The actor, famous for his role as Mr. Bean, purchased the legendary 1997 McLaren F1 for around $810,000. Unlike many owners who treat the car as a prized collector’s item, Atkinson drove it extensively, logging over 40,000 miles.
His ownership was marked by two major crashes, the latter so severe it caused the car to catch fire and broke his shoulder. Repairing the carbon fibre-bodied machine cost over $1.4 million, one of the largest insurance payouts recorded in Britain at the time. The repairs took roughly two years, painstakingly restoring the iconic vehicle to its former glory.
Despite the crashes and high mileage, Atkinson held onto the car for 18 years, thoroughly enjoying the mix of raw performance and engineering brilliance. Eventually, in 2015, he sold the McLaren through a private dealership for about $12 million. This remarkable sale netted him a profit of approximately $11.3 million a staggering return for a car that had been driven hard and repaired twice.
Atkinson reflected that he bought the car for its extraordinary engineering and design, not just its investment potential. The McLaren F1’s value skyrocketed thanks to its rarity and status as a milestone in automotive history. Interestingly, Atkinson also chose to sell it because the car attracted too much attention, conflicting with his low-key lifestyle.
