A treasure trove of automotive history is about to change hands as the late Mansour Ojjeh’s extraordinary collection of 20 McLaren road cars prepares for sale. The collection, valued at over $70 million, represents one of the most significant assemblages of McLaren vehicles ever gathered under single ownership, with each car telling the story of both the marque’s evolution and one man’s unwavering passion for automotive excellence.
Mansour Ojjeh was far more than just another wealthy collector. Born to a French mother and Saudi father, he became a pivotal figure in McLaren’s transformation from racing team to global automotive powerhouse. After taking control of TAG (Techniques d’Avant Garde) following his father’s death, Ojjeh made the fateful decision in 1984 to sponsor McLaren, a move that would reshape Formula 1 history. His financial backing enabled the development of the legendary TAG-Porsche engines that dominated the 1980s, delivering seven constructors’ championships and ten drivers’ titles over four decades.
The collection itself is a masterclass in automotive curation. Every single vehicle represents the final chassis number of its respective model line, meaning each car received all production updates and refinements developed during its manufacturing run. This meticulous attention to detail reflects Ojjeh’s perfectionist nature and deep understanding of automotive engineering. The crown jewel remains chassis 075, the very last McLaren F1 road car ever built, finished in the unique color that McLaren later renamed Mansour Orange in his honor.
What makes this collection truly unprecedented is its condition. With the exception of the F1, which shows just 1,810 kilometers on its odometer, and the P1 GTR used occasionally for McLaren track days, every car remains in factory-delivered condition. McLaren provided direct maintenance services throughout Ojjeh’s ownership; a level of white-glove treatment never extended to any other collector. The cars have been stored and maintained to museum standards, making them as close to new as decades-old supercars can possibly be.
The distinctive Mansour Orange livery unifies the entire collection, originally named Yquem after the famous French dessert wine. This exclusive color was never made available to other McLaren customers, making each vehicle a true one-off creation. The collection spans McLaren’s modern era, including the Speedtail, Senna, Elva, and the ultra-rare Sabre hypercar, one of only 16 examples built exclusively for the American market.
High-end dealer Tom Hartley Jnr, who previously orchestrated the sale of Bernie Ecclestone’s 69 historic Formula 1 cars for approximately $600 million, will handle the transaction. The Ojjeh family hopes to find a single buyer who will preserve the collection’s integrity, ensuring these mechanical monuments to McLaren’s legacy remain together as Mansour intended.
