4 fascinating tales behind the already spectacular McLaren F1
The McLaren F1 has become the gold standard of the supercar world. With just 106 produced, each of the eccentric center-seat exotics has been thoroughly documented. From those tales there are few more interesting than others. Sure, we could talk about the BMW-sourced V-12 engines and odd seat location, but those traits have been talked about for years. Instead, YouTube Car Throttle dug up four interesting McLaren F1 stories for us to enjoy.
The opener is the saga of one of the best-known F1s. Its custom dark burgundy color is the giveaway that this is the twice-crashed supercar once owned by Rowan Atkinson. Luckily, that’s just the opening story of this short video, because there are certainly more interesting tales to be told.
The stories that follow that one only get juicier. Mercedes-Benz buying a private car for use in developing a race car in the 1990s is one thing, but the Sultan of Brunei purchasing 10 to add to an already extensive collection, and a Japanese businessman who just had to have his name on the side of one competing in the 24 hours of Le Mans, now that’s a whole different ballgame—and likely one most enthusiasts haven’t heard.
F1 values have skyrocketed since McLaren’s initial struggle to sell them in the early 1990s. Most of us will never have the chance to drive one in anger, but it is always fun to learn that the tales behind some of the most iconic collector cars are just as twisted and interesting as those of any other used car.
