Broad Arrow Private Sales has found a new home for a 1995 McLaren F1, chassis no. 053. This is one of the most significant modern collector cars to trade hands in recent memory. Originally delivered to prominent Japanese racing figure Kazumichi Goh, the car boasts fully documented provenance, further adding to its desirability.
Chassis no. 053 is one of only two McLaren F1 road cars finished in striking Marlboro White. The car’s attractive and unique interior features dark blue/grey leather with pierced blue/grey Alcantara cloth central panels for the passenger seats, while the central driver’s seat is entirely covered in light blue Alcantara.
In May 1992 at Le Sporting Club Monaco, the McLaren F1 redefined the supercar genre upon its unveiling. Built around a carbon fiber monocoque—a world first for a production road car—and powered by a bespoke 6.1-liter BMW Motorsport V12 engine, the F1 delivered 627 horsepower and a power-to-weight ratio of 550 horsepower per ton. Its unique central driving position, gold-lined engine bay, and no-compromise approach to performance and driver engagement set new standards that remain unmatched to this day. Limited to just 106 examples across all variants, only 64 were built as standard road cars, making them the most revered and sought after supercar of the modern era.
Specification
This superlative example of the F1, chassis number 053, was ordered on 31 March 1995, and assigned production sequence 044. Assembly began on 28 July 1995, with the car being officially delivered “ex-works” on 27 November 1995, showing just 193 kilometers on the odometer. The original purchaser was Kazumichi Goh, the Japanese businessman behind Team Goh, which would go on to win the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) in 1996 with a pair of McLaren F1 GTRs sponsored by Philip Morris cigarette brand Lark.
Chassis 053 featured a highly distinctive specification highlighted by its Marlboro White exterior finish—one of only two F1 road cars to wear this color. The cabin was finished with a unique blue-themed interior featuring dark blue/grey leather with pierced blue/grey Alcantara cloth central panels for the passenger seats, while the central driver’s seat was entirely covered in light blue Alcantara. This bespoke specification was completed with blue Wilton carpet, light blue Alcantara headlining, and an optional black suede steering wheel. The car was also delivered with a matching bespoke luggage set in dark grey leather with a blue Alcantara strip carrying the embossed chassis number. Factory driver settings were configured with the steering wheel at height position A (highest), pedals at position C (long), reach at position A (near), clutch foot rest at position D (extra long), and standard seat with extra long rails.
Tools
In 2004, chassis 053 was purchased by another Japanese collector. By late 2006, the car showed just 432 kilometers when it was sold by WHA Corporation of Nagoya, Japan, to dealer SPS Automotive Ltd. (Hong Kong) on 28 November. The car subsequently came to Europe in 2007 when it was acquired by dealer Lukas Huni AG in Switzerland on behalf of a European client with a recorded mileage of 482 kilometers. On 14 March 2014, chassis 053 was sold via Morris & Welford to collector in the United States. During this ownership, the car spent time in both the U.S. and U.K., and the mileage had increased to 1,108 kilometers. On 16 November 2016, the car was acquired by its next long-term European owner via McLaren Special Operations in Woking and subsequently registered in the U.K.
With just 1,291 kilometers recorded from new, chassis 053 represents one of the lowest-mileage and most original McLaren F1 road cars in existence. Add comprehensive documentation, a complete set of factory tools, owner’s manuals, and bespoke fitted luggage and this is an unparalleled example of Gordon Murray’s masterpiece. Maintained throughout its life without regard to cost and exclusively serviced by McLaren Special Operations, this McLaren F1 arrives with its new owner as the ultimate modern collector car in true museum-quality condition.
The mystery remains as to who bought the car and how much it cost. Broad Arrow Private Sales did not disclose the transaction price, but industry experts suggest values for similar examples easily reach into the tens of millions, reflecting the enduring appeal of McLaren’s groundbreaking supercar.
See also: Broad Arrow Auctions $9.5m Ferrari
