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McLaren F1 Once Owned By Oracle Founder Wants New Owner - Record-Breaking Bid Expected
Monterey Car Week is set to begin on the 8th of August and this year's RM Sotheby's auction looks set to break records once again. The spotlight of RM Sotheby's Monterey 2025 auction is on a McLaren F1, chassis 062, estimated to go under the hammer at $23 million.
Finished in its original Magnesium Silver and fitted with black leather interior, this example has spent its entire life in California, logging just under 6,500 miles. Delivered new to Oracle co‑founder Larry Ellison in August 1997, it later passed through two additional Bay Area collectors-all the while remaining in near‑factory specification and California‑legal trim.
McLaren F1: The Supercar Benchmark
When the Gordon Murray-designed McLaren F1 debuted in 1992, it rewrote the rulebook for road cars. Its central driving position, carbon-fibre tub and 6.1 L BMW‑built V12 (approximately 627 hp) combined to create the fastest naturally aspirated production car ever conceived.
In 1998, an F1 even recorded a top speed of 391 km/h (242.9 mph), a benchmark that still stands today for normally aspirated vehicles. Renowned for its purity-virtually no electronic aids-the F1 earned the sobriquet "Car of the Century," and all 106 examples, including race variants, have since become objects of intense collector desire.
McLaren F1 Chassis 062's Heritage & History
Chassis 062's provenance reads like Silicon Valley lore. Registered to Larry Ellison upon delivery, it wore a custom "ORACLE8" plate and accumulated only about 2,600 miles under his ownership in and around the San Francisco Bay Area.
In 2005, it was sold to a second enthusiast in the same area, then changed hands again at auction in 2010 with roughly 3,500 miles on the clock. Remarkably, it never ventured outside Northern California, preserving its original alignment, finish and mechanical specification.
Under the care of McLaren Special Operations (MSO), chassis 062 has remained exceptionally well-maintained. It retains its original magnesium wheels (with a spare set included) and comes complete with both its factory exhaust and a period‑correct sports exhaust.
MSO‑installed enhancements over the years include upgraded radiators, an improved air‑conditioning system and conversion from flexible fuel bladders to aluminium fuel tanks.
A full service in October 2023 by McLaren Philadelphia included a transmission rebuild, replacement of twelve spark plugs, fitting new tires, repair of engine‑bay heat shielding and battery renewal. A late‑2024 on‑site air‑conditioning overhaul and a March 2025 specialist inspection further affirm its excellent condition.
Mclaren F1 Auction Outlook
As lot R0001 at Monterey, chassis 062 carries an ambitious $23 million pre‑sale estimate-well above any previous F1 auction result. The current record for a naturally aspirated McLaren F1 stands at $20.46 million (chassis 029, Pebble Beach 2021).
Given its low mileage, three‐owner history and continuous factory support, experts anticipate that this F1 could shatter that benchmark and set a new high‐water mark for automotive auctions.
DriveSpark Thinks
Nearly three decades on, chassis 062 offers a rare blend of original purity and documented care. Its unbroken California lineage, coupled with meticulous MSO maintenance, makes it a standout among hypercar collectors looking for the McLaren F1.
Whether it ultimately reaches-or exceeds-its $23 million estimate, this McLaren F1 will remain one of the unicorns of the automotive world. Hopefully, the new owner will put a few more miles on it instead of letting it become another garage queen.
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