Gordon Murray S1 LM Sets New World Record with $20.63 Million Auction Sale in Las Vegas
Image: newspress.uk
Las Vegas, USA (24 November 2025) – Gordon Murray Special Vehicles (GMSV) has confirmed that the S1 LM supercar (Chassis #1) achieved a staggering $20,630,000 at auction in Las Vegas, establishing a new world record as the most expensive new car ever sold at auction (excluding charitable sales). The sale took place during the prestigious amfAR Gala Dinner held in partnership with the Las Vegas Formula One Grand Prix, marking a defining moment for both GMSV and the modern ultra-luxury supercar market.
A Dramatic Helicopter Arrival for “The Special One”
The S1 LM made an unforgettable entrance: suspended beneath a helicopter, flying into the Wynn Las Vegas venue before descending into the event space — a theatrical introduction befitting a supercar already known internally as “The Special One.”
This dramatic reveal set the tone for what would become one of the most significant new-car auctions in history.
The auction, held on 21 November 2025, ignited intense competition between in-room collectors and remote bidders worldwide. After a rapid series of escalating offers, the hammer fell at $20.63 million, a figure that will reverberate across the automotive and luxury sectors for years to come.
The Most Exclusive Customer Journey in the Automotive World
The winning bidder now embarks on what GMSV describes as “the most special customer journey” ever offered by the brand — a highly personal, multi-stage experience that goes far beyond traditional ownership. According to GMSV, the customer will receive:
Private specification sessions with Professor Gordon Murray CBE, directly influencing every detail of the car
Development drives with four-time IndyCar champion and three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, providing feedback that will shape the car’s final performance characteristics
Exclusive access to the GMSV engineering team, including participation in late-stage development work
A 500-page monograph documenting the design, creation and philosophy of the S1 LM, featuring original notes and sketches from Gordon Murray’s personal notebook
This level of involvement transforms ownership of the S1 LM into a deeply personal, co-creative process — something no other brand currently offers at this scale.
The Special One
Source: Gordon Murray Automotive Youtube
A Defining Moment for Gordon Murray Special Vehicles
Commenting on the record-breaking sale, Professor Gordon Murray CBE stated:
“This world record auction result is a defining moment for our entire team and for the automotive world. The S1 LM represents everything I have learned in six decades of design — a pure expression of driving perfection, engineering art, and a true return to beauty. To see it achieve this scale of appreciation is truly humbling.”
His words underscore the deeply personal nature of the S1 LM project, which he describes as a culmination of his lifetime achievements across Formula One, endurance racing, and road-car design.
The S1 LM: A Modern Homage to the McLaren F1 LM
Inspired by the legendary 1995 Le Mans-winning McLaren F1 GTR, the S1 LM is considered the most exclusive and emotionally charged creation ever produced by GMSV. Only five units will ever exist, each crafted as an uncompromising tribute to purity, lightweight engineering and mechanical artistry. Key highlights include:
A bespoke 4.3-litre V12 producing 720 PS at 12,100 rpm
A newly optimised six-speed manual gearbox
Race-inspired suspension tuned for road perfection
Ultra-lightweight carbon fibre body panels throughout
A distinctive Polish Carbon Fibre interior, hand-finished with artistic detailing
Every element of the S1 LM embodies Gordon Murray’s seven core principles:
Driving Perfection, Lightweight, Engineering Art, A Return to Beauty, Exclusivity, and The Customer Journey.
Monterey to Las Vegas: The S1 LM’s Journey
The S1 LM was unveiled during Monterey Car Week 2025, where GMSV announced that all five examples had been purchased by a single collector. Since then, details surrounding the remaining four chassis have remained confidential — increasing the mystique around the model and amplifying demand for the sole publicly auctioned car.
The new world-record sale now positions the S1 LM among the most valuable analogue-focused supercars ever created — surpassing even some of the most desirable modern hypercars in auction history.
A New Benchmark for Ultra-Exclusive Supercars
The $20.63 million result sets a new global benchmark, not only for Gordon Murray Special Vehicles but for the broader luxury automotive world. In an era dominated by electrification and hybridisation, the S1 LM — naturally aspirated, lightweight, mechanical, and analogue — proves that pure driver-centric engineering still holds extraordinary emotional and financial power.
This sale demonstrates a shift in the collector market:
the world’s most discerning buyers are now seeking authenticity, engineering purity, and direct involvement with the creators behind the cars they purchase.
Conclusion
With its theatrical helicopter arrival, fiercely contested bidding, and world-record hammer price, the Gordon Murray S1 LM has cemented itself as a modern icon.
It is more than a supercar — it is a manifestation of Gordon Murray’s philosophy, a celebration of uncompromised engineering, and a testament to the enduring appeal of analogue purity in a digital age.
The S1 LM’s $20.63 million sale will be remembered not only as a market milestone, but as a defining cultural moment for the next era of ultra-exclusive supercars.
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