GORDON MURRAY S1 LM FETCHES $20.63M, BECOMES MOST EXPENSIVE NEW CAR AT AUCTION
The Gordon Murray Automotive S1 LM became the most expensive new car ever sold at auction when it changed hands for $20.63 million at the RM Sotheby's Las Vegas sale, edging past every modern hypercar before it. The result reflects a rare mix: one of only five examples planned, a design that openly celebrates Gordon Murray's 1995 Le Mans-winning McLaren F1 GTR, and a naturally aspirated V12 built for the purest possible driving experience. For collectors, the S1 LM is both an investment-grade rarity and a piece of motorsport history.
Why did the Gordon Murray S1 LM sell for $20.63 million?
The headline price was driven by scarcity and provenance. Gordon Murray Special Vehicles, the bespoke arm behind the project, plans just five cars, and the lot offered at auction carried the symbolic first build slot. The buyer does not simply collect a finished machine: the commission includes a personal design process with Gordon Murray himself, turning the purchase into a once-in-a-lifetime ownership experience. When you combine that exclusivity with one of the most celebrated names in modern car design, the record-setting hammer price starts to make sense.
What makes the GMA S1 LM special?
At the heart of the car sits a 4.3-liter V12 paired with a lightweight carbon-fiber body, a recipe that channels the spirit of classic endurance racers rather than chasing turbocharged headline figures. The handcrafted detailing emphasizes bespoke craftsmanship over mass production, and the design language pays direct tribute to Murray's 1995 Le Mans triumph. The result is a car defined by character, sound, and feel, the qualities that serious collectors prize. For more on the engineering philosophy, the team shares the project background on the Gordon Murray Special Vehicles website.
How the GMSV S1 LM auction compares
The sale, covered in detail by RM Sotheby's and analyzed by Hagerty, set the benchmark for new-car auctions and prompted fresh debate about where the modern hypercar market is heading. With so few examples built, each S1 LM carries outsized significance for provenance and resale, and the result has renewed interest in Gordon Murray's broader design legacy, from the original McLaren F1 to today's bespoke commissions.
Collect the world's rarest hypercars
If the S1 LM speaks to your taste for V12-powered, design-led machines, explore the full TheArsenale car collection, a curated selection of hypercars and collector cars. Standout pieces include the F1-inspired Delage D12 hypercar, the V16 quad-turbo Devel Sixteen, the Italian coachbuilt Frangivento Asfane Diecidieci, and the electric Nitid Trinity hypercar. Each one offers the same blend of rarity and engineering ambition that pushed the S1 LM to record territory.
Photo: Gordon Murray Special Vehicles
