Australia’s automotive scene just lost one of its most prized possessions as the country’s sole McLaren F1 has packed its bags and jetted off to more financially appreciative pastures overseas. After failing to find a local buyer willing to part with the supposed $24 million asking price, chassis 009 has officially called it quits on Down Under. No surprise, actually, considering the ask would make it one of the most expensive F1s out there.
The legendary supercar, one of just 64 road-going McLaren F1s ever produced, was recently spotted being loaded onto an Emirates flight at Sydney Airport. While many speculated it was Middle East-bound, the ultimate destination was actually Stansted in the UK, where it’s now in the capable hands of exotic car dealer Tom Hartley Junior.
It’s a bittersweet end to an extraordinary Australian chapter for this particular McLaren F1. Originally delivered to Sydney in the 1990s for Dean Wills, the then-CEO of Coca-Cola Amatil, chassis 009 wasn’t destined to become a garage queen. Instead, Wills put the BMW V12-powered masterpiece to work as his personal track toy on his private racing facility north of Sydney, exactly as Gordon Murray intended when he designed this 627-horsepower beast.
The McLaren F1’s Australian adventure wasn’t without drama, though. In 1997, the supercar suffered substantial damage during routine maintenance when a BMW mechanic took it for an unauthorized joyride. The crash was so severe it required a return trip to McLaren’s Woking headquarters, resulting in a reported $1 million insurance claim. During repairs, the car received a slightly darker grey paint job than its original Magnesium Silver finish.
Following Wills’ ownership, the F1 changed hands to Tony Raftis in 2005, then onto businessman Barry Fitzgerald in 2006, who became its longest-serving custodian for nearly two decades. Even after another minor incident during a New Zealand driving tour in 2016, the car was repaired by McLaren and Fitzgerald continued using the car as intended. Thankfully, Australia’s only F1 was regularly spotted in Melbourne over the years, continuing in the theme of it being far from a garage queen.
It’s the end of an era for Australian automotive enthusiasts who could occasionally glimpse this rolling piece of history. With production limited to just 106 total units (including race cars and prototypes), the McLaren F1 remains one of the most significant supercars ever created. Unfortunately, the brutal reality of Australia’s luxury car market has claimed another victim. While Tom Hartley Junior will undoubtedly find it a deserving home, Australia’s car enthusiasts are left wondering if they’ll ever see its like on local roads again.
