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The Ultimate McLaren Collection Goes to Auction: Inside Mansour Ojjeh’s Automotive Legacy
July 21, 2025 at 4:00 AM
by Richard Jarocki
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For supercar collectors, Formula 1 purists, and ultra-high-net-worth investors, few names hold the weight that Mansour Ojjeh does in the world of motorsport and automotive culture. The late Saudi-French billionaire and principal figure behind TAG Group wasn’t just a shareholder in McLaren—he helped shape the destiny of the brand itself. Now, his pristine and ultra-rare McLaren collection is being auctioned, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors to own a true piece of automotive history.

Why Mansour Ojjeh's Collection Matters

Mansour Ojjeh passed away in 2021, but his legacy in motorsport and luxury engineering remains unmatched. Through TAG Group, he funded the creation of the TAG-Porsche turbo engines that powered McLaren to Formula 1 dominance in the 1980s, with legends like Alain Prost and Niki Lauda behind the wheel. He was also a close confidant of Ron Dennis and played a pivotal role in McLaren’s road car ambitions.

This collection isn’t just a lineup of McLarens—it’s a curated history of McLaren’s evolution, each vehicle personally ordered or commissioned by Ojjeh. They aren’t just rare—they are bespoke, with details you won’t find on any other chassis.

📍 Learn more about McLaren's legacy in Formula 1

What’s Included in the Mansour Ojjeh McLaren Auction?

Hosted by RM Sotheby’s, the auction features seven McLaren models from Ojjeh’s personal collection. The headliner? An ultra-rare McLaren F1—arguably the most sought-after road car in the world.

🔥 Featured Cars from the Collection:

1. McLaren F1 (Chassis #043)

  • One of just 64 road cars ever built.
  • Custom-ordered by Ojjeh with a one-of-a-kind blue metallic exterior and tan interior.
  • Only 16,400 miles on the odometer.
  • Expected to fetch $20–25 million+, potentially breaking existing records.

👉 More about the McLaren F1’s legendary design

2. McLaren P1

  • Finished in a bespoke livery with unique carbon-fiber accents.
  • One of the defining hypercars of the modern era.
  • Combines a twin-turbo V8 with a hybrid powertrain for over 900 horsepower.

3. McLaren Elva

  • One of fewer than 150 units produced globally.
  • Roofless, windshield-free design—a raw, track-ready collector’s dream.
  • Rarely seen in private ownership.

4. McLaren Speedtail

  • McLaren’s fastest-ever road car with a top speed of 250 mph.
  • Inspired by the original F1’s three-seat layout.
  • Fewer than 106 ever made.

5. McLaren 675LT Spider

  • Track-focused, lightweight performance.
  • Just 500 units built worldwide.
  • Ojjeh’s car was specified with unique interior detailing and exposed carbon trim.

6. McLaren Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss

  • While not technically a McLaren-branded product, it’s a joint masterpiece from Mercedes and McLaren.
  • One of 75 units built.
  • No roof, no windshield, just pure speed and exclusivity.

Why This Auction Is a Big Deal

This is not your average hypercar sale. For collectors and investors, provenance is the holy grail—and this auction delivers it in spades. These cars weren’t just purchased off the showroom floor. They were often developed in tandem with McLaren leadership, reflecting Ojjeh’s insider access and personal relationships with McLaren designers and engineers.

Each model represents a chapter in McLaren’s evolution, from the analog perfection of the F1 to the futuristic minimalism of the Speedtail.

“Owning a McLaren from Mansour Ojjeh’s garage isn’t just owning a car—it’s owning a moment in racing and design history.”

🧠 For context, Ojjeh's F1 has the same historical weight as a Ferrari 250 GTO or Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic—only it comes with modern usability and global cult status.

The Collector's Angle: Investment-Grade Icons

Rare McLarens have become investment-grade assets, outperforming many traditional financial instruments over the past two decades. The McLaren F1, in particular, has seen a meteoric rise in value:

  • In 2015: Average sale price was ~$10 million
  • In 2023: One sold for $20.5 million
  • In 2025: This Ojjeh-owned F1 is expected to push above $25 million

💡 Why Collectors Are Watching Closely:

  • Provenance boost: Tied directly to one of McLaren’s owners
  • Unrepeatable specs: Custom colors, low mileage, original documentation
  • Cultural capital: These cars grant entry into events like Villa d’Este, The Quail, and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

📊 Explore classic car market trends via Hagerty

The Symbolism: McLaren’s Road Car Dynasty

McLaren’s road car division, launched in earnest with the original F1 in the 1990s, has since blossomed into a key arm of the brand’s identity. With Ojjeh’s help, McLaren carved out a distinct niche:

  • Tech-forward design language
  • Minimalistic driver-focused interiors
  • Formula 1-derived engineering

The P1, Elva, and Speedtail represent not only technological benchmarks but also milestones in luxury performance philosophy.

📚 McLaren Automotive official site

Who’s Bidding?

The buyer pool for these types of vehicles includes:

  • UHNW individuals from the U.S., UAE, and Europe
  • Collectors seeking “last-of-the-line” ICE hypercars
  • Investors hedging with hard assets
  • Museums and private concours collections

Luxury car brokers and collectors suggest some will be museum-bound, while others may return to private climate-controlled garages, driven only sparingly to maintain value.

Timing Is Everything

This auction couldn’t come at a more pivotal time for collectible supercars:

  • The market is transitioning away from internal combustion, making ICE hypercars more valuable.
  • Wealth creation in regions like the Middle East and Asia has added new buyers to the mix.
  • Provenance-heavy cars are outperforming general classic markets.

In other words, Ojjeh’s collection isn’t just for sale—it’s perfectly timed for peak desirability.

The Legacy of TAG and Mansour Ojjeh

Founded in the 1970s, TAG (Techniques d’Avant Garde) was more than just a corporate holding company. Under Ojjeh’s leadership, TAG:

  • Sponsored McLaren during its golden years
  • Created TAG Heuer as a luxury timekeeping brand
  • Helped design the TAG-Porsche turbo engine
  • Pushed innovation in both motorsport and consumer tech

The fact that Mansour was part of McLaren’s board until his passing underscores the insider access that makes this collection so incredibly rare.

🔗 Learn more about Mansour Ojjeh’s life and legacy

Final Thoughts: More Than Metal and Carbon Fiber

To call this just a car auction is to miss the point. This is a transfer of legacy, a moment when Formula 1 history, luxury lifestyle, and collectible investment intersect. Whether you're a billionaire investor, a concours curator, or a passionate McLaren devotee, Ojjeh’s collection represents the pinnacle of passion-driven ownership.

These aren’t just hypercars. They are:

  • Works of industrial art
  • Pinnacles of engineering
  • Tangible fragments of one of F1’s most storied dynasties

If you’re in the market, the auction isn’t just an opportunity—it’s a challenge. Can you become the next custodian of this elite automotive legacy?

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