Iconic car brand McLaren started its journey back in 1960 when Bruce McLaren decided to launch his own racing team. Throughout the years it has developed from being more than just a racing team but also on to manufacturing. And, more specifically, manufacturing of the some of the world’s most advanced and fastest supercars. The brand’s worldwide acclaim also rests on the principles within which they operate, namely engineering excellence, commitment to innovation as well as attention to detail.
Auctioning of a historical legacy
A unique collection of 20 barely used McLaren Road cars that belonged to the Formula One team’s late co-owner Mansour Ojjeh is being put up for sale, with hopes one very wealthy buyer might keep it together. Classic and historic car dealer Tom Hartley Jnr announced on Sunday he had been appointed by Ojjeh’s family to handle the sale, which could fetch more than $70 million.
Hartley also oversaw the sale earlier this year of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s collection of 69 historic grand prix and Formula One racers to Red Bull heir Mark Mateschitz. Australian billionaire Mark Mateschitz owns 49% of the energy drink company Red Bull GmbH. The company was founded by his father, Dietrich Mateschitz. Forbes estimated the net worth of Mateschitz to be approximately $39.6 billion as in 2024.
A remarkable collection built-up by a remarkable individual
Ojjeh’s collection includes the very last model of the McLaren F1 to be built, finished in a unique ‘Yquem’ color that was subsequently renamed ‘Mansour Orange’ by McLaren, and which has just over 1,800km on the clock. Only 106 of the McLaren F1 sportscars were made between 1992 and 1998 and a 1995 one that had done less than 390km sold for $20.4 million in a 2021 auction at Pebble Beach, California.
All the other cars are in the same orange color, and all are the final chassis made of each model. Apart from the F1 and a P1 GTR, the cars are all unused and have been maintained by the manufacturer. Accompanying photographs showed them displayed at the Bahrain F1 circuit. McLaren Racing chief executive Zak Brown said in a statement:
“Mansour was a founding father of McLaren as we know it today.”
Driving McLaren on into the future
Zak Brown also did his fair share of professionally racing worldwide. After ten years he switched his focus in the motorsport environment to that of the commercial and business side of things.
“A massively passionate racer and automotive enthusiast and no bigger fan of McLaren. His collection is very special, I’m not aware of anything else that compares with it,”
added the American, who has his own impressive collection of cars.
Ojjeh, a Paris-born Saudi businessman, succeeded his father as CEO of Techniques d’Avant Garde (TAG) and sponsored the Williams F1 team in 1979. He then took an ownership stake in McLaren in 1984, financing the development of TAG-Porsche engines that won two constructors’ titles and three drivers’ championships. Ojjeh, who died in 2021 at the age of 68, was a key figure in launching McLaren Automotive with Ron Dennis.
“Being entrusted with the sale of Mansour Ojjeh’s McLaren collection is akin to handling Enzo Ferrari’s Ferraris or Ferdinand Porsche’s Porsches,” said Hartley. “This is the most significant McLaren Road car collection ever assembled, and I sincerely hope it is acquired by a single buyer.” McLaren has always been legendary, not only on the racetrack, but also in the small pieces of unique history that make up their story, as can be seen from the above. With the future still wide open for this dynamic brand, it would be interesting to see what we can expect. The upcoming Formula 1 season will also definitely be one to keep an eye on to see how this well-loved team will be fairing.