F1
2013 starts with a bombshell. As you know I am trying to build a great sports car collection.
The brief is simple, each car must be fantastic to drive and each car must be an investment, or at least, doesn't lose money.
Some of them, I am not sure if they are of interest to Rennteamers but they range from 205 GTI 1.9 to some very exotic machinery from the 60s.
By the way, the 205 is a cracker, one of the bets cars I've ever driven in $ for pleasure, seriously. Best 7000 euros ever spent.
But we're talking monunents here. I wanted to own the supercar for each decade since the 80s.
The 80s was easy, the 288 GTO. Probably the best looking car ever made, undervalued althoug lately they have enormously increased. The F40 was a clear candidate too but they made too many and somehow it lacked the beauty of the GTO but it's iconic nonetheless, so following MKSGR's advice I went out and got one. Pretty good investment it seems too.
The noughties, the Carrera GT. Driving in its purest form. A noise to die for. Better looking than the Enzo IMO and the Paganis too. I bought it in 2008 for £239k and they've been going up every since, very slowly I'll grant you that but they don't seem to be going down (Porsche made too many).
The tennies, well they just started so let's wait and see, but looks like it will be an amazing battle between the Ferrari, the 918, the P1, the one-77, the Hayurawahwah so exciting indeed but too early to tell obviously.
Which leaves us with the 90s. Well it's easy isn't it? You could actually call it the best sports car of all time. The Mclaren F1.
Finding an F1 has proved rather tidious and long. They aren't many and on two occasions where I was that close to buying one, I always told myself, no they can't have gone up that much in value, surely, this doesn't make sense, but they did.
So here goes, I went nuts and acquired a Mclaren F1 GTR, chassis 005. 
005 has a very interesting history. It's the only F1 art car, painted by french artist Cesar. In pictures I wasnt' too sure but in real, she looks magnificent! (I love art car BTW. BMW M3 GT2 by Jeff Koons, yes please!!!)
This car competed the 24h of Le Mans in 1995, the year the Uono clinic one won the general followed by the GTR Harrods. 005 finished 13th I think So that's great for historic value.
Initially I wanted a road car, knowing it has two major critics, the brakes and its chassis, a bit on a supple side. Well the GTR answered those issues, it's a race car, so it stops and it handles.
005 was converted two years ago to road spec by GTR experts Dean Lanzante, so yes gentlemen, I WILL drive this car on the road!
Currently awaiting a new set of tyres and some dry weather in the UK and off I go.
The specs are just ridiculous. Unrestricted the BMW V12 (probably the 8th wonder of the world) is good for 680 hp and the car's kerb weight is....
1050 kgs
Oh yes. Ooooooh, YES!
No ABS, no traction control. The car has been adjusted for road use so better steering rack although I suspect not great.
The interior is beyond gorgeous. I own many racecars and racecars are not meant to be beautifully finished, but the GTR is on a different planet. Carbonfibre EVERYWHERE!
The downside? Well, the GTRs needed the space on the right hand side for fire extinguishers, fuses and relays so sadly 005 is only a two seater, but the central seating position is bang on. The clutch is light but the gear lever extremely hard and with very little lateral movement.
I fired up the engine and I had en erection. Enough said.
The car is so loud that it has a radio system to talk to your passenger.
Pics to follow and driving impressions as soon as those bloody tyres arrive.
In the meantime check out that video and turn up the volume to 10!
http://www.artcurial.com/fr/actualite/video/2010/le-mans-classic/mclaren-f1-gtr.asp
- when is the open house tour ? 
it must have cost you a fortune !
I actually had the opportunity to acquire that car at the Artcurial auction at Le Mans Classic in 2010 and thought, no they want to much for it. Definitly a bet on the future value of F1, but I reckon that, long term, they're only going one way, up. Just 100 made or so. Iconic car. BPR revival being launched this year which will definitely drive the values of the GTRs up.
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