McLaren M81

[Cee Gee]

Hi all,

I'm new to this board and am trying to find out any info on the value of a 1981 McLaren M81. I'm going to see it this Sunday morning. It's build #9 it has 820 miles on it. I was wondering if any here could venture a guess as to what a good offer for it would be?

Thanks for any info you can provide.

Cee Gee

[twister]

dang, almost anything?

[lx460]

pretty damn rare if its for real. how much are you thinking of offering?

http://www.mustang5.freeserve.co.uk/page9.htm

[Cee Gee]

I'm looking for advice. My sense is to be in the $20-30K range but I don't want to over-pay. :(

This is the only white M81 ever made.

Cee Gee

[lx460]

I am sorry but being that there were only 10 made, it really doesn't set precedence for pricing. I think you're on your own. I can't speak for everybody, but I think it is a little out of our scope of knowledge, to even venture you an estimate on such a vehicle. Especially being that 99.9% of the general public , including myself, has never even seen one. I am sorry no one could help you. I am sure they would if they had the knowledge to do so. :D

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for advice. My sense is to be in the $20-30K range but I don't want to over-pay. :(

This is the only white M81 ever made.

Cee Gee

Here's a few pics of the white one.

http://public.fotki.com/ascmclaren/ascmclaren_capris/mclaren_mustang_m81/white_m81_airdam.html

As far as pricing goes, it's tough. An orange one only went to around $12k on eBay awhile ago and a guy with a blue Enduro GT, (same body, Motorsport show car, V8 ) has failed to get anywhere close to $15k, whether on eBay or in ads elsewhere. Another orange one was for sale for a long time in the $15k area and has seemed to just kind of float around from dealer to dealer that puts a huge price on it. The red Enduro GT as seen at Nashville this year was also on eBay and somewhere around $10K

http://public.fotki.com/ascmclaren/ascmclaren_capris/mustang_gt_enduro/gtendurofrt1a.html

A few more thoughts. Do you plan on driving this car much?? If so, you'll go nuts worrying about damaging the unobtanium body pieces. Do you plan on modifying the car?? If so, there goes the collector value. You might want to check on insurance too since there really isn't much precedence for an '81 Mustang valued at 20-30k.

I went through all of this when I heard of the white car being for sale a long time ago and after many years of wanting an M81 finally realized, as cool as it is, I didn't want to be a slave to the upkeep of one. It's your money but just realize these aren't the easiest cars to sell and you will lose a ton of money if you need to dump it for any reason.

[Sandy]

Sandy Here:-

I had an opportunity to buy the white one, Oh about 1996, for $15,000. It was in Ct. The owner was #2. Since then it's had many owners. It began around 29 miles. Now it into the (I forget) 700s? I agree with my good friend Tom, just before me, You can't drive it on the street, replacement body panel are nowhere, if hit, the value go to ZIP. It needs constant storage. Insurance, however is not a problem. Grundy will insure, stated value, no miles limitation. $18,000 is appox. $255.00 @ year for full coverage. It's nice garage furniture, but little else. Think of it as a coin collection that you keep under the bed, or in a drawer. Other than this one, there was a single black one, now in Italy, and 7 in "Bittersweet Orange". Plus 2 Enduros. Total = 11 units.
To answer your question, my offer would be $15,000 and I would not come up one cent. It was sold a long time ago for $10,000, with like 200 miles on it.

[Cee Gee]

Tom,

Wow thanks for all the info. I also talked to another gentleman who had a chance to buy this car afew years ago.

Your reply has given me other aspects of ownership of such a car to think about. I have a Bullitt GT that stays garaged all the time and I've also got an 86' SVO that my son and I are restoring. And then there are the other two daily drivers. Lots to think about.

Thanks again,

Cee Gee

[onebad93LX]

Cee Gee - Let us know if you don't buy it... I will make a space for it in my garage!!!

[Cee Gee]

Sandy,

Thanks for the reply. I saw #9 this morning and it is one sweet museum piece. You and Tom are correct. It is nice garage furniture.

It has been kept in an unheated garage for about 2 years. The fiberglass and paint have deteriorated. It appears that it was originally orange as the paint is peeling away from the striker plate under the rear hatch. There is also some peeling of the lower silver cladding that reveals white paint beneath. Seems like it was painted with enamel paint. It does run great and has a very sweet exhaust note.

I think it needs a complete exterior resto. Done correctly it's $$$$$. But then It really needs to be stored in a controlled environment. I have a huge game room in my house that it would look great as a center-piece but I don't think my wife would go for that.

I have about a dozen pics I took but I don't know how to post them here.

If any one is interested email me at: carl@everestcomms.com and I'll share 'em with you.

I have not decided what to do but I'll figure it out this week.

Cee Gee

[Cee Gee]

Here's a link to another site where I am able to post photos of the M81

http://www.imboc.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=32985&forum=11&7

:D

[Evil86lx]

That is SWEET!!!!!!!!!!! And i love the early 80s ford motorsport sticker in the window..

kyle

[Merc]

:( Sorry I wasn't able to get the photos up for you. I got called off for a short notice temporary duty, and just got home last night. Gotta love working for Uncle Sam sometimes.