The McLaren F1 could be considered the greatest supercar ever and with just 106 examples ever produced, of which just 64 are street models, it is also one of the rarest.
Very few people have had the opportunity to drive the F1, but Tiff Needell is one of them. In fact, the veteran automotive journalist has driven a handful of F1s over the years and one of his reviews in the car, filmed back in 2002 for Fifth Gear, was recently re-shared on YouTube.
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Needell first had the opportunity to test the F1 both on the road and on the track in 1992 shortly after it was revealed. In this test from 2002, he jumped behind the wheel of a particularly special example with the optional high rear wing and footage of him sliding around a circuit is truly a sight to behold.
When Needell had his first turn behind the wheel of the F1, it was priced at £634,500 when new, but prices for the most iconic of supercars have skyrocketed in recent years, so much so that used examples are now worth more than $20 million. There is no other supercar that has gained so much value in so little time.
One of the key factors in why the F1 is so loved is its engine. McLaren didn’t build the 6.1-liter naturally-aspirated V12 engine in-house and instead, it was produced by BMW and pumped out 618 hp when new while weighing just 266 kg (585 lbs). Then there’s Gordon Murray’s obsession with keeping the weight as low as possible, the unique central driving position, the high-speed record… The list is long and distinguished, which might help explain the amount of money the F1 commands.
