2019 RM Sotheby's Monterey Sale (McLaren F1 LM-Spec Announcement)

A 1994 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’ with an estimate over $20 million was announced as a leading car for the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 sale.

1994 McLaren F1 'LM-Specification' Side front — Andrei Diomidov © 2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s announced a 1994 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’, serial no. 018, as the final lead car for its Monterey 2019 classic car auction. This F1 is one of only two that were upgraded by McLaren to LM-Specification. It is offered with a whopping $21,000,000 – $23,000,000 estimate – well above previous results for McLaren cars.

RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 Sale

RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 classic car auction: 15 – 17 August 2019 with the first day dedicated to Aston Martin marque cars only.

At the 2018 Monterey auction, RM Sotheby’s earned $158 million by selling 124 of 150 lots (83%). The average sale price was $1,270,903.

At the 2017 auction, RM Sotheby’s earned $133 million with a sell-through rate of 88% and 32 cars sold for over a million dollar. RM Sotheby’s three-day Monterey 2016 auction remained the highest grossing classic car auction ever with $173 million earned and 35 million-dollar cars sold.

McLaren F1

RM Sotheby’s describes the McLaren F1 as that rare supercar that knows no critic. From its aesthetics, technical merit, and competition record, the model is nothing short of perfect in the eyes of collectors around the world. McLaren built just 64 production examples of the F1 road car, and they have enjoyed favored ownership among the world’s most discriminating collectors, celebrated as a design that is particularly rewarding to drive.

Developed initially solely as a road car, McLaren was encouraged to go racing by enthusiastic F1 owners. Following the F1 GTR’s incredible success on the track at Le Mans and beyond, the manufacturer launched a short batch of five commemorative road-capable cars dubbed the F1 LM. Most notably, these cars were equipped with full-specification, unrestricted GTR racing engines good for 680hp, and a High-Downforce Kit of aerodynamic effects consisting of a revised nose with front fender vents and a huge rear wing. These five cars were rightfully judged to be the most ferocious and desirable of the F1 iterations.

1994 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’

Following completion of the full production run in 1998, McLaren upgraded two “standard” F1 road car examples to LM specifications, also adding an extra high-downforce package that went above and beyond the coachwork effects of the original five LM cars. These two upgraded cars were serial no. 073, which RM Sotheby’s sold at Monterey 2015, and serial no. 018, the car set to headline Friday night at the company’s 2019 Monterey auction.

Delivered new to Japan in 1994 and upgraded to LM Specification by McLaren in two rounds in 2000 and 2001, serial no. 018 is finished in stunning platinum silver metallic paint over a cream leather interior highlighted by beige and brown Alcantara, cream Wilton carpets, and a beige Alcantara headliner.

1994 McLaren F1 'LM-Specification' Interior — Andrei Diomidov © 2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

In 2007, the F1 ‘LM-Spec’ was acquired by the current owner, an enthusiast and racing connoisseur based in New Zealand. In his 12 years of ownership, the car has been used on a handful of tours and rallies, all the while being fastidiously cared for via the unmatched level of service provided by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), who have overseen the car with their strenuous multi-point evaluation checklist all its life.

The F1 ‘LM-Spec’ is presented in Monterey in outstanding condition, with a thorough record of regular MSO service and just 21,500 km. Incredibly powerful and rare, 018 is even “estimated to have more downforce than the Le Mans winning 1995 GTR racecar”, according to MSO.

1994 McLaren F1 'LM-Specification' Rear — Andrei Diomidov © 2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

McLaren F1 Cars at Auction

SOLD 1998 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification — 1998 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’ © Daren Schnabel / RM Sotheby’s

The 1994 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’, serial no. 018, is expected to bring $21,000,000 – $23,000,000 – this will not only set a new McLaren marque record but also increased the model record for a McLaren F1 by several million.

The sister car in LM-Specification, the 1998 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’, serial no. 073, sold for $13,750,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 sale to raise the marque record by more than $5 million.

The current McLaren marque record is $15,620,000 achieved at the Bonhams Quail Lodge 2017 sale for the 1995 McLaren F1, number 044, which was the very first McLaren F1 imported into the US and the very first of only a handful of F1s to become fully federalized as a US road-legal car. These were the only two McLarens ever to have sold at public auction for more than $10 million.

Andrew Bagnall, avid car enthusiast, collector, and current owner of 018 comments, “Bruce McLaren was a hero of mine and I have had the pleasure of owning this amazing car for many years, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed driving it as intended throughout my entire period of ownership. I look forward to attending the auction in Monterey and hope the next owner will enjoy this truly extraordinary machine as much as I have.”

Further Supercars at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019

The F1 is joined by a of host of top modern-day super- and hypercars at RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale, highlighted by:

Named for the late three-time Formula 1 world champion, Ayrton Senna, and the fastest McLaren on the market today, a 2019 McLaren Senna, showing just delivery mileage and finished in a stunning Victory Grey and Papaya Orange color scheme (Est. $1,350,000 – $1,650,000);
A breathtaking 2017 Pagani Huayra Roadster, a model presented at auction for the first time by RM Sotheby’s. One of just 100 roadsters built, it shows less than 500 miles from new and wears an incredible specification, including full carbon-fiber exterior (Est. $2,750,000 – $3,250,000);
The Roadster is joined by another uniquely specified Huayra, a 2014 Pagani Huayra Tempesta “Scozia”, offered from its original owner showing just 1,500 miles and boasting numerous optional extras and custom touches, including unique Scottish tartan interior (Est. $2,000,000 – $2,400,000);
The Ming Collection, an exceptional group of seven incredibly low-mileage Ferrari performance and supercars, led by a seldom-seen and nearly “in the wrapper” 2006 Ferrari FXX alongside a 1991 Ferrari F40 offered from 20 years of ownership and just 1,705 miles since new;
A Classiche-certified and remarkably well-preserved 1995 Ferrari F50, one of just 55 U.S.-delivery cars and showing a mere 8,000 miles (Est. $3,000,000 – $3,500,000); and,
An as-new 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari, one of the first examples delivered to the U.S. Finished in stunning Grigio Ferro, the hypercar shows a mere 400 miles from new (Est. $3,000,000 – $3,400,000).

Monterey Week 2019 Car Auctions News

Auction Previews:

Pre-Sale Auction Announcements: