The holy grail of supercars is about to change hands again. A 1994 McLaren F1 formerly owned by the Sultan of Brunei is heading to RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi auction in December to be displayed alongside a GMA T.50 for the first time. With estimates topping $21 million, it could be one of the priciest F1s ever sold at public auction. This isn’t just any McLaren F1, though.
This particular example is chassis number 014, one of only 8 road-going F1s fitted with the desirable High-Downforce Kit and LM-spec interiors. Originally painted Titanium Yellow, this F1 was treated to a full rebuild at McLaren’s headquarters to its current spec of Ibis White.
It’s also been autographed by not one but two Formula 1 legends along the way. Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton have both signed the door sill on this car, though Schumacher’s autograph has since been painted over.
But this F1’s backstory is what makes it truly special. It emerged from the Sultan of Brunei’s legendary collection, which consists of approximately 7,000 cars valued at over $5 billion, including over 300 Ferraris, 600 Rolls-Royces, and 11 McLaren F1s. The royal family’s McLaren collection alone is worth around $300 million, featuring four road cars, one F1 GT, one F1 GTR, and three ultra-rare F1 LMs. The royal family originally purchased 10 F1s of various specifications, making them one of the largest single buyers of McLaren’s masterpiece.
McLaren created fewer F1s than Bugatti makes Chirons in a single year. The F1 remains Gordon Murray’s masterpiece, a 627-horsepower, naturally-aspirated V12 rocket that held the world’s fastest production car record for over a decade. The numbers are still staggering today: 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds, a top speed of 240 mph, and the iconic central driving position flanked by two passenger seats. The 6.1-liter BMW V12 wasn’t just powerful, it was a symphony on wheels.
Market values for F1s have exploded in recent years. Recent examples have commanded prices around $20 million. The F1 market has been red-hot, driven by collectors who recognize it as potentially the last great analog supercar with no computers, no electronic aids, just pure mechanical perfection. What’s driving the Sultan’s cars to market now? Financial pressures on the Brunei royal family have led to periodic sales from the collection over the years.
With estimates for the Sultan’s McLaren F1 topping $21 million, it could become one of the most expensive examples ever sold at public auction. Given its royal provenance, low mileage of 13,711 miles, and the current F1 market fever, don’t be surprised if it smashes every record in the book. After all, they’re not making any more F1s, but they’re definitely making more millionaires who want them.
