Gordon Murray’s S1 LM is the World’s Most Expensive Car at USD20.6 Million

At an auction at the amfAR event at Wynn Las Vegas, a very special car went under the hammer. When the auctioneer struck his gavel and declared “Sold”, the bidding had closed at a staggering US$20.6 million (Rs 184 Crore approximately). Begs the question, what makes a car worth more than a Grand Prix-winning F1 car driven by one of the sport’s greatest icons?

We could give you several answers to that question, but we’ll start with a name. Gordon Murray. Any car nut worth his salt not only knows the name but also deeply respects the creator of the fearsome and utterly revolutionary McLaren F1 – the fastest production car in the world until the Bugatti Veyron spoiled the party. The car in question is Chassis #1 of the S1 LM or The Special One, and is the first supercar produced by Murray’s Special Vehicles Division.

The British driver-centric supercar brand confirmed that the record-breaking sale of the final chassis from its ultra-exclusive five-car production run set a new benchmark as the most expensive new car ever sold at auction (excluding charitable sales). The final price? A whopping US$20,630,000 (over INR 18.37 crore)!

With a name that recalls Gordon Murray’s legendary McLaren F1 LM, the S1 LM is the first and most exclusive creation from Gordon Murray Special Vehicles. Just five examples will be built, each a masterpiece of lightweight engineering and timeless design. Each is designed to evoke the styling of the legendary 1995 Le Mans-winning McLaren F1 GTR. Power comes from a bespoke 4.3-litre V12 engine producing 720 HP at 12,100 rpm.  There is also a newly optimised six-speed manual gearbox, a custom-built Inconel exhaust system, and 18-carat gold foil heat shielding. The suspension is race-inspired but perfected for the realities of the road, and the all-new body of this stunning supercar is constructed from ultra-lightweight carbon fibre panels with naked polish carbon fibre interiors to match. Every element of the S1 LM embodies Murray’s seven principles – driving perfection, lightweight, engineering art, a return to beauty, exclusivity, and the customer journey.

The auction itself saw fierce bidding unfolded between collectors present at the gala and remote bidders around the globe, culminating in the record-breaking hammer price that will resonate across the luxury and automotive worlds.

The winning bidder now embarks on an utterly unique experience that includes personal specification sessions with Murray himself shaping every detail of their bespoke S1 LM, development drives alongside four-time IndyCar champion and three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, contributing feedback to optimise performance, exclusive access to the GMSV team, including participation in final vehicle development, the opportunity to contribute to the artistry and engineering behind the special car.

This customer journey is complemented by a unique 500-page monograph chronicling the S1 LM’s creation, including original sketches and notes from Gordon Murray’s own design notebook. If that isn’t candyland for a supercar enthusiast, we don’t know what is.

“This world record auction result is a defining moment for our entire team and for the automotive world. The S1 LM represents everything I have learned in six decades of design – a pure expression of driving perfection, engineering art, and a true return to beauty. To see it achieve this scale of appreciation is truly humbling,” said Gordon Murray, after the auction.