1996 McLaren F1 GTR "Pop Art"What's the greatest supercar of all time? There's a strong argument for the McLaren F1. McLaren's first road car was designed by F1 technical genius Gordon Murray, was the fastest production car of its day, and won the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans despite not being designed to race. And if you're looking for the ultimate McLaren F1, this just might be it.One of the featured lots at RM Sotheby's 2026 Monterey Car Week auction happening August 15, this 1996 McLaren F1 GTR is known as the "Pop Art F1" because of its oh-so-1990s livery. The one-off graphical treatment takes this car from rare (just nine 1996 GTR models were built) to unique, and it's had a celebrity owner to boot. That's probably why the auctioneer quotes a value "in excess of $35 million." That's a lot even for an F1, which is already a five-figure car in pretty much any spec.The GTR was the race-ready version of the F1 developed at the behest of customers and in contravention of Murray's vision of the F1 as a pure road car. Relatively minor changes, including carbon-ceramic brakes, a fixed rear wing, and general light-weighting, were enough to nab that 1995 Le Mans win. McLaren made further upgrades for 1996, including modified bodywork with a larger front splitter, further weight reduction, and a reinforced gearbox that addressed the biggest weakness of the 1995 car.RM Sotheby'sThese upgrades wouldn't be enough to keep the F1 GTR competitive against purpose-built race cars like the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR and Porsche 911 GT1, leading McLaren to launch the more radical F1 GTR Longtail in 1997. In the meantime, the first 1996-spec GTR—chassis 10R—would achieve its own kind of fame on and off the track.AdvertisementAdvertisementAs the first of its kind, chassis 10R was initially kept by McLaren for testing and promotional duties. It went to the 1996 Le Mans race for testing (but didn't participate in the race itself) in Blood Red paint with graphite wheels, but for the rest of its public appearances it wore the livery you see here, making it one of the most recognizable examples of a car that already tends to make a strong impression.RM Sotheby'sThe car was eventually sold to Pink Floyd drummer and car collector Nick Mason, who had it maintained by F1 specialist firm Lanzante. The company's stewardship includes regular maintenance throughout Mason's ownership and a full restoration completed in 2009 after a journalist crashed it. Mason had an off of his own in 2017, but considering Lanzante's experience with the F1, chassis 10R could not have been in better hands. That, along with the distinctive livery, celebrity ownership, and rare spec, are why this F1 GTR might be among the most expensive of its kind.Got a tip? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com
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