A jaw-dropping, high-octane tribute to one of the world’s most legendary supercars just shattered records, becoming the most expensive new ride ever auctioned. The Gordon Murray S1 LM, a hyper-exclusive beast dreamed up by the same mastermind who birthed the iconic McLaren F1, roared into the spotlight with a mind-blowing $20.63 million hammer price in Vegas. And because subtlety’s for amateurs, it descended onto the Wynn Las Vegas stage dangling under a helicopter—because why not? This was Formula 1 weekend, after all; ordinary just wouldn’t cut it.
Here’s the kicker: this was chassis number one of a minuscule five-car run. Back in August 2025, at Monterey Car Week, the buzz was that some deep-pocketed enthusiast had snatched up the entire batch. So why’d this one end up on the chopping block? Conspiracy theorists, start your engines. Maybe the buyer got cold feet, or—more likely—someone saw dollar signs and flipped it faster than a pancake. Whatever the story, the other four remain shrouded in mystery.
Bidders went bananas. The showdown drew collectors in person and online, wallets at the ready, pushing the final bid just past the last known McLaren F1 sale ($20 million in 2021). That’s no accident. The S1 LM isn’t just a car; it’s a love letter to the F1 LM, which itself paid homage to the Le Mans-conquering F1 GTRs. Five cars then, five cars now—history’s got a thing for symmetry.
Under the hood? Pure madness. No old-school BMW V12 here. Instead, a screaming 4.3-liter Cosworth V12 churns out 710 horsepower, redlining at a dizzying 12,100 rpm. Lightweight? Try 2,110 pounds, with a six-speed manual and race-bred suspension. It’s basically a street-legal rocketship.
But it’s not just about speed. The winning bidder gets the full VIP treatment: one-on-one design chats with Murray himself, test drives with racing legend Dario Franchitti, even a lavish 500-page book chronicling the car’s birth. Because when you drop eight figures, you’d better get the bragging rights to match.
The S1 LM’s record-smashing debut proves the McLaren F1’s legacy isn’t just alive—it’s got collectors frothing. With only five ever coming, good luck getting your hands on one. But hey, if history’s any guide, maybe another will “mysteriously” hit the auction block soon. Stay tuned.
Eve Nowell