The spiritual successor to the McLaren F1, the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 combines three decades of lessons learned from the McLaren F1 alongside cutting edge technology and performance to make for what is undoubtably the most exciting driver’s car produced thus far into the 21st century.

In a time of ever increasing weight and footprint in the automotive world, the T.50 is a refreshing return to form and the pursuit of lightness. Boasting a footprint equivalent to that of a contemporary Porsche Boxster, it tips the scales at just 997 kilograms. A fanatical approach to weight saving was used, with the T.50 offering everything a 21st century driver needs, and nothing they don’t.

Like the McLaren F1, at the T.50’s heart is a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre V-12 engine, this developed by Cosworth specifically for use in the T.50. Producing 661 bhp, the engine weighs just 178 kg in keeping with the T.50’s featherweight ethos. Yet it boasts a phenomenal pickup speed, capable of 28,400 revs a second. Howling to 12,100 rpm, the powerplant breathes through a ram air roof scoop above the driver’s head, sends its 661 horsepower to the rear wheels via a six-speed Xtrac manual transmission, and exhales though a titanium and Inconel exhaust.

The most prominent feature at the rear is the fan, an evolution of the ground-effect McLaren F1 and the Brabham BT46B that dominated the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix before it was withdrawn for the good of Formula 1. In the T.50, it pulls air from the top surfaces to reduce drag by 12.5 per cent and interacts with the diffuser to increase downforce. Simulating a ‘longtail’ effect, the fan removes the need for a prominent rear wing to retain the T.50’s elegant silhouette. The cowling neatly housing a reversing camera, the fan alone creates 15 kilograms of forward thrust.

Only 100 T.50s would be built and speaking to Murray’s reputation, half of the allocation was sold based only on Murray’s own ballpoint pen sketch and initial description. Two thirds had been spoken for prior to the car’s unveiling to the public, and the remainder were sold out less then two days after the car’s global premier.

Chassis number 047 was completed by the factory in 2024 and was built to a one-off and very tasteful color combination of Harrier paintwork over an interior trimmed in Luffield Tan leather with charcoal Alcantara. Further accentuating its visual appearance, the car’s paintwork has been covered in a satin paint protection film, giving it the appearance of having a matte finish, further adding to its visual allure. Satin carbon exterior finishing can be found throughout, alongside gloss carbon on the rear-view cameras, exterior window trim, and the car’s airbox.

Since completion by Gordon Murray Automotive, 047 has been kept in a professional storage facility in the UK. Having never been driven aside from factory testing, the car remains in virtually as-new condition throughout.

Considered by many to be the true successor to the McLaren F1, the T.50 is a car which truly sits in a class of its own today, just like the McLaren F1 did before it. No turbocharging, no hybrid assistance, just a naturally aspired V-12 mated to a manual gearbox, three pedals, and of course…three seats. It handedly takes the mantle of the 21st century’s ultimate road car, and presents an unmissable opportunity for the enthusiast wanting to have the very best.