Billionaires, Take Note: A Dark Magnesium McLaren F1 Chassis 009 Just Hit the Market

Billionaires, Take Note: A Dark Magnesium McLaren F1 Chassis 009 Just Hit the Market

McLaren F1 Chassis 009 is up for sale, presenting a rare opportunity for billionaires and collectors. This specific McLaren F1 (a 1994 short-tail model) is one of only 106 F1s ever built and the only one delivered brand new to Australia. Finished in Magnesium Silver and showing just 10,522 miles, McLaren F1 Chassis 009 is a true automotive icon, still holding the record for the world’s fastest naturally aspirated car (240.1 mph). However, this specific McLaren F1 Chassis 009 has a rather amusing history involving an unauthorized road test.

A Story Fitting of Such a Car

The history of McLaren F1 Chassis 009 is well-documented. Originally owned by Dean Willis, the then CEO of Coca-Cola Amatil, it was brought in for a routine service. A mechanic, whose identity remains unknown (likely for good reason), damaged the car in a crash during a road test in the ’90s. The car was then sent back to McLaren’s Woking facility for extensive repairs. We can only imagine what that repair bill must have looked like.

A (Somewhat) Refined V12 Beast

The McLaren F1 is a V12 beast. Its famous gold-lined engine bay houses a BMW-based 6.1-liter V12 (internally known as the S70/2), which was tuned by McLaren to produce 618 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, with a redline of 7,500 rpm. This power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission, as advanced automatics hadn’t been developed for road cars at the time.

While modern hot sedans can produce similar power, the F1’s flyweight (under 2,800 lbs) and its central driving position made it an analog masterpiece. Its 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds was absolutely mind-blowing in the 1990s.

Rarity and Auction Details

This McLaren F1 Chassis 009 is one of only 64 standard short-tail models built (out of 106 total cars). It is for sale at Tom Hartley Jnr, and the listing states “Price on Application.” F1s typically sell for around $20 million these days, though the accident history of McLaren F1 Chassis 009 might put a slight dent in its final list price. Still, we’re expecting a price well into the eight-figure range.

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