[bga23]

Nearly 15 years after the last copy rolled out of McLaren's factory, the 618-hp F1 supercar remains one of the most sought-after vehicles among the world's sporting billionaires. Only 106 were built, and in recent years a regular model McLaren F1 at auction could fetch bids of $5 million, while one with a racing pedigree commanded $13 million last year. This F1 in Japan holds another singular distinction: it's never been driven, and its odometer shows zero miles after 17 years of ownership — which suggests the owner has more money than sense.

According to the Japanese site found by DailyAutoFix listing the 1994 McLaren F1 for sale, the car was never even registered, and all of its official documents along with the vehicle itself has been kept in climate-controlled storage since purchase. Given the restraint necessary to keep such a machine untouched, one can likely assume the car itself was started and serviced in those 17 years; the picture above suggests a no-expense-spared level of care.

In an era where classic car prices have soared to as much as $35 million, a surprising number of collectors insist on keeping their valuables not just in running order but occasionally on the road. That's the point, for most: enjoying the aural and visceral delights of a Ferrari 250 GTB or a Duesenberg can deliver at full throttle makes ownership more than just typing numbers on a spreadsheet. Yet there's a subset of collectors and builders who see cars as furniture that needs preservation rather than speed, with the ultimate example provided by Bugatti and its porcelain-encrusted Veyron L'Or Blanc. Oh wait — even its owner has taken it for a drive on public streets.

I'd contend having zero miles on the odometer adds as much value to this F1 as throwing in a new set of wiper blades. Supercars aren't blocks of cheddar that get better with a few years in cold storage; they need driving not just for enjoyment but upkeep, to know which parts need work. If my Powerball numbers float up, I'd buy this, cover it in GoPros and make the most of its first mile.

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoram...185433395.html

[justinnum1]

awful color.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

awful color.

Whatever, I'd drive it if it were pink with blinking purple xmas lights all over it.

[inline6ix]

Honestly, if this thing has been in perfect storage this long, it belongs in a museum of some sort to be kept flawless for the rest of time. Of course, if there's already some in museums, then I would take it upon myself to hoon the living daylights out of it and give it the life it deserves.

[KingOfJericho]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when a McLaren changes hands, doesn't it go back to the factory for a seat fitting and a respray anyway?

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Whatever, I'd drive it if it were pink with blinking purple xmas lights all over it.

If you can afford the car, you can afford to repaint it.

[Year's_End]

That author sounds butthurt as hell.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

If you can afford the car, you can afford to repaint it.

Probably true, but so far from my reality that it's sort of like discussing the odds of life on other planets.

[dillon733]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when a McLaren changes hands, doesn't it go back to the factory for a seat fitting and a respray anyway?

Can anyone confirm this?

I have never heard that before thats pretty crazy if true

[See5]

It doesn't have zero miles. There's a guy on VWVortex who can tell you the history of an F1 just by looking at it and knowing which number it is. He said this

The story isn't quite true as it has been presented, but it has gone viral now as the 'zero mile F1' and there seems to be no stopping it except for a few bright spots of common sense where we see people questioning that.

In reality this car has about 300 kms on the odometer. At the time of delivery all F1s were given an extensive shakedown run of more than 100 miles. The cars are given a check ride each time they are serviced. This car was last serviced in June 2010 and would have been driven by the McLaren technician at that point. Perhaps in the case of car like this one that driving would be more limited, but I can assure you it has not been stationary for 17 years as these articles claim and there are no zero-mile F1s in the world.

This car is not really news for those of us who keep track of the F1s. I've known of its existence for nearly 10 years. News of it coming to market is actually 6 weeks old now. The initial article that was written by Daily Auto Fix credits the sales page on the Japanese dealer's website as a source, using a rough online translation. It appears they made no effort to do any other independent research on the car or contact the dealer directly for a story before going to print and now at least 2 other sources (GTSpirit and Yahoo Autos) have parroted what was written without doing any research of their own. The headline has certainly gotten people's attention - that's what headlines are designed to do. I fully expect with all the attention the article has received today that we'll see it appear on Jalopnik, AutoBlog, CarBuzz, WorldCarFans and several others by tomorrow. It's a bit frustrating, but I've gotten used to seeing this over and over and it gives me very little faith in any of these "news sources".

To finish the story of this car it is chassis #060 and has been in Japan since new. It has been kept in climate controlled storage, has been started frequently to cycle the fluids and as mentioned has also been serviced. That means it is hardly a basket case some might expect and should command a top market price if the right buyer is interested.

The other yellow F1 pictured above is chassis #014, which has been here in the USA since 2003. It was sold by RM Auctions in August 2006 and the following year the owner sent it back to the factory for a complete refit including white paint, black wheels and fitment of the High Downforce Kit. These two cars were the only F1s painted yellow from new.

[Aventador97]

While I appreciate his effort to either preserve the car or get a nice payday 20 years later, I really find this almost sad. The car was built to be driven and yet this poor F1 has sat for 17 years. I prefer Jay Leno's way of preserving cars, he drives them but also takes good care of them. I'm sure this car will fetch a great price, but I personally would put thirty thousand miles on it and enjoy it for its intended purpose.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by dillon733

Can anyone confirm this?

I have never heard that before thats pretty crazy if true

I've read it in several places. They go back to the factory for a full retrofit - paint, seats, the whole kit. That's how they get LEDs, navigation systems, and the high downforce body kits (makes it look like an LM), etc.

Here's a video of a guy and his INCREDIBLY annoying wife picking up his new-to-him F1:

[py0413]

Actually, if I see cars I like and the wife says "it's gorgeous, buy it" I will bring that woman to any place she wants as long as I don't go bankrupt too soon.

[dillon733]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

I've read it in several places. They go back to the factory for a full retrofit - paint, seats, the whole kit. That's how they get LEDs, navigation systems, and the high downforce body kits (makes it look like an LM), etc.

Here's a video of a guy and his INCREDIBLY annoying wife picking up his new-to-him F1:

WOW! Very cool!
But HOLY SHITTTT! his wife is INSANELY annoying!

[MikeyV]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

I've read it in several places. They go back to the factory for a full retrofit - paint, seats, the whole kit. That's how they get LEDs, navigation systems, and the high downforce body kits (makes it look like an LM), etc.

It's not mandatory, only if you want to have it rebuilt do you get it rebuilt, it's not exactly free either.

[TSM330i]

Originally Posted by dillon733

Can anyone confirm this?

I have never heard that before thats pretty crazy if true

Yes, when you purchase an F1 they will take it back to the manufacturing plant to address ANY issues with the car. They will completely customize the car to your specifications including paint color, interior options, weaving your initials into the carbon fiber etc.

BTW: the 6,000 mile service is 25,000 BPS!!!

That being said, if I had the money, I'd buy this car and drive the crap out of it.

[VintageFerrari]

This is Dan Kennedy from Arizona taking delivery of Serial No. 038 well over ten years ago. When new, the car was Silver. Since the time he sold it on several years ago, it's been bought and sold again two subsequent times.

[BMW269]

She's probably annoying but at least she likes it and want the husband to buy the green one too.

[AKopp]

Same windows!

[dillon733]

Originally Posted by AKopp

Same windows!

Not exactly... but I lold