Latest news with #GordonMurray
Top Gear
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
For sale: a $20m+ road-legal, V12 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail
For sale: a $20m+ road-legal, V12 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail Doesn't hurt to stare Skip 12 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 12 In today's edition of Fantasy Lottery Win Car Purchase comes this entirely delectable McLaren F1 GTR Longtail. It is a version of Gordon Murray's criminally overlooked, unheard-of masterstroke. Indeed, you've probably never even heard of a McLaren F1 GTR Longtail until right this second. This particular car – number 27R – was ordered new back in 1997 by a banker called David Morrison who ran the Parabolica race team. Side note: Morrison already had a couple of McLarens in his collection. Advertisement - Page continues below It recorded a win on its competitive debut at Silverstone in April 1997 in the British GT Championship – driven by Gary Ayles and Chris Goodwin (later a McLaren test driver) – and raced at Le Mans. Side note: the Le Mans driver lineup included the 'Drift King' Keiichi Tsuchiya. A couple of sixth-place finishes would be the highlights of 27R's 1997 season, though Goodwin apparently described it as one of the best cars he'd ever driven. It was handed over to Dean Lanzante in 2011 for a full restoration that cost £110,000, and later in 2017, went back to Lanzante to be converted into a road car at a cost of £200k. Lanzante has an affinity with the McLaren F1, but you've probably never even heard of it. Amusingly, we're told 'particular focus was paid to the steering, which needed to navigate England's myriad mini-roundabouts, and the damping, which needed to handle England's notoriously poor road surfaces'. Advertisement - Page continues below Elsewhere, it was fitted with a handbrake from the 'regular' F1 (apparently really very hard) and a left-hand passenger seat. The ride height was also raised, and Lanzante fitted smaller wheels and a quieter exhaust baffle. Same engine as it had when it raced, of course, BMW's S70 V12. In the Longtail, displacement came down to 6.0-litres, but it still punched out an entirely respectable 604bhp. It's being offered up for sale by Girardo & Co, with a valuation that exceeds $20m. We did say Fantasy Lottery Win Car Purchase, of course, but it doesn't hurt to stare. Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
The Australian
28-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Australian
Australia's only McLaren F1 listed with $37.6m price tag
There is only one McLaren F1 in Australia, and it is up for sale with a staggering price tag. This ultra-rare McLaren F1 was once the fastest production car in the world, and it remains one of the most coveted supercars ever built. Australia's original McLaren has a remarkable backstory. Originally owned by former Coca-Cola Amatil chief executive Dean Wills, the car was regularly exercised in secret at a private circuit north of Sydney once known as 'The Farm', now operating as '70 North'. The car is rumoured to have been crashed heavily during a test drive by a mechanic that caused more than $1 million in damage, according to a report in Wheels magazine. Now owned by Melbourne businessman Barry Fitzgerald, the model has been listed for sale. Just 106 McLaren F1s were built between 1992 and 1998, and only 64 of those are road-legal, making this of the most exclusive vehicles in the world today. This revolutionary machine, famous for rewriting the rule book on performance and design, is currently listed for sale on the JamesEdition website with an eye-watering price tag of $37,664,120. 1992 McLaren F1. Picture: ELITA 1992 McLaren F1. Picture: ELITA MORE: Tesla's 'retro-futuristic' move blows minds The McLaren F1 is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds. Created by the legendary Formula 1 engineer Gordon Murray, the F1 was designed with the singular goal of becoming the greatest driver's car ever made. Leveraging McLaren's Formula One expertise, the team reimagined every aspect of supercar design by prioritising lightweight materials, driver-focused engineering, and eliminating compromises. The carbon fibre chassis alone took over 3000 hours to build. The throttle pedal was hand-assembled from six precision-finished titanium components. Even the instrument needles were hand-machined and painted. 1992 McLaren F1. Picture: ELITA MORE: Huge change coming to Aussie roads Every detail in this car was carefully crafted, right down to the cabin, which was individually tailored for each owner. Under the bonnet sits a 6.1-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine developed by BMW, producing 461kW and pushing the car to a record-breaking top speed of 386km/h – making it the fastest naturally aspirated production car ever built. To protect the engine from extreme heat, the bay was lined with genuine gold foil, selected for its excellent heat-reflective properties. 1992 McLaren F1. Picture: ELITA 1992 McLaren F1. Picture: ELITA MORE: 'Jet on wheels': Luxury van's insane cost The sale is being handled by ELITA, a global expert in discreet, high-end car sales. They are known for connecting collectors with rare vehicles that are seldom made publicly available. Its listing reads: 'Owning an F1 is not about acquiring a vehicle; it's about becoming part of a legacy defined by Formula 1 DNA, Le Mans dominance, and automotive immortality.' 'Only 106 McLaren F1s were ever built; and just 64 road cars. Today, fewer still remain in the kind of condition worthy of the original vision. Most reside in private collections or museums, making availability of any example a global event. 'This isn't just the apex of the analog supercar; it's a time capsule from the golden age of performance. No turbos, no traction control: only raw, mechanical brilliance tuned to perfection.' James Chung Digital Content Creator James is a Digital Content Creator at and is part of the News Corp Australia's digital real estate team. His previous experience includes working for Sky News Australia.
News.com.au
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Australia's only 1992 McLaren F1 is up for sale
There is only one McLaren F1 in Australia, and it is up for sale with a staggering price tag. This ultra-rare McLaren F1 was once the fastest production car in the world, and it remains one of the most coveted supercars ever built. Australia's original McLaren has a remarkable backstory. Originally owned by former Coca-Cola Amatil chief executive Dean Wills, the car was regularly exercised in secret at a private circuit north of Sydney once known as 'The Farm', now operating as '70 North'. The car is rumoured to have been crashed heavily during a test drive by a mechanic that caused more than $1 million in damage, according to a report in Wheels magazine. Now owned by Melbourne businessman Barry Fitzgerald, the model has been listed for sale. Just 106 McLaren F1s were built between 1992 and 1998, and only 64 of those are road-legal, making this of the most exclusive vehicles in the world today. This revolutionary machine, famous for rewriting the rule book on performance and design, is currently listed for sale on the JamesEdition website with an eye-watering price tag of $37,664,120. The McLaren F1 is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds. Created by the legendary Formula 1 engineer Gordon Murray, the F1 was designed with the singular goal of becoming the greatest driver's car ever made. Leveraging McLaren's Formula One expertise, the team reimagined every aspect of supercar design by prioritising lightweight materials, driver-focused engineering, and eliminating compromises. The carbon fibre chassis alone took over 3000 hours to build. The throttle pedal was hand-assembled from six precision-finished titanium components. Even the instrument needles were hand-machined and painted. Every detail in this car was carefully crafted, right down to the cabin, which was individually tailored for each owner. Under the bonnet sits a 6.1-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine developed by BMW, producing 461kW and pushing the car to a record-breaking top speed of 386km/h – making it the fastest naturally aspirated production car ever built. To protect the engine from extreme heat, the bay was lined with genuine gold foil, selected for its excellent heat-reflective properties. It's almost impossible to damage an F1 to the point of it being a complete write-off, as McLaren is always willing to conduct repairs. This is because the stratospheric prices of F1s make any repairs justifiable, no matter how extensive. The sale is being handled by ELITA, a global expert in discreet, high-end car sales. They are known for connecting collectors with rare vehicles that are seldom made publicly available. Its listing reads: 'Owning an F1 is not about acquiring a vehicle; it's about becoming part of a legacy defined by Formula 1 DNA, Le Mans dominance, and automotive immortality.' 'Only 106 McLaren F1s were ever built; and just 64 road cars. Today, fewer still remain in the kind of condition worthy of the original vision. Most reside in private collections or museums, making availability of any example a global event. 'This isn't just the apex of the analog supercar; it's a time capsule from the golden age of performance. No turbos, no traction control: only raw, mechanical brilliance tuned to perfection.'
Daily Telegraph
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Telegraph
Australia's only McLaren F1 listed with $37.6m price tag
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. There is only one McLaren F1 in Australia, and it is up for sale with a staggering price tag. This ultra-rare McLaren F1 was once the fastest production car in the world, and it remains one of the most coveted supercars ever built. Australia's original McLaren has a remarkable backstory. Originally owned by former Coca-Cola Amatil chief executive Dean Wills, the car was regularly exercised in secret at a private circuit north of Sydney once known as 'The Farm', now operating as '70 North'. The car is rumoured to have been crashed heavily during a test drive by a mechanic that caused more than $1 million in damage, according to a report in Wheels magazine. Now owned by Melbourne businessman Barry Fitzgerald, the model has been listed for sale. Just 106 McLaren F1s were built between 1992 and 1998, and only 64 of those are road-legal, making this of the most exclusive vehicles in the world today. This revolutionary machine, famous for rewriting the rule book on performance and design, is currently listed for sale on the JamesEdition website with an eye-watering price tag of $37,664,120. 1992 McLaren F1. Picture: ELITA 1992 McLaren F1. Picture: ELITA MORE: Tesla's 'retro-futuristic' move blows minds The McLaren F1 is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds. Created by the legendary Formula 1 engineer Gordon Murray, the F1 was designed with the singular goal of becoming the greatest driver's car ever made. Leveraging McLaren's Formula One expertise, the team reimagined every aspect of supercar design by prioritising lightweight materials, driver-focused engineering, and eliminating compromises. The carbon fibre chassis alone took over 3000 hours to build. The throttle pedal was hand-assembled from six precision-finished titanium components. Even the instrument needles were hand-machined and painted. 1992 McLaren F1. Picture: ELITA MORE: Huge change coming to Aussie roads Every detail in this car was carefully crafted, right down to the cabin, which was individually tailored for each owner. Under the bonnet sits a 6.1-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine developed by BMW, producing 461kW and pushing the car to a record-breaking top speed of 386km/h – making it the fastest naturally aspirated production car ever built. To protect the engine from extreme heat, the bay was lined with genuine gold foil, selected for its excellent heat-reflective properties. 1992 McLaren F1. Picture: ELITA 1992 McLaren F1. Picture: ELITA MORE: 'Jet on wheels': Luxury van's insane cost It's almost impossible to damage an F1 to the point of it being a complete write-off, as McLaren is always willing to conduct repairs. This is because the stratospheric prices of F1s make any repairs justifiable, no matter how extensive. The sale is being handled by ELITA, a global expert in discreet, high-end car sales. They are known for connecting collectors with rare vehicles that are seldom made publicly available. Its listing reads: 'Owning an F1 is not about acquiring a vehicle; it's about becoming part of a legacy defined by Formula 1 DNA, Le Mans dominance, and automotive immortality.' 'Only 106 McLaren F1s were ever built; and just 64 road cars. Today, fewer still remain in the kind of condition worthy of the original vision. Most reside in private collections or museums, making availability of any example a global event. 'This isn't just the apex of the analog supercar; it's a time capsule from the golden age of performance. No turbos, no traction control: only raw, mechanical brilliance tuned to perfection.' Originally published as Australia's only 1992 McLaren F1 is up for sale
Top Gear
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Want a three-seater performance car? Here are nine of them
Advertisement No surprises here. Overseen by Gordon Murray and powered by a 6.1-litre, 627bhp V12 created by BMW's engine genius Paul Rosche, the F1 is regarded as one of the greatest sportscars ever built. It remains one of the most furiously sought-after cars, too, with notable past and present owners including Elon Musk, Rowan Atkinson, and Jay Leno. They'd make for an interesting road trip trio... Advertisement - Page continues below Is this the coolest EV in history? The Nissan BladeGlider was first revealed to the world as a concept in 2013, and we had a go in it a couple of years later. Similar to the McLaren F1, the central driver's seat was flanked by one each side and slightly behind, while drive came from two independent electric motors, with a combined power output of 268bhp. Nissan initially suggested that it would make showrooms, but just two were built. Shame. You might like Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus SCG004S Meet the Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus SCG004S. Ok, it's not a particularly pretty name, but the specs? Sheesh. Thanks to its all carbon construction, it apparently weighs just 1,179kg – less than a suitcase more than the McLaren F1 – with power coming from a mid-engined twin-turbo V8 with 641bhp and 531lb ft of torque. Advertisement - Page continues below Introduced in 1973 and perhaps best known for its three-abreast seating, the Bagheera was the product of co-operation between French conglomerate Matra and Chrysler-owned Simca. An affordable, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe with a small, naturally aspirated engine and a manual gearbox, a handful survive today in the hands of a group of enthusiasts. And yes, it really was named after the Jungle Book character. Photo: Bonhams Auctions In 1980, the Murena was unveiled as the Bagheera's replacement. Despite the disappointment of not continuing the Jungle Book character theme, it offered better aerodynamics and arguably more style, improved corrosion resistance, and most essentially for all enthusiasts, more power, thanks to its 2.2-litre Talbot Tagora engine. Sadly, politics between Peugeot-Talbot and Matra saw the Murena prematurely halted in 1985. Photo: Anglia Car Auctions Ferrari 365 P Berlinetta Speciale Here's one you might not have heard of – a three-seat Ferrari. Unofficially nicknamed Tre Posti , meaning three-seater in Italian, it was conceived by Sergio Pininfarina and based on a design by Aldo Brovarone, who would later design the Dino. Unveiled at the Paris show of '66, underneath sat a race-derived 4.4-litre V12 and mechanics taken from Ferrari's 365 P2. Head of Fiat Gianni Agnelli was said to have loved it so much he ordered another one built, with only two ever created, and the first – a white coloured 365 – as recently as 2014 put up for auction... where a bid of $23m was rejected. Photo: Gooding & Company Auctions The McLaren Speedtail is the fourth car in the firm's Ultimate Series, after the Senna, the P1, and the F1, and offers three seats, a stratospheric top speed – 250mph – and a price tag – £1.75m – that's similarly out of this world. Still, that gets you 1,055bhp and 848lb ft – the highest of any McLaren road car – and enough for 0–186mph in 13 seconds. Oh, and guaranteed fun for you and two mates. Which, in our opinion, is quite frankly priceless. Advertisement - Page continues below And so we come full circle, to the spiritual successor to the McLaren F1. Gordon Murray's £2.8 million T.50 is a 963kg, 654bhp three-seater that aims to right the 'wrongs' of the McLaren F1 – his words, not ours. Indeed, the T.50 shares many features with the F1, including a central driving position with two passenger seats flanking the driver, a naturally aspirated V12, a six-speed manual gearbox, dihedral doors, fan assisted ground effect aerodynamics, and a laser focus on saving weight. The result, as we found out over a near 900-mile roadtrip, is rather spectacular... It's been built to celebrate 30 years since the company's outright win at the 1995 Le Mans 24hrs. It's spun off a 'modern' McLaren platform. There's a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, lots of aero, a big wing, and most importantly... three seats! "Three seats, luggage space, enhanced range; something drivers could, and wanted, to use," said boss Dean Lanzante of his new creation. "We wanted to deliver the same enjoyment and passion of buying and owning a classic car but in a contemporary way. Full focus on what the driver needs and wants, with a blend of modern technologies but pared back to maintain driver focus.' Read the full story here. Advertisement - Page continues below Nissan McLaren Ferrari List Supercars News See more on Nissan
