VIN: the Paul Burdell McLaren F1 chassis 024
History of chassis 024
Chassis 024 was the 22nd McLaren F1 production car built and one of 25 constructed in 1994.
Completed in December of that year, it was configured with Carbon paint and a grey / black interior with red driver’s seat insert.
In June 1995, chassis 024 was displayed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This was the weekend after McLaren’s famous victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours. 024 was shown alongside several other F1s and GTRs as part of the victory corral.
The car’s first owner was British-domiciled American banker and amateur racing driver, Paul Burdell.
Burdell was a career investment banker who originally traded bonds and derivatives for JP Morgan. In 1987 he founded the Octagan Group which became one of the largest distressed corporate debt investors in Europe.
In 1998 Burdell co-founded and became the CEO of Link Financial Group, a leading European purchaser and servicer of performing and non-performing receivables. As of 2014, Burdell was worth an estimated £4.2b.
During 1995 and 1996, Burdell campaigned a Porsche 911 GT prepared by Lanzante Motorsport in the popular BPR series. His McLaren, registered M1 MAC, was sometimes present in the paddock at race meetings.
In 1998, Burdell loaned chassis 012 to the producers of The Most Outrageous Jeremy Clarkson Video in the World… Ever! in which it was drag raced against a Nissan R33 Skyline GT-R.
Burdell then entered his McLaren for the 2000 Gumball Rally which travelled from London to Bibao, on to Cannes, Milan, the Nurburgring and Hamburg before heading back to London.
On one occasion during his custodianship, Chelsea-resident Burdell was reputedly travelling over Hammersmith Bridge in London when he damaged both side of 012. This may explain why the car was subsequently returned to McLaren where it was repainted silver and fitted with a GT spec. burgundy leather interior and black ribbed inserts.
In early 2002, chassis 012 was exported to USA where it joined the collection of Silicon Graphics, Netscape and Healtheon / WebMD founder, James H. Clark.
A Silicon Valley billionaire, Clark retained chassis 012 until late 2005 when it was sold to Gary Schaevitz of New York. At various times Schaevitz also owned F1 chassis 014 and 045.
Since then, the car has gone through the hands of a couple more private owners.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
