McLaren hands historic F1 car sale to Tom Hartley Jnr

McLaren Racing has appointed Derbyshire dealer Tom Hartley Jnr to sell five historic Formula 1 cars, ranging from the 1991 Senna‑era MP4/6A to the 2023 MCL37A. The sale is being announced ahead of Car Dealer Live on 16 March 2027 and gives collectors a unique chance to acquire race‑driven machinery directly from the team.

Key takeaways

• Five McLaren F1 cars will be sold individually by Tom Hartley Jnr.
• Cars span 1991 to 2023 and include drivers such as Senna and Hamilton.
• McLaren wants the cars used rather than stored.
• No asking prices have been disclosed.
• Hartley will speak at Car Dealer Live 2027.

Cars on offer

The collection comprises two 1991 MP4/6A chassis 04 and 07, a 2012 MP4/27A chassis 01, the 2021 MCL35M chassis 01 in a special Gulf livery, and the 2023 MCL37A chassis 03. All cars have remained in McLaren’s custody since their final races and will be prepared by the manufacturer before delivery.

Each vehicle represents a distinct era of McLaren’s Grand Prix history, from the naturally aspirated Honda V12s driven by Ayrton Senna and Gerhard Berger to the recent turbo‑hybrid cars campaigned by Lando Norris.

McLaren’s reasoning

CEO Zak Brown said the team decided to sell because keeping the cars in storage would be a disservice to their heritage. He stressed the cars were built to be driven and that active use best preserves the brand’s history.

Brown added that McLaren chose Hartley because of his proven expertise in the Formula One collector market, citing his successful handling of the Bernie Ecclestone Grand Prix Collection.

Hartley’s role and market outlook

Hartley highlighted the rarity of acquiring race‑driven F1 cars directly from the manufacturer, making the offering particularly appealing to serious collectors. While each car will be marketed individually, he will not rule out a single buyer acquiring the entire set.

He believes the historic F1 market still has significant growth potential despite recent price increases, noting that the technology and innovation in F1 cars far exceed that of road cars.

Car Dealer Live 2027 connection

Hartley will be a headline speaker at Car Dealer Live on 16 March 2027 at the British Motor Museum, an event sponsored by Auto Trader. The programme will feature other industry figures, including former Peugeot CEO Linda Jackson, and will address trends relevant to both franchised and independent dealers.

What this means for dealers

Dealers with clients interested in high‑value collector cars now have a direct link to McLaren’s historic fleet, potentially expanding their service offering beyond standard used‑car sales. The lack of disclosed prices suggests flexibility for negotiation, but also underscores the need for specialised valuation expertise.

Hartley’s confidence in market growth indicates that dealers who cultivate relationships in the historic motorsport niche may benefit from future sales of similarly rare assets as manufacturers look to monetize heritage collections.

Frequently asked questions

Will the historic McLaren cars be sold as complete sets or individually?

The five cars will be offered individually, but Hartley has not ruled out a single buyer acquiring the entire collection, reflecting flexibility in the sale approach.

What support will McLaren provide to new owners?

All cars will be prepared by McLaren before delivery, ensuring they are in optimal condition and preserving the authenticity of the original race‑specification machinery.