Ultra-Rare McLaren F1 Up for Grabs for a Second Time
1998 McLaren F1 LM debuts RM Sotheby’s new Private Sales division with a bang.
The McLaren F1 is already a highly desired machine, its place in the pantheon of exotics permanently without a doubt. The McLaren F1 LM takes things further on the desirability scale, especially when only six LMs — each powered by a 680-horsepower BMW V12 and enhanced with tons of goodies from the Le Mans-dominating F1 GTR — were ever built.
And then, there’s this LM. RM Sotheby’s has a new Private Sales division for owners looking to sell their finest wares without going through the auction block. What better way to debut the new sales channel than with this 1998 F1 LM, which started life as a normal F1.
Chassis No. 73 is “the 63rd and penultimate road-specification F1 built,” and only one of two to be sent to McLaren Special Operations in Woking, England for an upgrade unlike any other. Aside from the high-compression 680-horse V12, larger radiators, and sports exhaust found in the GTR and original LMs, No. 73 also received an aggressive aero kit, gas discharge headlights, custom 18-inch wheels, and “a brilliant orange metallic” paint “seldomly seen on F1s… that perfectly suits its stunning design.”
The interior of No. 73 was upgraded to GT-spec, as well, with fresh leather and Alcantara all over. A refreshed AC system, satnav, larger steering wheel, and a helicopter-grade car-to-car radio/intercom system were also installed during the transformation process. The cherry on top of this exotic sundae came from F1 designer Gordon Murray himself: his autograph on the transmission tunnel, just ahead of the ignition switch.
This will be the second time No. 73 has been put up for sale. According to Road & Track, the ultra-rare F1 LM was on RM Sotheby’s auction block back in 2015 during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Then, it was sold to its current owner for $13.8 million. Now? You’ll have to contact RM Sotheby’s to find out. Of course, if you have to ask, you probably can’t afford something as magnificent as this McLaren F1 LM.
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