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| Rowan Atkinson with his beloved McLaren F1 |
Not many people know that Rowan Atkinson, forever famous for his legendry portrayal of Mr. Bean is a dedicated car enthusiast. Here is a memorable story involving his McLaren F1.
Atkinson bought a new McLaren F1 in 1997 for £540,000. Unlike many other supercar owners, he used his McLaren F1 extensively, cloaking 41,000 miles over 17 years, using it for everyday tasks, even school runs.
In 2011, Atkinson was involved in a high-profile crash with the F1 during a rainstorm, in which he lost control of the car and crashed into a tree.
The car suffered extensive damage and caught fire, but Atkinson walked away relatively unharmed. This resulted in the largest single car insurance payout in British history at that time, with repairs costing nearly £1 million.
After the crash, McLaren Special Operations restored the car to its original condition, showcasing the car's value and the company's restoration capabilities.
Later Atkinson sold the car in 2015 for £8 million, making a £7.5 million profit, even after using it so much – talk about profitable venture.
Rowan Atkinson has a deep interest in various types of cars, holds a heavy vehicle driving license, and has contributed to car magazines. His garage has included vehicles like the Honda NSX and Aston Martin V8 Zagato, highlighting his passion for both performance and practicality.
The McLaren F1 is celebrated for its innovative design, engineering, and performance, being one of the first supercars with such attributes. By luck, Atkinson sold the car at a time when it had become a valuable asset. Though his initial purchase was certainly being driven by his love of the car itself rather than any investment potential.
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