McLaren F1 GTR expected to fetch $3 Million at auction

McLaren F1 GTR
Over a decade since a inception, a McLaren F1 stays one of a fastest supercars ever made, and as such, a rarely desired collectors' item. The race-spec McLaren F1 GTR, even some-more so. But a McLaren F1 GTR art car? Now we're talking.

Those in a know might be familiar with BMW's art automobile project. Started in a 1970s, a Bavarian automaker began commissioning eminent artists to make make use of of their cars as canvas and transform them into rolling functions of art. Many of them - in actuality most of them - were raced in a 24 Hours of Le Mans after their vernissage, true by to a M3 GT2 painted by Jeff Koons which BMW campaigned during this year's race.

Looking during this McLaren racer, we might think to yourself, "Wait a second, that's not a BMW!" But just stop right there, because while this might not have been part of BMW's central art automobile program, a McLaren F1 was powered by BMW engines, and even perceived a magnitude of factory support. Chassis #5 was acquired by French lady race horse Jean-Luc Maury-Laribiére, who campaigned it during Le Mans in 1994. The following year, noted French artist César gave a automobile a suitably Giger-esque paint job.

Gallery: McLaren F1 GTR art automobile


Now it's headed to a auction block - along with a handful of Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Aston Martins - where it is expected to fetch in between dual and two-and-a-half million euros (about $2.5-3 million) during a hands of Artcurial Motors upon Jul 9 during a Le Mans Classic. If your French is up to speed, we can check out a sum in a press recover after a jump, though a images in a art studio next require no translation.