On November 21, 2025, RM Sotheby’s will offer the Gordon Murray Special Vehicles S1 LM at the Wynn Las Vegas, an unrepeatable opportunity to own a machine representing six decades of design mastery from one of automotive’s greatest minds.
The S1 LM is a modern reimagining of the McLaren F1 LM, a car that holds an almost mythological place in automotive lore. The original McLaren F1, designed by Gordon Murray and launched in 1993, fundamentally redefined what a supercar could be with its groundbreaking carbon fiber monocoque construction, distinctive three-seat layout, and 627-horsepower BMW V12 engine. The F1’s legendary status was sealed at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the F1 GTR won outright – a triumph that occurred on Gordon Murray’s 47th birthday. To commemorate this achievement, McLaren produced just five road-going F1 LM examples, vehicles now regarded as the most desirable evolution of the entire F1 production run.
Three decades later, the S1 LM stands as Gordon Murray’s definitive statement on that Le Mans victory. Unveiled at the 2025 The Quail during Monterey Car Week, the car was commissioned by an avid collector with an ambitious mandate: create something honoring the 30th anniversary of that legendary victory while pushing beyond everything Murray had previously accomplished.
Design and Engineering Excellence
The S1 LM combines aggressive purposefulness with sculptural elegance. Developed in partnership with designer Florian Flatau and representing the first GMA project to undergo traditional clay modeling, the car features dramatic carbon fiber bodywork with a pronounced coke-bottle profile and elegantly narrowed center to minimize visual mass. Sections of bodywork are left in exposed Naked Polish Carbon Fiber form, celebrating the material’s inherent beauty while saving every possible gram of weight.
At the car’s heart beats a bespoke 4.3L naturally aspirated V12 developed exclusively with Cosworth, representing a substantial displacement increase from the engine in Murray’s T.50. This high-revving masterpiece develops over 700 horsepower at 12,100 rpm and 501 Nm of torque, with 81 percent of maximum torque available as low as 2,500 rpm, ensuring genuine drivability and performance at all times. The engine features silicon carbide-coated lightweight pistons, titanium valves, titanium connecting rods, and a dry-sump lubrication system typical of competition machinery.
The engine breathes through a comprehensively reworked inlet system with distinctive cam covers machined and laser-etched with S1 LM graphics, visible through a clear lightweight polycarbonate engine cover. Exhaust gases are expelled through a lightweight four-pipe Inconel exhaust system wrapped in 18-karat gold heat shielding – a direct visual reference to the McLaren F1’s iconic tailpipe design – which reduces temperatures by 20 percent compared to conventional materials.
The S1 LM pairs this engine exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox, representing Gordon Murray’s unwavering commitment to driver engagement and mechanical purity. The transmission combines the gearbox case from the T.50s Niki Lauda variant with modified internals, enabling super-short, crisp, rifle-bolt throws that heighten driver engagement.
Lightweight Chassis Architecture
Development required extensive re-engineering of the chassis architecture, most significantly the removal of the central spine architecture that characterized earlier GMA designs, allowing for a lower, sleeker roofline that improves airflow and downforce. The modified carbon fiber monocoque was lowered, lightened, and strategically reinforced to deliver exceptional rigidity and structural precision.
Weight reduction has been pursued with obsessive dedication throughout every component. Body panels feature ultra-thin carbon fiber production techniques that produce six-tenths of a millimeter thick weave, maintaining exceptional strength while eliminating unnecessary mass. The target weight for the S1 LM is approximately 957 kilograms (2,110 pounds), making it extraordinarily light by modern supercar standards.
Artistry
Gordon Murray’s obsession with perfection extends into individual details that elevate the S1 LM beyond a mere feat of engineering. At the center of the bespoke shift knob lies a rare quartz crystal sourced from select regions of Pakistan, containing tiny pockets of oil trapped millions of years ago and cut like a precious gemstone into a droplet shape. This jewel-like element symbolizes purity and purpose, serving as a tangible representation of the S1 LM’s commitment to naturally aspirated performance at a time when the industry moves toward hybrid and electric powertrains.
The engine bay becomes a gallery of mechanical artistry, with a single large engine lid hinged at the roof that opens to reveal an inner layer of gold-leaf heat shielding and what Murray describes as a theatre of exquisite mechanical components on full view – engineering as visual art.
Personal Significance to Gordon Murray
For Gordon Murray, the S1 LM carries profound significance that transcends engineering excellence. The car was designed while Murray was undergoing cancer treatment, a challenging chapter in his life. Yet he has acknowledged that this project proved instrumental in helping him endure that period. Now in remission, Murray regards the S1 LM as a source of resilience and personal triumph, a narrative that infuses this car with a soul that sets it apart from the often impersonal world of high-end automotive design.
Unparalleled Ownership Experience
The S1 LM being offered represents Chassis Number 001 of only five examples that will be built, ensuring extreme rarity that honors the heritage of the original F1 LM. The estimated value exceeds $20,000,000, positioning it among the most significant automotive sales in contemporary history.
The winning bidder will enter into an unprecedented ownership experience far better than just buying a finished automobile. Instead, the new owner will participate in the final development process for their specific vehicle, working collaboratively with the Gordon Murray Special Vehicles team and receiving extensive interaction with Dario Franchitti, the four-time IndyCar champion who serves as Executive Product and Brand Director. The owner will also have personal time with Gordon Murray himself to refine every aspect of the driving experience.
The buyer will receive an exquisite 500-page monograph featuring stunning photography, detailed specifications, copies of original sketches, and handwritten notes from Gordon Murray’s personal notebook, a glimpse into the creative process of one of automotive design’s most celebrated minds.
Six Decades Culminating in One Day
The Gordon Murray S1 LM represents a culmination of six decades of design philosophy, a personal triumph over adversity, and a final statement about automotive excellence at a time when purity and mechanical integrity are increasingly rare. On November 21, 2025, this unrepeatable opportunity will cross the auction block at RM Sotheby’s, Las Vegas, offering one exceptional individual the chance to embark on an extraordinary journey that few in the world will ever experience.