With only 6,500 miles on the clock, one of the most historically most important McLaren F1S that have ever been delivered to the USA is an auction. Chassis 062-a 1997 McLaren F1, which was originally sold to Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, is offered by RM Sotheby’s during the Monterey Car Week in August. It is one of only seven F1s that were officially brought to the USA when they are new through Ameritech, and one of only three originally shown for US streets from the factory.
A quiet life in California
This McLaren F1 has not spent his life between collectors or hiding place in a European vault. It has remained local. After Ellison took over the delivery in 1997, the San Francisco Bay Area remained over two other owners – all private individuals, all of whom are located in California. The location of the car has never changed, and its condition has not. It still bears its original magnesium silver color and has never been rejected or contradicted. The black leather in the leather with a gray driver’s use remains when the factory left.
BMW Power, McLaren Engineering
At the center of the F1 is the 6.1 liter BMW V12 designed by Paul Rosche. Known as S70/2, it produces 627 hp and speed up to 7,500 rpm. The F1 has held the record for the fastest production car for years – 391 km/h (243 miles per hour) – and is still the fastest, naturally sucked car that has ever been built. There are no turbos, no hybrid tricks and no gimmicks – only raw engineering from a time when performance was earned and not downloaded.
Service History, which actually means something
Low kilometers can be difficult. Some are garage queens with questionable maintenance, others are excessive and over -modified. Chassis 062 does the right balance. It was easily driven, but properly maintained. The car went through a full service in McLaren Philadelphia in 2024, including:
- A conversion of the transmission
- New tires
- A refreshment of the gold-foil heating in the engine compartment
The work was carried out by certified McLaren F1 technicians. The entire documentation is available and comes from the original invoice. It even comes with the tool kit, books, luggage and McLaren-Branded detail kit exhibited with factory.
Tasteful, functional updates
McLaren Special Operations gave the car some useful upgrades that do not create the original character:
- Better air conditioning
- Sports exhaust
- Improved radiator
- Fuelstank with aluminum
These changes make the car more usable without affecting its originality. The original magnesium bikes are still included, plus a second set in matt black.
Estimation: 23 million US dollars and higher
Most McLaren F1S have stories. Some have been repainted, converted, federal or driven. The story of Chassis 062 is simple. It was delivered to a top-class tech manager, kept in California and driven economically. This consistency counts. It was not exported, redesigned or redesigned. It is the type of car that tend to hunt the collectors – complicated, original and well documented.
RM Sotheby’s expected that the chassis 062 will be sold for over 23 million US dollars. It remains to be seen whether this number will meet, but the ingredients are there: US Delivery, low mileage, clean history and original condition. The auction ends on Saturday, August 16.
For everyone who follows the McLaren F1 market, this is the type of list that rarely occurs – and if this is the case, it tends to headlines.
