Supercars
See also : Cars II British cars McLaren Ferrari after 1962 Porsche
Chronology : 1987 1994 1997 1998 2001 2002
Chronology : 1987 1994 1997 1998 2001 2002
1987-1995 Le Mans with Michelotto
2019 SOLD for € 4.8M including premium
The first Ferrari supercar was the 288 GTO. This technological marvel was a big disappointment for the brand : ready just when the Group B was canceled for security reasons in 1986, it could never be used in competition.
Ferrari is radically changing its strategy. The F40, the ultimate model that has been approved by Enzo Ferrari, is a road going car based on the 288 GTO. Its performances are similar to a race car : top speed at 200 mph, 60 mph after 3.9 seconds, 100 mph after 8 seconds.
The commercial success of the F40 is considerable despite a very high price. 1,311 F40 are produced in total from 1987 to 1992. The GT competition does not interest Ferrari any more and customers regret the absence of a racing version of the F40. With the agreement of Ferrari, 18 F40 LM are prepared by Michelotto, a Padua company that had a similar successful experience with the 365 GTB/4 Daytona.
The F40 LM is significantly modified from the basic F40. The chassis is reinforced, the body is more aggressive and several major equipment are modified. Lighter and more powerful, it reaches 229 mph, and 60 mph after 3 seconds.
The 18th and final F40 LM of the regular series, completed in 1993 and titled 1994, was sold for $ 3.3M including premium by RM Sotheby's in August 2015, a remarkable price for a car that had never been used in competition .
The third F40 prototype built in 1987 entered the market in 1992. Its first private owner had it upgraded in LM configuration by Michelotto. Its next owner returned it to Michelotto in 1995 to make it benefit from other improvements introduced by this manufacturer in 1994 under the reference F40 GTE. The car finished 12th overall and 2nd GT at Le Mans in 1995.
That 19th F40 LM by Michelotto is estimated € 4.5M for sale by RM Sotheby's in Paris on February 6, lot 126. The photo shared by Wikimedia was made at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2007.
Ferrari is radically changing its strategy. The F40, the ultimate model that has been approved by Enzo Ferrari, is a road going car based on the 288 GTO. Its performances are similar to a race car : top speed at 200 mph, 60 mph after 3.9 seconds, 100 mph after 8 seconds.
The commercial success of the F40 is considerable despite a very high price. 1,311 F40 are produced in total from 1987 to 1992. The GT competition does not interest Ferrari any more and customers regret the absence of a racing version of the F40. With the agreement of Ferrari, 18 F40 LM are prepared by Michelotto, a Padua company that had a similar successful experience with the 365 GTB/4 Daytona.
The F40 LM is significantly modified from the basic F40. The chassis is reinforced, the body is more aggressive and several major equipment are modified. Lighter and more powerful, it reaches 229 mph, and 60 mph after 3 seconds.
The 18th and final F40 LM of the regular series, completed in 1993 and titled 1994, was sold for $ 3.3M including premium by RM Sotheby's in August 2015, a remarkable price for a car that had never been used in competition .
The third F40 prototype built in 1987 entered the market in 1992. Its first private owner had it upgraded in LM configuration by Michelotto. Its next owner returned it to Michelotto in 1995 to make it benefit from other improvements introduced by this manufacturer in 1994 under the reference F40 GTE. The car finished 12th overall and 2nd GT at Le Mans in 1995.
That 19th F40 LM by Michelotto is estimated € 4.5M for sale by RM Sotheby's in Paris on February 6, lot 126. The photo shared by Wikimedia was made at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2007.
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McLaren F1
Intro
The McLaren F1 is the result of a brainstorming between the managers of the group in 1988. In that year their dominance over Formula One is total : Senna and Prost win 15 of the 16 Grands Prix.
Technical director since 1987, Gordon Murray convinces his bosses to develop the most powerful, most comfortable and most elegant grand touring car of all time. The model is named F1 for announcing that the same care should be taken in the design and manufacture of this coupe as for a Formula One car.
The first prototype is unveiled in Monaco in 1992. The F1 had the great merit to start the commercial production of supercars after the dark years of the oil crisis. Nearly fifteen years after the series was terminated with its 106th unit in 1998, it was still the fastest model of road cars.
The F1 is the first production car with a carbon fiber monocoque chassis. The cockpit offers an exceptional visibility in the driving position with a central pilot seat and two lateral seats slightly behind for the passengers.
As for the great berlinettas and coupes made by Ferrari and Ford in the 1960s, the shape of the bodywork is superb. For the first time probably in the history of the automobile, some of the original owners maintained their car as if it were a work of art, anticipating the passion for supercars led ten years later by the Bugatti Veyron.
Technical director since 1987, Gordon Murray convinces his bosses to develop the most powerful, most comfortable and most elegant grand touring car of all time. The model is named F1 for announcing that the same care should be taken in the design and manufacture of this coupe as for a Formula One car.
The first prototype is unveiled in Monaco in 1992. The F1 had the great merit to start the commercial production of supercars after the dark years of the oil crisis. Nearly fifteen years after the series was terminated with its 106th unit in 1998, it was still the fastest model of road cars.
The F1 is the first production car with a carbon fiber monocoque chassis. The cockpit offers an exceptional visibility in the driving position with a central pilot seat and two lateral seats slightly behind for the passengers.
As for the great berlinettas and coupes made by Ferrari and Ford in the 1960s, the shape of the bodywork is superb. For the first time probably in the history of the automobile, some of the original owners maintained their car as if it were a work of art, anticipating the passion for supercars led ten years later by the Bugatti Veyron.
1
1994
2021 SOLD for $ 20.5M by Gooding
The McLaren F1 was acclaimed in due course as a sensational breakthrough in automotive history, both technically and aesthetically. In 1995 a private Japanese collector purchased an F1 for keeping it forever in museum condition out of public view. His car with chassis number 029 had been the last one assembled in 1994 and is titled 1995.
029 has been carefully maintained and serviced like any road going car while being driven for about 300 km only in Japan, most of it cumulated during a promotional filming session. The first owner parted from it after 17 years. The same care was applied by a subsequent long term owner in the USA who added less than 100 km on the odometer when making it US emission compliant.
The car is in pristine condition with a wide set of factory supplied tooling, documentation, and spares even including flashlight. It is preserving its one-off original color scheme of brown hues and its original 1994 Goodyear Eagle tires that had been specially designed for the F1. It is accompanied by the few equipment that were changed in 2014 for making it US legal. While not driven afterward, it was regularly maintained with fluid changes.
It was sold for $ 20.5M from a lower estimate of $ 15M by Gooding on August 13, 2021, lot 29. It is indeed a perfectly preserved example of the best road car model of the later 20th century. It is illustrated in the pre sale press release. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
029 has been carefully maintained and serviced like any road going car while being driven for about 300 km only in Japan, most of it cumulated during a promotional filming session. The first owner parted from it after 17 years. The same care was applied by a subsequent long term owner in the USA who added less than 100 km on the odometer when making it US emission compliant.
The car is in pristine condition with a wide set of factory supplied tooling, documentation, and spares even including flashlight. It is preserving its one-off original color scheme of brown hues and its original 1994 Goodyear Eagle tires that had been specially designed for the F1. It is accompanied by the few equipment that were changed in 2014 for making it US legal. While not driven afterward, it was regularly maintained with fluid changes.
It was sold for $ 20.5M from a lower estimate of $ 15M by Gooding on August 13, 2021, lot 29. It is indeed a perfectly preserved example of the best road car model of the later 20th century. It is illustrated in the pre sale press release. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
2
1995
2017 SOLD for $ 15.6M by Bonhams
The F1 is the best but the security rules are not the same in America. The central position of the driver is tolerated but the side seats for the passengers are not allowed. Other differences include bumper height, headlights and cooling system. A company named Ameritech makes the changes necessary for the legalization in a way that can be easily and completely reversible. 7 F1 are processed by them around 1997.
On August 18, 2017, Bonhams sold for $ 15.6M as lot 73 an F1 made in 1995, chassis number 044, which had been in 1996 the first to be shipped to the United States, transformed by Ameritech and legalized. It was later returned to its original configuration as almost all (or all?) the F1 Ameritech.
It is announced as a dream car, consigned by its first owner with only 15,500 Km from new and an excellent history of services, in its original configuration without any further option. With a population of 64 in its basic version the McLaren F1 is however less rare than the Ferrari 250 GTO. Please watch the video shared by the auction house
On August 18, 2017, Bonhams sold for $ 15.6M as lot 73 an F1 made in 1995, chassis number 044, which had been in 1996 the first to be shipped to the United States, transformed by Ameritech and legalized. It was later returned to its original configuration as almost all (or all?) the F1 Ameritech.
It is announced as a dream car, consigned by its first owner with only 15,500 Km from new and an excellent history of services, in its original configuration without any further option. With a population of 64 in its basic version the McLaren F1 is however less rare than the Ferrari 250 GTO. Please watch the video shared by the auction house
3
1997
2013 SOLD for $ 8.5M by Gooding
An F1 made in 1997 was sold for $ 8.5M by Gooding on August 17, 2013, lot 51. With 22,000 km from new, it had its original paint in magnesium silver color along with its original toolbox and documentation.
4
1998 Special
2015 SOLD for $ 13.8M by RM Sotheby's
There are some variations among the 106 vehicles produced from 1992 to 1998.
The racing car was a logical development for the F1. The F1 GTR was released in 1995. The F1 road car was far ahead of its time, but on track the competition was rude with Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. In 1997, the chassis is changed. The F1 GTR Longtail, produced in ten units, is the ultimate competition model in this series. The third Longtail was sold for $ 5.3M by Gooding on 17-18 January, 2014.
The F1 GT was created to demonstrate to the boards regulating the competitions that the concepts of GTR were consistent with the features of a grand tourer. It was not proposed in the commercial catalog but after the completion of the prototype two F1 chassis were upgraded to F1 GT on special orders from private clients.
The F1 LM is a lighter version of the F1 GTR. It was built in 1995 as one prototype and five units. The engine of the GTR is reused but without the power restrictions required for the competitions. Aerodynamics are modified to maintain the stability, including the installation of a rear wing and the modification of the nose. Without exceeding the top speed of the GTR, the LM has a sensational acceleration, reaching 160 km/h in less than 6 seconds.
In its first year in 1995, the F1 LM dominates the 24 hours of Le Mans : the 5 cars are ranked first, third, fourth, fifth and thirteenth. Later one of them was timed at 385 km/h.
In 1998 the F1 series is going to its close out. The engineers from McLaren Special Operations are responsible for producing the most exciting car of this so successful series, somehow the ultimate F1 with all possible improvements, the best supercar of its time.
The 63th and penultimate F1 street legal chassis is equipped altogether with an engine meeting the LM specification and with the comfort provided to the wealthy clients of the GT. Aware of creating a masterpiece of contemporary automobile, Murray signed it on the transmission tunnel.
This special car was sold for $ 13.8M by RM Sotheby's on August 13, 2015, lot 107. It is exceptional without being unique : another F1 chassis was also equipped with a LM engine.
The racing car was a logical development for the F1. The F1 GTR was released in 1995. The F1 road car was far ahead of its time, but on track the competition was rude with Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. In 1997, the chassis is changed. The F1 GTR Longtail, produced in ten units, is the ultimate competition model in this series. The third Longtail was sold for $ 5.3M by Gooding on 17-18 January, 2014.
The F1 GT was created to demonstrate to the boards regulating the competitions that the concepts of GTR were consistent with the features of a grand tourer. It was not proposed in the commercial catalog but after the completion of the prototype two F1 chassis were upgraded to F1 GT on special orders from private clients.
The F1 LM is a lighter version of the F1 GTR. It was built in 1995 as one prototype and five units. The engine of the GTR is reused but without the power restrictions required for the competitions. Aerodynamics are modified to maintain the stability, including the installation of a rear wing and the modification of the nose. Without exceeding the top speed of the GTR, the LM has a sensational acceleration, reaching 160 km/h in less than 6 seconds.
In its first year in 1995, the F1 LM dominates the 24 hours of Le Mans : the 5 cars are ranked first, third, fourth, fifth and thirteenth. Later one of them was timed at 385 km/h.
In 1998 the F1 series is going to its close out. The engineers from McLaren Special Operations are responsible for producing the most exciting car of this so successful series, somehow the ultimate F1 with all possible improvements, the best supercar of its time.
The 63th and penultimate F1 street legal chassis is equipped altogether with an engine meeting the LM specification and with the comfort provided to the wealthy clients of the GT. Aware of creating a masterpiece of contemporary automobile, Murray signed it on the transmission tunnel.
This special car was sold for $ 13.8M by RM Sotheby's on August 13, 2015, lot 107. It is exceptional without being unique : another F1 chassis was also equipped with a LM engine.
5
1994-2001 Special
2019 SOLD for $ 20M by RM Sotheby's
To keep cars in perfect condition and please the customers, McLaren creates a division in charge of service and of bespoke customization, which will much later become McLaren Special Operations.
In 1998 the penultimate road car was specially followed in production. When it is finished, the customer leaves it at the factory for having it upgraded to the LM specification. It was sold by RM Sotheby's in 2015.
The second owner of an F1 made in 1994 requires a similar modification. Transformed in two rounds in 2000 and 2001, this second and last F1 upgraded to F1 LM specification benefits from the latest developments and can be considered as the ultimate achievement of the best model of its time.
It was sold for $ 20M by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 16, 2019, lot 261. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
In 1998 the penultimate road car was specially followed in production. When it is finished, the customer leaves it at the factory for having it upgraded to the LM specification. It was sold by RM Sotheby's in 2015.
The second owner of an F1 made in 1994 requires a similar modification. Transformed in two rounds in 2000 and 2001, this second and last F1 upgraded to F1 LM specification benefits from the latest developments and can be considered as the ultimate achievement of the best model of its time.
It was sold for $ 20M by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 16, 2019, lot 261. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
1998 A Porsche Supercar in the Street
2017 SOLD for $ 5.7M including premium
The FIA GT championship preceded by the short lived BPR Global GT Series throws on the track in the mid-1990s the precursors of today's supercars. These wonders are the McLaren F1 GTR, the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR, the Ferrari F40 and the Porsche 911 GT1.
Anticipating some flexibility in the approval rules of the GT competition cars including the demonstration that their models are based on commercial vehicles, Porsche designs directly the 911 GT1 for racing.
The technology restarts in a fast development generating very small series of vehicles with similar designations but increasing performances. The Porsche 911 GT1-98 won the first two places at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1998.
Porsche does not forget however that some customers expect high-performance cars. Such a project is useful to the prestige of the brand even if the profitability is lost in advance. After two prototypes required in 1996 for road homologation, Porsche realizes the 911 GT1 Strassenversion in 20 units which are sold to customers selected in advance by the brand.
This road legal model created high desires by its limited series, by its very high performance worthy of a winner of Le Mans and by the fact that it has never been offered new on the open market. A Strassenversion made in 1998 with less than 5,000 miles from new is for sale on March 10 by Gooding at Amelia Island, lot 042. Here is the link to the press release.
Its price is difficult to anticipate. A 1997 911 GT1 Evo competition car was sold for € 2,8M including premium by RM Sotheby's on May 14, 2016. Also keep in mind the $ 8.5M including premium recorded on August 17, 2013 by Gooding on a 1997 road legal McLaren F1 with less than 14,000 miles from new.
Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Anticipating some flexibility in the approval rules of the GT competition cars including the demonstration that their models are based on commercial vehicles, Porsche designs directly the 911 GT1 for racing.
The technology restarts in a fast development generating very small series of vehicles with similar designations but increasing performances. The Porsche 911 GT1-98 won the first two places at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1998.
Porsche does not forget however that some customers expect high-performance cars. Such a project is useful to the prestige of the brand even if the profitability is lost in advance. After two prototypes required in 1996 for road homologation, Porsche realizes the 911 GT1 Strassenversion in 20 units which are sold to customers selected in advance by the brand.
This road legal model created high desires by its limited series, by its very high performance worthy of a winner of Le Mans and by the fact that it has never been offered new on the open market. A Strassenversion made in 1998 with less than 5,000 miles from new is for sale on March 10 by Gooding at Amelia Island, lot 042. Here is the link to the press release.
Its price is difficult to anticipate. A 1997 911 GT1 Evo competition car was sold for € 2,8M including premium by RM Sotheby's on May 14, 2016. Also keep in mind the $ 8.5M including premium recorded on August 17, 2013 by Gooding on a 1997 road legal McLaren F1 with less than 14,000 miles from new.
Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
2001 A Formula 1 Odyssey
2017 SOLD for $ 7.5M including premium
After being Formula 1 world champion with Benetton in 1994 and 1995, Michael Schumacher became Ferrari's star driver in 1996. At that time Ferrari entered a new model every year in the Grand Prix. In 2001 it was the F2001 characterized by a spectacular low nose.
An F2001 driven twice to victory by Schumacher will be sold by Sotheby's in New York on November 16, lot 55.
On May 27, 2001 it won the Monaco Grand Prix, giving Schumacher his fifth and last victory in this highly difficult competition but not reaching Ayrton Senna's record.
His victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 19 is even more important. While there are still four Grand Prix to finish the season, it ensures Schumacher his fourth title of Drivers' world champion and to Ferrari their eleventh title of Constructors' world champion. With this 51st victory Schumacher equaled the record of victories in Formula 1 Grand Prix held by Alain Prost since 1993.
Formula 1 cars do not reach similar high prices at auction as the endurance racing winning cars. A Ferrari F300 driven by Schumacher in 1998 fetched $ 1.87M including premium in January 2014 at Barrett-Jackson which is a great result in this category.
Sotheby's assisted by RM Sotheby's decided to enter the F2001 in the post-war and contemporary art evening auction with an estimate of $ 4M, which could revive the interest of collectors for this prestigious class of vehicles. Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
An F2001 driven twice to victory by Schumacher will be sold by Sotheby's in New York on November 16, lot 55.
On May 27, 2001 it won the Monaco Grand Prix, giving Schumacher his fifth and last victory in this highly difficult competition but not reaching Ayrton Senna's record.
His victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 19 is even more important. While there are still four Grand Prix to finish the season, it ensures Schumacher his fourth title of Drivers' world champion and to Ferrari their eleventh title of Constructors' world champion. With this 51st victory Schumacher equaled the record of victories in Formula 1 Grand Prix held by Alain Prost since 1993.
Formula 1 cars do not reach similar high prices at auction as the endurance racing winning cars. A Ferrari F300 driven by Schumacher in 1998 fetched $ 1.87M including premium in January 2014 at Barrett-Jackson which is a great result in this category.
Sotheby's assisted by RM Sotheby's decided to enter the F2001 in the post-war and contemporary art evening auction with an estimate of $ 4M, which could revive the interest of collectors for this prestigious class of vehicles. Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
2002 Michael Schumacher with Ferrari
2019 SOLD for $ 6.6M including premium
A two-time world champion with Benetton in 1994 and 1995, Michael Schumacher won his third and fourth championship in 2000 and 2001 with Ferrari. He won nine of the seventeen grand prix in 2000 with the F1-2000 model and nine of the seventeen grand prix in 2001 with the F2001 model. The F2001 with which he won in Monaco and Hungary was sold for $ 7.5M including premium by RM Sotheby's on November 16, 2017.
For 2002 Ferrari prepares the F2002. Inspired by the F2001, it is largely modified with a lighter body, a new specification of the V-10 3 liter engine and significant improvements in the gearbox, aerodynamics, cooling, balance of weights.
The development of the F2002 is a bit late. Schumacher drives an F2001 in the first two grand prix, winning one of them. For the fifteen grand prix of the rest of the season, he uses the F2002 with which he records ten victories. The same model brings four wins to his teammate Rubens Barrichello. The only failure of the F2002 in this phase is the Grand Prix of Monaco where Schumacher is 2nd behind a McLaren-Mercedes.
On November 30 in Abu Dhabi, RM Sotheby's sells an F2002, lot 117 estimated $ 5.5M. This car won the 2002 Grand Prix of San Marino, Austria and France. The victory at Magny-Cours secures Schumacher's World championship title with six races still remaining. Such dominance of a car model and a champion is unique in the history of Formula 1.
Please watch the video shared by the auction house. The image is shared by Wikimedia with attribution: I, SilverArrows [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
In the following year this model is already out of date. Schumacher still wins with a F2002 the fourth grand prix of that season which he will continue with the F2003-GA.
For 2002 Ferrari prepares the F2002. Inspired by the F2001, it is largely modified with a lighter body, a new specification of the V-10 3 liter engine and significant improvements in the gearbox, aerodynamics, cooling, balance of weights.
The development of the F2002 is a bit late. Schumacher drives an F2001 in the first two grand prix, winning one of them. For the fifteen grand prix of the rest of the season, he uses the F2002 with which he records ten victories. The same model brings four wins to his teammate Rubens Barrichello. The only failure of the F2002 in this phase is the Grand Prix of Monaco where Schumacher is 2nd behind a McLaren-Mercedes.
On November 30 in Abu Dhabi, RM Sotheby's sells an F2002, lot 117 estimated $ 5.5M. This car won the 2002 Grand Prix of San Marino, Austria and France. The victory at Magny-Cours secures Schumacher's World championship title with six races still remaining. Such dominance of a car model and a champion is unique in the history of Formula 1.
Please watch the video shared by the auction house. The image is shared by Wikimedia with attribution: I, SilverArrows [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
In the following year this model is already out of date. Schumacher still wins with a F2002 the fourth grand prix of that season which he will continue with the F2003-GA.
2005 Ferrari Enzo
2015 SOLD for $ 6M by RM Sotheby's
The Enzo reconnected Ferrari with the success in terms of high end sport berlinettas. It was built in 2003 in exactly 399 units, which was undeniably an invite to round the figure in a prestige operation.
The 400th Enzo was made in 2005 for being presented to Pope John Paul II. The Pope did not accept the car but desired that its proceeds are donated to the victims of a Southeast Asian tsunami. The final Enzo was sold at auction by Sotheby's for $ 1.27M on June 28, 2005 and the instructions of the then deceased Pope were executed by his successor.
Still with less than 200 km from new, the car was sold for $ 6M by RM Sotheby's on August 13, 2015, lot 103.
For later similar prestige operations, Ferrari preferred selecting the charities and going directly at auction. The final LaFerrari coupe was sold for $ 7M in 2016 for the reconstruction after the Italian earthquakes and the still unassembled final LaFerrari Aperta for € 8.3M in 2017 for the benefit of Save the Children charity. Both sales were managed jointly by RM Sotheby's and Ferrari without adding a buyer's premium.
The 400th Enzo was made in 2005 for being presented to Pope John Paul II. The Pope did not accept the car but desired that its proceeds are donated to the victims of a Southeast Asian tsunami. The final Enzo was sold at auction by Sotheby's for $ 1.27M on June 28, 2005 and the instructions of the then deceased Pope were executed by his successor.
Still with less than 200 km from new, the car was sold for $ 6M by RM Sotheby's on August 13, 2015, lot 103.
For later similar prestige operations, Ferrari preferred selecting the charities and going directly at auction. The final LaFerrari coupe was sold for $ 7M in 2016 for the reconstruction after the Italian earthquakes and the still unassembled final LaFerrari Aperta for € 8.3M in 2017 for the benefit of Save the Children charity. Both sales were managed jointly by RM Sotheby's and Ferrari without adding a buyer's premium.
