Celebrity Cars

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

2017 Ford GT Tim Allen Barrett Jackson-3

By Khris Bharath – November 11, 2025

Tim Allen’s 2017 Ford GT Heads to Auction in January 2026

If you’ve ever wanted to own a Ford GT with Hollywood provenance, this may be your chance. This 2017 Ford GT, previously owned by actor/comedian Tim Allen (serial no. H074 and VIN: 2FAGP9CW3HH200074), is heading to Barrett-Jackson’s 2026 Scottsdale auction through Silver Arrow Cars Ltd. One of roughly 1,350 examples built, the car only has 937 original miles on the odometer. Tim took delivery of this GT through Galpin Ford in Los Angeles, one of the country’s top performance dealers. Finished in Ingot Silver with optional gloss carbon-fiber accents and matching 20-inch wheels, it’s fitted with a Heffner titanium exhaust, factory-protected paint film, and blue-finished calipers. Inside, carbon-backed Sparco seats trimmed in Alcantara match the “Dark Energy” theme. The cabin also includes a driver-adjustable pedal box, air conditioning, and a touchscreen infotainment unit, rare civility in such a hardcore machine. Ford engineered the third-generation GT to prove a point. Developed with the Chip Ganassi Racing program that took a class win at Le Mans in 2016, exactly 50 years after the historic win in 1966. It is as close as you can get to a race car with license plates. At its heart lies a 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 that produces 647 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a seven-speed Getrag dual-clutch gearbox, it launches from zero to 60 mph in three seconds and can hit 216 mph flat out. It can generate 1.11 g of lateral grip and stop from 70 mph in just 145 feet. Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes and lightweight carbon-fiber wheels keep it razor-sharp under pressure. The chassis is a carbon-fiber monocoque built by Multimatic in Canada, complete with FIA-legal roll cage sections hidden in the roof. The hydraulically controlled pushrod suspension tech is straight from endurance racing. The body’s teardrop profile, flying buttresses, and active rear wing manage airflow, cooling, and downforce. The GT sits just 43.7 inches tall, and if you switch into Track Mode, it drops another two inches. When new, Ford handpicked every owner through a private application process. Allen’s inclusion wasn’t a surprise given his racing history and long connection with Ford performance. Tim sold the car in October with 671 miles. The car was subsequently offered for sale by its second owner with 739 miles in 2022. Now, this low-mileage preserved GT with 937 miles is once again hitting the market with full documentation and accessories, and its original exhaust. For those who follow Ford’s history, this car connects decades of heritage from the GT40’s 1966 Le Mans triumph to the GT’s 2016 win. Expect Tim Allen’s GT to draw intense interest when it crosses the block this January; it’s a rare combination of technology, provenance, and American racing heritage. View Listing Images: Barrett-Jackson

By Edward Jones – May 17, 2022

Tim Allen's 2017 Ford GT Up For Auction

Presented by Sackey & Co. | Online Supercar Auctions. Sackey & Co. | Online Supercar Auctions is proud to present this stunning 2017 Ford GT serial no. H074 finished in factory Ingot Silver over a Dark Energy interior and just 739 miles from new. This Ford GT was ordered new and owned until late 2021 by Golden Globe-winning actor and comedian Tim Allen. This Ford GT is live now for online auction on Sackey & Co., with bidding to conclude on May 31st. Background on the latest iteration of the Ford GT: In 1901, automotive engineer Henry Ford and his 26-horsepower car “Sweepstakes” famously won a Detroit-area race against local favorite Alexander Winton in his 70-horsepower “Bullet,” a testament to the lightness & reliability of the car Ford had created. His win would attract the publicity and investors that allowed him to start the Ford Motor Company less than two years later in 1903. Over a century later, in 2014, Ford quietly developed a twin-turbocharged V6 unit for prototype class racing, pushing it to an eventual win at the 2015 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. The engine took advantage of similar benefits to the V6 power units recently introduced in Formula 1 at the time, including better packaging, weight, & fuel efficiency versus the larger engines previously used. The spirit of this engine evoked that used by Henry Ford in his original racing car - a focus on innovative engineering over traditional thinking. Casual observers believed Ford was simply experimenting with a new racing engine, but the company had bigger plans ahead. The ultimate use for the engine was revealed to be a new purpose-built Ford GT race car, which would have the incredible task of a return to Le Mans to recapture the glory of Ford’s 1966 Ferrari-beating 1-2-3 finish, 50 years later to the day in 2016. Amazingly, they succeeded in achieving their objective, beating Ferrari once more for a 1st place class win and writing one of the great sports car & racing stories of all time! The road-legal variant of the Le Mans-winning Ford GT was developed alongside the race version, borne as a required homologation effort and additionally as a gift to the Ford faithful, with only 1,350 total units planned. Completion of said production run is on-schedule to end in just a few months’ time, all allocations having been sold out. Built by Ford affiliate Multimatic, who are essentially to Ford what Michelotto is to Ferrari, each new Ford GT is hand-built to order. The car on offer here is a stunningly handsome celebrity-owned example of this incredible racecar turned Supercar. The Ford GT on offer: Ford GT serial no. H074 and VIN number 2FAGP9CW3HH200074 was specified new by Tim Allen and delivered to him via Galpin Ford in North Hills, CA. Tim Allen sold this Ford GT in October 2021 at 671 miles to the current (2nd) owner, and it is presented here in excellent near-new condition at 739 miles from new. H074 was built to an understated no-stripe specification, with a total MSRP of $485,500.00. Options applied to this GT are summarized as follows: • Exterior carbon fiber package in gloss finish at $15,000 cost.• Lightweight carbon fiber wheels in gloss finish at $15,000 cost.• Brake calipers in Blue at $1,000 cost.• Indoor car cover in black at $750 cost. The Ford GT is the only current Supercar that can lay claim to not only being truly hand-built, but to being directly based on a Le Mans-winning racecar. Modern Supercars with such iconic racing heritage as the ‘17+ Ford GT are few and far between, cementing the car as a certain future collectible classic. View Listing

By Edward Jones – June 23, 2021

Post Malone's New Ford GT is Ice Cold

Added to his already icy collection. Post Malone has added a stunning example of the Ford GT supercar to his collection. We've learned this from both his Instagram post and a video from The Stradman where he visits Post Malone's car collection at his house to buy a Lamborghini Urus. The new Ford GT is an excellent selection for his collection. Not only does the new GT look downright amazing, but it's also filled with technology and plenty of power. Its 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine pushed out a whopping 647 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque. That's enough power for the new GT to sprint from 0 to 60 in just around 2.9 seconds. His example features all of that, as well as a Frozen White exterior and a Dark Energy interior. If you'd like a Ford GT of your own, click the button below to see what's for sale. See Post Malones Car Collection See All Ford GTs For Sale https://www.instagram.com/p/CQcQYLnM910/?utm_medium=copy_link Source: @postmalone/Instagram

By Andrew Nabors – August 31, 2020

How Ferrari Connoisseur David Lee Convinced Ford to Sell ...

For everyone that has the means to purchase Ford's latest supercar, they must endure a stringent vetting process to be accepted. Not only must you have a history of owning significant Fords from the past, your social media accounts and morality will also be scrutinized. A video submission and essay go a long way at being accepted, but what if your garage is full of Scuderia Shields? This is how Ferrari connoisseur David Lee convinced Ford to sell him a new GT. An Interview With Magnus Walker on the 45 Years of Boost Still reeling from the success of Ford vs. Ferrari, Mr. Lee's incredible social media following @ferraricollector_davidlee/ would be a great way to showcase the latest Ford GT Carbon. Ford could not pass up the opportunity to have their blue oval in the center of his garage, so he was given the red carpet treatment. A team of Ford Performance concierges delivered the car and spent over an hour explaining the car's systems and the reasoning behind them. It is a win-win, as David adds diversity to his collection while Ford Performance receives an incredible endorsement from Ferrari's biggest fan. Thank you Mr. Lee for sharing this video, and stay with us for all your celebrity car news. " width="680">

By Edward Jones – November 15, 2018

Graham Rahal's Debuts His Purple Ford GT

Graham Rahal, the IndyCar race car driver, is not one to shy away from sharing his latest automotive purchases. His most recent acquisition seems to be one of his best looking yet, a purple Ford GT. Rahal unveiled the car on his Instagram, where he thank's Ford in the description for allowing him to "have some fun with this." By fun, I'm assuming he means the wild purple paint, which he thanked Axalta Racing for helping with. The purple paint is incredibly vibrant and is one of the prettiest shades of the color I've seen on a car (don't worry Lambo Thirty, you're still my favorite). Rahal's Ford GT is just one of the many cars he owns. He's owned a bright green Porsche 918 Spyder, Acura NSX, Ferrari F12tdf and a wicked purple Porsche 911 GT2 RS, just to name a few. Be sure to click those links to check them all out. And I'll end this with a congrats to Rahal for making this GT a reality and gracing the world with its purple presence! https://www.instagram.com/p/BqLYnHBFhZI/ Feature Image via Instagram

By Andrew Nabors – October 18, 2018

John Cena's Ford GT Sells Big at Mecum Dallas

If you weren't at Mecum's Dallas auction, you missed out on the deal of a lifetime. Back in 2017, John Cena purchased a new Ford GT, but he decided to part ways with only 626 miles on the odometer. Ford's Purchase Agreement included a clause reserving the first right of refusal, but some crafty legal work allowed this to be the only pre-owned late model available for public sale.John Cena Says He did Nothing Wrong in Selling Ford GTCar #77 is blue with silver calipers, along with a black/carbon fiber interior. The celebrity status along with making headlines around the world allowed Dana Mecum & Company to drop the hammer at $1,320,000. We hope the new owner puts some real mileage on it to properly break-in the engine. Forced induction requires tight tolerances to make the most of the twin turbos. Therefore, you shouldn't baby it, no cruise control or Sunday driving for the 1st 1,000 miles. If the new owner is reading this, I will be happy to assist you in this process. If you are curious how this impacts the value of previous Ford GTs, click the link below and stay with us for all your Mecum updates. View Ford GT For Sale Ford GT Specs Related Video:

By Andrew Nabors – September 24, 2018

John Cena's 2017 Ford GT Being Auctioned, Again

Unlike anything in their past, Ford selects who can purchase a new GT. The 647 horsepower LeMans winner has put Ford back on top, so they want to protect the image of the car. If your application was not accepted, there is only 1 pre-owned Ford GT on the market. Originally purchased by John Cena, car #77 is en route to Mecum's Dallas auction.The twin-turbo V6 is 3.5-liters and it makes 550 lb-ft of torque. Built to win races, it has a body of carbon fiber with and integrated roll cage. Multimatic's DSSV suspensions ride on spool valves for the street, and it drops 2" on to torsion bars for the ultimate track grip.We didn't believe our friend Mr. Cena would fit in the racing-inspired cockpit, but we're sure he was just making room for something new in his collection. So if you want a Ford GT and a celebrity car, be sure to register now. Mecum Dallas starts October 3rd and runs until the 6th, so be sure to tune in on their Youtube streams and stay with us for complete coverage.Click Here To View Listing

By Edward Jones – June 25, 2018

Kurt Busch Shows Off His Ford GT

When Kurt Busch isn't racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, he seems to be spending time driving more cars. He recently uploaded some shots of his new Ford GT that had been wrapped and ready for the goldRushRally GRX event onto his Instagram account.His GT is covered in a black and green wrap that highlights one of his main NASCAR sponsors, Monster Energy. It's a pretty mean looking GT that blends rally and NASCAR styling.View 2018 Ford GT Specs As for his car of choice, it makes sense when you consider Ford is one of his sponsors. The GT itself is powered by an Ecoboost 3.5-liter 6 engine that produces 647 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque. That's a solid amount from a six-cylinder engine, and I'm sure Busch will use all of that power during the rally.Ford GTs for Sale

By Edward Jones – June 20, 2018

John Cena Settles Ford GT Lawsuit

In December 2017 we covered Ford suing John Cena over the resale of his new Ford GT. The American automaker said that this sale was unauthorized and went against the original contract signed when purchasing the car. Cena then rebutted saying he did nothing wrong.Now, thanks to a statement from Cena's law firm sent to Jalopnik, the case seems to have been settled out of court. According to this statement, the resale restriction put in place was indeed part of the contract. The restriction says all original owners need to keep their GT for 24 months before reselling the vehicle. Cena recognizes this in the statement and apologizes to Ford and says others should respect the contract.Ford GTs for SaleThe resolution of the settlement is actually a pretty good one, with the proceeds from the settlement being donated to charity. However, the amount of money handed over in the settlement was undisclosed.View Ford GT Specs and Review Here

By Edward Jones – June 18, 2018

Ford GT Carries Driver's Wheelchair

Jason Watt was once an up and coming race car driver in the mid to late 1990's. During 1999, he was promoted to the main Super Nova Racing squad in the International Formula 3000 championship. During his time in the squad, he managed to win twice and become the runner-up to the championship. Unfortunately, his racing dreams were dashed during the off-season in 1999 when he was involved in a motorcycle accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Because Watt's passion is everything cars, his injury hasn't held him back from the joys of driving fast cars. Although, he did use the best traffic attorneys to help him with each traffic ticket and points they took from his drivers license, and was even accused with a criminal case, so he went and got criminal defence lawyers to treat his case. Traffic lawyers understand that anyone on the roads can find themselves charged with an offence. They fight hard for all of our clients and understand that a charge does not mean you are guilty. On his Instagram account, he has posted up images of his new Ford GT that's specially equipped for him. Inside is a driving setup that allows him to drive the American supercar without having to use his feet. What's even more interesting is the fact that he can carry his wheelchair on top of the GT, thanks to the application of very strong suction cups. Now that's ingenuity. Hennessey Performance Goes 0-180 mph in Ford GT https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj-nCmgFW9i/ See the 2018 Ford GT Prices & Specs

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