On August 28, 2025, the world of automotive collecting witnessed a historic moment: the sale of the late Mansour Ojjeh’s 20-car McLaren collection to a single, anonymous buyer. The transaction, orchestrated by renowned classic car dealer Tom Hartley Jnr, has been hailed by industry insiders and enthusiasts alike as one of the most significant private sales in supercar history. The sale not only cements Ojjeh’s place as one of McLaren’s most influential figures but also ensures his meticulously curated legacy will endure, intact, under new stewardship.
For decades, Mansour Ojjeh—a French-Saudi billionaire, former CEO of the TAG Group, and pivotal McLaren shareholder—dedicated himself to assembling what many now consider the most comprehensive collection of McLaren supercars ever gathered. According to Reuters, the collection is comprised of models that span McLaren’s modern road car era, each representing the final chassis of its respective line. The crown jewel, without question, is the last McLaren F1 ever built, finished in a bespoke shade originally named "Yquem" and later renamed "Mansour Orange" in Ojjeh’s honor. This F1, with its legendary BMW-sourced V12 engine producing 618 horsepower and a 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 3.2 seconds, is widely regarded as one of the greatest cars ever produced.
The collection’s provenance is exceptional. Nearly all of the vehicles—ranging from the 1998 F1 and the 2023 Elva to multiple unicorn-grade Senna variants, a P1 GTR, Speedtail, Sabre, and even a Magnesium Silver F1 once owned by Oracle founder Larry Ellison—remain in near-factory condition. As Robb Report notes, only two of the cars have ever been driven: the F1, which shows about 1,100 miles on the odometer, and a P1 GTR that saw track use (the latter even chauffeured Ojjeh’s children around by none other than Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton). The rest are preserved as if time stood still, a testament to both Ojjeh’s vision and his reverence for McLaren’s engineering prowess.
But what truly sets this sale apart isn’t just the cars themselves—it’s the philosophy behind the transaction. Despite receiving multiple world-record offers for individual vehicles, especially for the F1 (which, according to industry experts cited by Motorious, could have fetched upwards of $23 million on its own), both the Ojjeh family and Hartley insisted that the collection be sold as a single, cohesive ensemble. "This is not just a sale – it is the important and respectful transfer of a legacy," Hartley explained. "The Mansour Ojjeh collection represents the very best of what McLaren stands for—innovation, individuality, quality, and excellence."
The decision to keep the collection together was not taken lightly. As Hartley described it on Instagram, it was “one legendary collection, one historic sale.” The approach, he said, was the only way to properly honor Ojjeh’s memory and vision. The sale price, while undisclosed, is estimated by industry insiders to be in the tens of millions of dollars—a figure that underscores both the rarity of the vehicles and the strength of the high-end collector market, even amid broader economic uncertainties.
Ojjeh’s influence on McLaren cannot be overstated. His involvement with the brand began after a serendipitous meeting with then-McLaren CEO Ron Dennis and designer Gordon Murray following the 1988 Italian Grand Prix. It was during a flight delay that the trio agreed to embark on the ambitious project that would become the McLaren F1, a car that would set new benchmarks for road car performance and design. Ojjeh’s financial backing, particularly through the TAG Group, was instrumental in McLaren’s Formula 1 success, including the development of the TAG-Porsche engines that powered the team to multiple world championships.
Beyond racing, Ojjeh was a driving force behind the creation of McLaren Automotive, helping transform the company into a byword for cutting-edge engineering and design. His passion for automotive excellence is reflected in every detail of the collection. Most of the cars are finished in the now-iconic Mansour Orange, a color that has become inseparable from his legacy. The attention to detail extends to the rare Magnesium Silver McLaren F1, one of just seven officially imported into the United States and originally delivered to Larry Ellison. This particular F1 features unique upgrades—aluminum fuel tanks, a sports exhaust, modern air conditioning, and fresh tires—making it a standout even among legends.
Preserving the collection’s integrity was paramount. According to The Drive, the cars remained under McLaren’s direct care from Ojjeh’s passing in June 2021 until the sale in June 2025, ensuring they were maintained to the highest standards. The sale itself follows another headline-making transaction handled by Hartley earlier in 2025: the transfer of Bernie Ecclestone’s 69-car Formula 1 collection to Mark Mateschitz, son of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, for a reported $675 million. While the Ojjeh collection’s price tag is lower, its significance as a tribute to a single man’s vision and passion is arguably unmatched.
Industry observers see the sale as a bellwether for the rare car market. As Reuters reports, demand for hypercars and iconic supercars remains robust, with collectors viewing these vehicles as both passion projects and solid investments. The McLaren brand, in particular, holds a special place in the hearts of enthusiasts and investors alike. The sale of the Ojjeh collection, with its emphasis on preservation and legacy, sets a new standard for how such treasures might be handled in the future.
For now, the identity of the new owner remains a closely guarded secret. What’s clear, however, is that they have acquired not just a fleet of rare automobiles, but a living piece of automotive history—a collection that tells the story of Mansour Ojjeh’s unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and the spirit of McLaren. As Hartley put it, "The important and respectful transfer of a legacy" is precisely what has transpired. The world will be watching to see what comes next for this unparalleled assembly of automotive art.
