This brown McLaren F1 will sell for blue sky money
They say you should never meet your heroes, but that likely doesn’t apply to the 1992-98 McLaren F1. That’s because the dihedral-doored, carbon-fiber supercar was laden with cutting-edge materials, advanced engineering, and a radical, triple-seat cockpit that aged better than any fine wine of the time. But what’s presented here is no average McLaren F1, as it’s likely one of the most well preserved, lowest mileage, and rarest examples ever created. Because while every McLaren F1 owes its existence in part to Mr. Creighton Brown, a McLaren shareholder and director who died in 2006, there’s only one example finished in an earthen hue named after the august executive himself.
And now, chassis #029, the 1995 “Creighton Brown” McLaren F1 is in the public eye before having a date with destiny at Gooding and Co’s auction at Pebble Beach. This example originally lived in a private collection in Japan, until the current owner moved it to the USA. Only 390 kilometers crossed the Creighton Brown F1’s odometer, and factory documentation suggests this is the 25th road car built and the only one in this decadent hue. Similarly spectacular is the leather interior finished in Light Tan and Dark Brown: A radical departure from the F1’s signature charcoal interior with a bright red hotspot for the driver’s seat.
The low miles suggest this is a museum-quality example from its carbon-fiber roof down to the original, date-coded Goodyear Eagle F1 tires. This time capsule is offered with the original Facom tool kit made of titanium, which hopefully was left as untouched as the 26-year-old tires. Other accessories that come with the Creighton Brown F1 include McLaren’s service manual, owner’s manual, standalone Facom tool chest, fitted McLaren luggage, and a hard copy of Driving Ambition. Even the original TAG Heuer 6000 McLaren F1 chronometer given to the original owner remains with the car.
To say the Creighton Brown F1 is the ultimate investment is an understatement, as we can expect the bidding to be intense amongst the billionaire class for this piece of McLaren F1 perfection. Gooding and Co’s estimate is “in excess of $15,000,000” but the Hagerty Valuation team places a McLaren F1 in this condition at roughly 21 to 25 million dollars, and median values for F1’s in #2 condition are just south of 20 million. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that #2 cars have risen 497% over the past 10 years, making the F1 one of the most valuable cars in the Hagerty Price Guide. Don’t be surprised if the Creighton Brown F1 smashes everyone’s expectations and once again raises the price ceiling for this car.
While the F1 may be the spiritual precursor to the current crop of stunners from McLaren Automotive, its stellar performance would still place it among today’s finest exotics. (Provided you install fresh tires on it.) For many of us, that may be the best thing about it. But for the lucky winner of what will likely be the finest, most expensive brown machine on the planet, I hereby offer you a special gift: An admin role in the world-famous Brown Car Appreciation Society. You heard me right, you can co-manage the birthplace of automotive brown memes because you, much like James Brown, have clearly paid the cost to be the boss. But this is a limited-time offer, so bid early and bid often!
