January 29, 2021
Cars, like most things, are bound by the laws of physics – and the laws of the land, but every now and then something goes unexplained – like these two amazing car mysteries.
From a suspicious missing McLaren F1 to a James Bond car that vanished, OnlineLoans takes a look at two amazing car mysteries.
The infamous chassis 039 McLaren F1 (aka The ‘El Chapo’ F1)
You’re basically more likely to win the lottery than see a McLaren F1 on the road. With only 106 ever made, the F1 is an exclusive supercar, often pegged as a car that changed the world.
“…rumors suggest that 039 went into the hands of Sinaloa cartel leader, El Chapo.”
In fact, the McLaren F1’s unique features, like its gold-plated engine cover, and amazing statistics have rocked its original price of just over A$1 million in 1993 to an average of nearly $19 million AUD today.
Chassis 039 was originally made for McLaren CEO, chairman and founder, Ron Dennis. However, his wife wasn’t a fan of the metallic brown paint scheme with red interior. Dennis took a silver example instead.
(Pictured: The infamous chassis 039 McLaren F1, likely in Mexico in the late 1990s)
Ed Bolian, from VINwiki, attempted to track the McLaren F1 down and discovered its past (and possible present).
“The multi-million dollar McLaren F1 remained unmoved under tarpaulins somewhere in a cartel-controlled area of Mexico.”
Built in the mid ’90s, chassis 039 was, after being rejected by Ron Dennis, bought by a UK customer who then sold it to a Mexican buyer in 1997. Possibly, 039 went through Brazil illegally for ‘whatever’ reason (likely to dodge paperwork), but, nonetheless, it ended up in Mexico.
Unconfirmed (but highly plausible) rumours suggest that 039 found its way into the hands of Sinaloa cartel leader, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who gifted the car to a high ranking member of his cartel.
(Arrested: El Chapo in 2014)
“How much is a key for a $19-million car? Around $325,000 AUD.”
This individual passed away at some point in the late ‘90s. 039’s ownership is blurry, to say the least, since then. Unfortunately, the deceased owner did not disclose the location of 039’s keys.
According to the story, in 2004, someone from the cartel reached out to McLaren asking for a new key for the missing McLaren F1. How much is a key for a $19-million car? Around $325,000 AUD.
(Mega dollars: The McLaren F1)
039 didn’t receive it’s key and the multi-million dollar McLaren F1 remained unmoved under tarpaulins somewhere in a cartel-controlled area of Mexico. It’s likely that the 039 McLaren F1 doesn’t have official documentation as Mexican authorities have attempted to confiscate illegal assets owned by cartels.
As of recent, the F1 is probably deep in Sinaloa cartel territory, never to be seen again.
However…
Recent unconfirmed reports have surfaced claiming that 039 has been ‘rekeyed’ and seen driving around areas of Mexico.
The ‘Goldfinger’ James Bond Aston Martin DB5 Heist
Movie cars are always hall-of-famers in the car world. James Bond cars are at the top of the pyramid and, topping that pyramid, are Bond cars driven by Sean Connery.
(Sean Connery as 007 James Bond. Source: cinemablend.com)
“some speculated that it had been airlifted out of the airport and dumped in the ocean before authorities could react.”
The 1964 James Bond movie, Goldfinger, featured an Aston Martin DB5 rigged with Bond props, such as fake machine guns and other gadgets.
What would this amazing car be worth today? A similarly-spec’d ‘Connery Bond’ DB5 sold for A$9.4 million in 2019.
(An Aston Martin DB5, but not the stolen one)
In 1997, the DB5 in question was stolen from a hangar at Boca Raton Airport in Florida in one of the car world’s most infamous heists.
The vehicle vanished and was never seen again. In fact, some speculated that it had been airlifted out of the airport and dumped in the ocean before authorities could react.
But back to the heist.
On the night of June 18, 1997, thieves entered the Boca Raton Airport hangar by cutting through locked doors and padlocks and disabling the alarm system. They then used rope or chains to drag the DB5 onto (presumably) a flatbed truck and made off into the night. All that was left – a few black tyre marks fitting the DB5’s wheel size.
With such precision, most assume an inside and/or professional job.
(A poster describing the details of the stolen DB5)
Further stirring the mystery, the DB5 was, at the time of the heist, owned by convicted fraudster and money-launderer, Anthony Pugliese. In a movie-like cliché, Pugliese had the vehicle insured for a massive $4.2 million USD – which he received after the theft.
Despite numerous searches, to this day, the lost DB5 has never been found.
However…
There are reports of a ‘lookalike’ shrouded in secrecy in the Middle East. Some claim it’s the actual Goldfinger Bond DB5 but, without chassis number proof, it remains a ‘report’.
(Iconic: The DB5 is unmistakingly ‘James Bond’)
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