One-of-a-Kind Gordon Murray S1 LM Sells for a Record $20 Million at Auction

The very first Gordon Murray Special Vehicles S1 LM was sold on November 21 in Las Vegas for an astonishing $20,630,000—setting a new benchmark for the highest price ever achieved by a new car at auction, with charity sales excluded from the tally.

Its arrival at the event was nothing short of theatrical. The car was flown in by helicopter for the amfAR gala, held in partnership with the Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix. Suspended beneath the aircraft, the S1 LM was lowered onto the grounds of Wynn Las Vegas in full view of the crowd.

Bidding unfolded between collectors attending the gala and remote participants dialing in from around the globe. After an intense back-and-forth, the hammer fell at a record-setting figure.

The winning bidder will get far more than just the car. They’ll have the opportunity to sit down with Gordon Murray himself to personalize their S1 LM, and even join four-time IndyCar champion and three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti for on-track evaluation sessions to fine-tune the car’s performance.

The buyer also gains exclusive access to the GMSV team and the rare chance to contribute directly to the creation of this singular machine. Along with the car, the new owner receives a 500-page monograph chronicling the development of the S1 LM, complete with original sketches and notes from Murray’s own notebooks.

Named in homage to the legendary McLaren F1 LM, the S1 LM stands as the first and most exclusive project from Gordon Murray Special Vehicles. Only five will exist. Under its ultra-light carbon-fiber skin sits a bespoke 4.3-liter V12 producing 720 hp at a screaming 12,100 rpm, matched to a specially tuned six-speed manual and race-inspired suspension. The cabin features polished carbon fiber and one-off details designed specifically for this series.

“S1 LM represents everything I’ve learned over six decades of design—pure driving perfection, engineering craftsmanship, and a true return to beauty. To see it appreciated on this scale is incredibly moving,” Murray said.

GMSV first unveiled the S1 LM during Monterey Car Week in August, announcing then that all five examples had already been purchased by a single buyer. Aside from the headline-making Las Vegas sale, no information has been released about the remaining four cars or their future owners.