A remarkable collection of 20 McLaren road cars, mostly unused and previously owned by the late Formula One team co-owner Mansour Ojjeh, is being offered for sale. The hope is that a single affluent buyer might acquire the entire collection.
Classic and historic car specialist Tom Hartley Jnr announced on Sunday that Ojjeh`s family has entrusted him with managing the sale, which is anticipated to exceed $70 million.
Earlier this year, Hartley also facilitated the sale of a significant collection of 69 historic Grand Prix and Formula One cars belonging to former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, which was acquired by Red Bull heir Mark Mateschitz.
A highlight of Ojjeh`s collection is the very last McLaren F1 produced. This particular car features a unique `Yquem` paint colour, later officially renamed `Mansour Orange` by McLaren, and shows just over 1,800 km on its odometer.
Production of the iconic McLaren F1 sports car ran from 1992 to 1998, with only 106 examples ever built. A 1995 model with less than 390 km previously sold for $20.4 million at a 2021 auction in Pebble Beach, California.
Notably, all other vehicles in this collection are finished in the same signature orange colour and represent the final chassis produced for each respective model.
With the exception of the F1 and a P1 GTR, the remaining cars are entirely unused, having been meticulously maintained by McLaren itself. Images showed the vehicles displayed at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, commented in a statement: “Mansour was a foundational figure for McLaren as it stands today.”
Brown described Ojjeh as “a hugely passionate racer and automotive enthusiast, and the biggest fan of McLaren there could be.” He added, “His collection is truly exceptional; I know of nothing else comparable,” noting that he himself possesses a significant car collection.
Ojjeh, a Saudi businessman born in Paris, took over from his father as CEO of Techniques d’Avant Garde (TAG). TAG notably sponsored the Williams F1 team starting in 1979.
He later acquired an ownership stake in McLaren in 1984. TAG`s funding supported the development of the TAG-Porsche engines, which powered McLaren to two Constructors` Championships and three Drivers` Championships.
Ojjeh, who passed away in 2021 at 68, was instrumental in the launch of McLaren Automotive alongside Ron Dennis.
Hartley commented on the significance of the opportunity, stating, “Being entrusted with the sale of Mansour Ojjeh’s McLaren collection feels comparable to handling Enzo Ferrari’s personal Ferraris or Ferdinand Porsche’s Porsches.”
He described it as “the most important McLaren road car collection ever put together,” expressing a strong hope that “it will be acquired by a single buyer.”
