The McLaren F1 emerged from what might be the most consequential airport delay in automotive history. In 1988, following the Italian Grand Prix, TAG-McLaren Group executives Ron Dennis and Mansour Ojjeh found themselves stranded at Linate Airport alongside McLaren's Technical Director Gordon Murray and head of marketing Creighton Brown. Their conversation turned to creating the ultimate road car—not just another supercar, but in Dennis's words, “...the finest sports car the world had ever seen.”

In May 1992 at Le Sporting Club Monaco, the McLaren F1 redefined the supercar genre upon its unveiling. Built around a carbon fiber monocoque—a world first for a production road car—and powered by a bespoke 6.1-liter BMW Motorsport V12 engine, the F1 delivered 627 horsepower and a power-to-weight ratio of 550 horsepower per ton. Its unique central driving position, gold-lined engine bay, and no-compromise approach to performance and driver engagement set new standards that remain unmatched to this day. Limited to just 106 examples across all variants, only 64 were built as standard road cars, making them the most revered and sought after supercar of the modern era.

This superlative example of the F1, chassis number 053, was ordered on 31 March 1995, and assigned production sequence 044. Assembly began on 28 July 1995, with the car being officially delivered “ex-works” on 27 November 1995, showing just 193 kilometers on the odometer. The original purchaser was Kazumichi Goh, the Japanese businessman behind Team Goh, which would go on to win the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) in 1996 with a pair of McLaren F1 GTRs sponsored by Philip Morris cigarette brand Lark.

Chassis 053 featured a highly distinctive specification highlighted by its Marlboro White exterior finish—one of only two F1 road cars to wear this color. The cabin was finished with a unique blue-themed interior featuring dark blue/grey leather with pierced blue/grey Alcantara cloth central panels for the passenger seats, while the central driver's seat was entirely covered in light blue Alcantara. This bespoke specification was completed with blue Wilton carpet, light blue Alcantara headlining, and an optional black suede steering wheel. The car was also delivered with a matching bespoke luggage set in dark grey leather with a blue Alcantara strip carrying the embossed chassis number. Factory driver settings were configured with the steering wheel at height position A (highest), pedals at position C (long), reach at position A (near), clutch foot rest at position D (extra long), and standard seat with extra long rails.

In 2004, chassis 053 was purchased by another Japanese collector. By late 2006, the car showed just 432 kilometers when it was sold by WHA Corporation of Nagoya, Japan, to dealer SPS Automotive Ltd. (Hong Kong) on 28 November. The car subsequently came to Europe in 2007 when it was acquired by dealer Lukas Huni AG in Switzerland on behalf of a European client with a recorded mileage of 482 kilometers. On 14 March 2014, chassis 053 was sold via Morris & Welford to collector in the United States. During this ownership, the car spent time in both the U.S. and U.K., and the mileage had increased to 1,108 kilometers. On 16 November 2016, the car was acquired by its next long-term European owner via McLaren Special Operations in Woking and subsequently registered in the U.K. with the appropriate license plate "53 MCL."

Throughout its life, chassis 053 has been meticulously maintained by McLaren Special Operations. The service book records regular maintenance with all work completed at McLaren's Woking headquarters on December 12, 2006 (481 kilometers), 14 June 2010 (998 kilometers), 25 October 2016 (1,185 kilometers), 24 April 2018 (1,238 kilometers), and most recently on 12 November 2024 (1,290 kilometers). In July 2021, the car received a comprehensive fuel cell service at McLaren Special Operations totaling £52,061.55 (excluding VAT), which included £31,624.50 in labor charges and £15,472.74 for the fuel cell unit itself. A covering letter from McLaren Heritage Manager Thomas Reinhold noted the return of a "favourite F1" to MSO, an F1 that also "drives extremely well."

Further work was carried out in November 2021, including replacement of various pipes, fittings, suspension rose-joints and bushes, plus a new water pump at a cost of £23,992.05 (excluding VAT). Most recently, the car returned to MSO in late 2024 for a “3 Year Life Items” service, during which the steering wheel battery, instrument binnacle battery, key fob battery, air conditioning receiver dryer, engine oil and filters, gearbox oil, and coolant were all replaced. The car also underwent a full suspension set-up and headlamp alignment at a cost of £4,861.10 (excluding VAT). Heritage Manager Michael Wrigley's covering email following this most recent service summed up the car's exceptional condition: "It's a truly lovely example so there is very little of note to comment on!"

With just 1,291 kilometers recorded from new, chassis 053 represents one of the lowest mileage and most original McLaren F1 road cars in existence. Its unique color combination, low mileage, comprehensive documentation, complete set of factory tools, owner's manuals, and fitted luggage make it an unparalleled example of Gordon Murray's masterpiece. Maintained throughout its life without regard to cost and exclusively serviced by McLaren Special Operations, this McLaren F1 offers its next custodian the opportunity to acquire the ultimate modern collector car in truly museum-quality condition.