McLaren F1's in NZ?

"#018 1994, 17th car built, Magnesium Silver. Beige Interior, Recently imported into New Zealand, ex Automobil Manufacture, Singapore. Has the "High Downforce" Package" - Wikipedia

and from quite a few years ago -

"Happier in a Beetle
Auckland: Sir Roger Bhatnagar may have plenty of money, but he would rather drive a yellow Volkswagen than the world's fastest production car.

The millionaire businessman has sold his McLaren F1 for $US800,000 ($NZ1.9 million), breaking the New Zealand record for a used road car sale.

Sir Roger, who made his fortune through the Noel Leeming appliance stores, owned the English supercar for "six years and 10 days" before selling it to a Californian billionaire this month.

"I never used it - the insurance was $25,000 a year," said Sir Roger, who bought the car for $2 million.

"I'm a little bit sad to see it go because there is nothing better than this car and it is a McLaren."

The F1 is one of the world's most expensive cars, and the fastest.

Powered by a 6.1-litre V12 BMW engine, it is capable of 370 kmh and can cover the standing kilometre in less than 20 seconds.

The driver sits in the middle, with his passengers slightly behind and on either side.

Production of the F1 ended in May 1998 after 100 cars had been made.

Sixty-four of them were similar to Sir Roger's but a number were modified for racing.

The businessman often appeared at charity events with the midnight blue car, although he rarely drove it on the road.

He has no plans to buy another supercar and is content to drive his bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle.

"You can't take money with you. You may as well enjoy it." - NZPA "

 

Doesn't someone from the Whitaker family (Whitaker's Peanut Slabs) have one too?

 

Must have been a while back - the US/NZ exchange rate is a bit different now...

 

i thought it was obvious? he owned a freakin mac f1

 

Noel Lemming
His F1 was shipped out to California years ago. Possibly pre-2000?

Whittaker chocolate does have one. not sure where its kept though. Maybe their place in Porirua?

 

yup mr whittaker has one. it is here in porirua. only seen it twice and he bought it ages ago. only takes it out when it needs a new warrant but other than that it just sits in the garage with all the other exotics. grey with the license plate "mcl f1"

 

MCLF1

errrr..... do you mean this one??
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That looks like a VIC plate not an NZ one?

McLaren is on the SEVS list but no one has RAWS for them, so I have no idea how that car got compliance and a VIC plate on it.

 

That car lives in East Melbourne.

 

THe original owner had it registered in NSW back in the day. The rules were different I guess.
Mind you, there WAS another one with a compliance plate here 18mths ago. Apparently McLaren themselves were involved.

 

Interesting.

One rule for the masses and one for those with the cash and contacts.

They say that nothing gets in unless it comes through a RAWS garage, but this obviously isnt the case. Last week I saw a current Saleen Mustang still LHD and with full VIC registration. How's that work.

The McLaren must have come in as a private import. Only way it could be done.

Scott, want one? I'll go live in the UK for a year and drive it around for ya then bring it home.

 

im sure that was the license plate. i'd try to find out but the guy lives in the rural area so it'd be a bit of a mission. prolly jst have to wait till it comes out again.

 

I think you might find that manufacturer involvement in the compliance changes the game in comparison to an individual.

Love a McLaren F1, always think of them as the absolute automotive nirvana. Maybe one day.

 

lolz that's why i had the 'errr' in front of it.

I know the car is based in Melbourne,

just sound too much of a coincidence that another grey mclaren with the same number plate MCLF1 in NZ lolz!

 

when the car was first brought in to the country like 12 years ago, it was registed in VIC, the same number plate been on since the very beginning. I assume there might have been a loophole or something in VIC back then that the car could be registered, considering that Dean Wills was based in Sydney, although the importer was based in Melbourne.

 

That is tdc911's pic!

 

Old thread I know, but here's only the second photo I have ever seen of the Whittaker F1 which is chassis #049. One important note about this car's registration - it is actually 'MCL FI' not 'MCL F1'. Currently F1 #018 which is also in New Zealand has the 'MCL F1' plate.

To clear up some additional confusion if it still remains, the other car pictured in this thread from Melbourne is F1 chassis #009 and has never been registered in New Zealand.

>8^)
ER
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Beautiful...

 

tat was BF's

 

totally agree and yep,one day,hey Scotty maybe if we pool and share??

 

It's got "3" seats.

 

Original owner was Dean Wills. BF is still the current owner as far as I know.

 

I think we missed the boat on this one mate. Huge $$$$$$$$$ increase since MM had them in stock.