It’s difficult to fathom a
McLaren F1 that could elevate its value further from its already sky-high status. The F1 stands as one of the most esteemed cars globally, fetching prices exceeding $20 million for flawless specimens. Nonetheless, this
remarkably unique McLaren F1 scheduled for the RM Sotheby’s auction in Monterey may potentially claim the title of the priciest F1 ever,
all thanks to a seemingly trivial aspect: its headlights.
The
McLaren F1 remains revered as one of the supreme sports cars in history. Crafted by Gordon Murray, it’s the single McLaren road vehicle he designed, with his meticulous attention to detail and engineering mastery solidifying its place in the automotive hall of fame. However, despite its engineering and design brilliance, its headlights were lackluster, to say the least.
Murray himself recently likened the F1’s headlights to “glow worms in a jar.” Inferior headlights in a car capable of surpassing 230 mph don’t align well. Towards the culmination of its
production, Murray and McLaren attempted to rectify this by introducing new lamps, but only one car benefited from this upgrade,
chassis number 059.
Chassis 059 incorporated headlight components from a
BMW Z1, itself an unusual rarity of a car, with slightly more compact housings. It’s no surprise that Murray sought spare parts from BMW, given the existing partnership with the brand for the F1’s engine. BMW’s naturally aspirated
6.1-liter V12, crafted by BMW M, was a technological marvel of its era. The BMW-forged S70/2 engine achieved over
100 horsepower per liter without turbocharging, featuring variable valve timing and a 7,
500 rpm redline during the early ’90s. This engine work by BMW remains exemplary and substantially contributes to the F1’s adoration. It’s somewhat ironic that the headlights supplied by BMW, sourced from a unique convertible that’s often forgotten, will enhance the value of this F1 even further.
In all honesty, the McLaren F1 with chassis 059 should merit a higher value based solely on its aesthetics. The BMW Z1 headlights noticeably enhance the F1’s appearance. The dual-bulb headlight, featuring a rectangular inner bulb and circular outer bulb, complements the car’s front design more effectively compared to the stock dual round bulb headlights. Additionally, the slender headlight housings add a touch of elegance to its look.
Originally owned by John Studholme from Boston, Lincolnshire in the UK, this car belonged to a successful entrepreneur who established Dynamic Cassette International and possessed multiple F1s. Chassis 059 became his second F1 acquisition in 1998, and over his 14-year ownership span, he drove it extensively, accumulating around 16,000 miles. Regularly serviced by McLaren during his ownership, the vehicle comes with impeccable service documentation. In 2012, Studholme transferred ownership to a U.S. collector under the show or display exception, which it still operates under (not yet old enough for U.S. registration). Due to this exception, the car has only been driven less than 300 miles since the second owner took possession.
In essence, this McLaren F1 with chassis 059 not only represents a one-of-a-kind, meticulously maintained exemplar of the world’s most valuable car but also holds the distinction of being the sole vehicle in history to rectify one of the F1’s major weaknesses. Speculating on the final sale price for this chassis 059 McLaren F1? Such astronomical figures elude my modest comprehension.
