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Sold - the world’s most expensive new car!
First Gordon Murray Special Vehicles S1 LM sells at Las Vegas auction for record breaking $20m
Words by: Dan Trent
Published on 24 November 2025 | 0 min read
Laying down a $20m bid for a car flying over the Las Vegas skyline suspended under a helicopter has to be the very definition of high-roller living. But the Gordon Murray Special Vehicles S1 LM is no ordinary car. The very name – S1 – means ‘special one’, for starters. And at a special event held over the F1 weekend in Vegas it just became the most expensive new car ever sold at auction, charitable sales aside.
But who is Gordon Murray, and why would someone be willing to pay such an extraordinary amount of money to own a car built by him and his talented Surrey-based team? If you know you know and all that, but for those who don’t a (very) quick history lesson!
But who is Gordon Murray, and why would someone be willing to pay such an extraordinary amount of money to own a car built by him and his talented Surrey-based team? If you know you know and all that, but for those who don’t a (very) quick history lesson!
As a celebrated racing engineer, Murray made his name building F1 cars for Brabham and McLaren in the 1980s, his innovative designs winning races and championships galore. After stepping back from F1 in 1990 he built a road car for McLaren … called the F1. It was, and remains, an extraordinary achievement, the obsessive engineering, lightweight construction and proven 200mph-plus performance making a mockery of anything Ferrari, Lamborghini or anyone else was doing at the time. Just 106 were made and now command huge prices when they come up for sale.
More recently, and under his own name, Murray has reimagined the F1’s screaming V12 engine, carbon fibre construction and signature central driving position for the T.50, since joined by the relatively more conventional T.33. Already exclusive, these have formed the basis for the S1 LM and S1 GTR revealed back in August.
More recently, and under his own name, Murray has reimagined the F1’s screaming V12 engine, carbon fibre construction and signature central driving position for the T.50, since joined by the relatively more conventional T.33. Already exclusive, these have formed the basis for the S1 LM and S1 GTR revealed back in August.
Like the original F1 LM that inspired it, just five S1 LMs will be built, each custom configured with the build process personally supervised by Gordon Murray every step of the way. Somewhat incredibly all five build slots were acquired by the same unnamed individual, one of which was made available for this auction and the winning bidder to see through to completion and eventual ownership.
They’ll be getting one hell of a car, the S1 LM’s design clearly influenced by the original F1 while benefitting from some of the technical advances that have come in the 30 years since it first landed. These include an incredible custom-made 4.3-litre V12 engine developing 720 horsepower at over 12,000rpm for a driving experience as close to Murray’s legendary championship-winning F1 cars as you can get on the road. The build process will be recorded in a one-off book to cherish along with the car, this including notes and sketches from Murray himself. Worth $20m? You’ll have to ask the lucky individual who’s just paid that once they get their car delivered!
They’ll be getting one hell of a car, the S1 LM’s design clearly influenced by the original F1 while benefitting from some of the technical advances that have come in the 30 years since it first landed. These include an incredible custom-made 4.3-litre V12 engine developing 720 horsepower at over 12,000rpm for a driving experience as close to Murray’s legendary championship-winning F1 cars as you can get on the road. The build process will be recorded in a one-off book to cherish along with the car, this including notes and sketches from Murray himself. Worth $20m? You’ll have to ask the lucky individual who’s just paid that once they get their car delivered!
