fastest version of the race car – still faster than the 1997 “Long-Tail.” Only nine were built, with chassis 10R being generally considered the most significant. Mason held onto the car for 25 years, which means he sold it in 2024. The owner that just sold it again isn’t named, and RM Sotheby’s, who handled the auction during Monterey Car Week, refers to them as “a well-respected independent party.”
Chassis 10R’s epic selling price comes from the car being an iconic part of McLaren’s history, and owned and maintained by a member of British pop culture and car collecting royalty. And by pop culture royalty, you may be young enough to have never heard of Pink Floyd, but you’ve seen the artwork for the album Dark Side Of The Moon, which is still the fourth best-selling music album in history.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters
1996 McLaren F1 GTRAlex Penfold courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
At this level of car collecting, chassis 10R hasn’t really gone to a new owner, it has gone to its next custodian. Hopefully, they won’t tuck it away as a pure investment but will, instead, continue to share it with the world like Mason did. Part of the reason the Pop Art F1 is still so recognized by enthusiasts is because Mason wheeled it out, drove and displayed it at events, put other drivers in the seat, and meticulously maintained the car, even after it was crashed.
The road going McLaren F1 is an incredibly important car, but the McLaren F1 GTR 1996 is the continuation of the car that won Le Mans at its first time of asking, which was an incredible feat – one that Gordon Murray believed was harder than winning back-to-back Formula 1 Championships. Of course, McLaren didn’t win the 1996 24 Hours Of Le Mans, but the legend had already been set in stone.
But the real significance is that this F1 GTR is now reaching Ferrari 250 GTO levels of money. The Ferrari’s still sell for more, when one comes up for sale, but the fact that this F1 is within $2 million of a 250 GTO sold in 2014 for a then-record figure proves that the F1 is entering a legendary period. We wouldn’t put it past a few more selling for significant sums in years to come.
Sources: RM Sotheby’s
