The McLaren F1 That Clients Fought Over Before It Was Even Built

The Number That Started Arguments

From the time it was announced, it was clear the McLaren F1 was never going to be ordinary. A stratospheric asking price of nearly a million dollars, a fixation on weight, a BMW V12 “wrapped” in gold foil, and a never-seen-before central driving position had already elevated it beyond supercar status. Only 64 road cars would be built over its production spanning from 1992 to 1998, out of a total of 106. When it came time to assign chassis numbers, one in particular became a problem.

Father of the F1, Gordon Murray, himself had to referee requests for what would be a very special build slot. A previous owner recalled Murray explaining that several clients wanted chassis 007. In the end, a VIP and close friend of McLaren shareholder Mansour Ojjeh secured the mythical number. Clearly, McLaren had a license to build, with the Bond-inspired build slot taking precedence. To ease tensions, McLaren assigned other customers chassis numbers whose digits added up to seven.

Specification Worthy of the Badge

The VIP owner was Prince Muhammad bin Fahad bin Abdulaziz of the Saudi royal family, who took delivery in 1994 at his residence in Cologny, Geneva. The specification was as deliberate as the number. Chassis 007 is the only McLaren F1 finished in Jet Black with a 10 percent metalflake, paired with a restrained beige and brown leather interior. Only four F1 road cars were built in Black Metallic at all, and this one stands alone in its exact configuration.

The paint itself is deeper than standard black, the subtle metalflake only revealing itself under direct light. Open the dihedral doors, and the cabin continues the theme with warm, understated leather tones wrapped around the now-iconic central driving seat. In an era when many 1990s supercars leaned into bright colors and louder trims, this F1 went the opposite direction. The specification clearly resisted theatrics, in keeping with its 007 inspirations. 

A Life Lived Properly, Documented Thoroughly

Surprisingly, 007 remained well-used through its years in spite of its build significance. Over the course of its ownership by its next three owners, 007 racked up 27,806 miles, which is an impressive amount of mileage for a car such as the F1. Most of those miles were spirited ones at the hands of well-known collector Simon Kidston, from whose care the car is currently being sold. Since 1994, approximately $590,000 has been spent maintaining the car through McLaren’s factory channels, including a recent $50,800 service and a replacement alloy fuel tank at McLaren Special Operations.

It has never been crashed, never fitted with the optional High Downforce Kit, and retains its original colour scheme, numbered luggage set, tool chest, and titanium tools. It is also one of the few F1 road cars to hold a factory-issued Certificate of Authenticity. For a chassis number that caused this much friction before it even existed, the remarkable part isn’t the drama. It’s that three decades later, 007 remains exactly what it should be: well-driven, meticulously documented, and very, very original.

View the full article