McLaren F1->ke1159s with under 3,000 miles on their odometer are hard to come by these days. Actually, “impossible” might be a better word to describe it. But, if there’s anything the world has taught us, it’s to never lose hope on the impossible because you never know what you might stumble into. And just as I say that, a close-to-brand-new McLaren F1 is now up for sale and this one comes from the most reliable of sellers: McLaren’s Special Operations (MSO) division.

According to McLaren, the F1 in question wears chassis number 69 and is the 60th of the 64 F1 models to be hand-built in McLaren’s production facility in Woking, England. It’s also one of the last six F1s to be produced, so that in itself tells you the condition of this iconic supercar->ke177 relative to its brethren. Even better, every detail about the car is about as good as it gets for the F1 given its age. It comes with a Carbon Black finish, perfectly underscoring the mythical aura it has established throughout the years. The 17-inch magnesium wheels also have a similar finish. Inside, the central driving seat - yep, it has the 1+2 seating configuration - is dressed in fine black leather with a striking red leather serving as a nice contrast. As for the dual passenger seats, I hardly think you can go wrong with those two getting upholstered in Alcantara.

Let’s not forget about the engine because that BMW->ke178-sourced, 6.1-liter, naturally aspirated, V-12 is one of the biggest reasons, maybe even the biggest, why the F1 has become such the definition of iconic brand. The V-12 was good enough to pump out 672 horsepower, a number that seems so normal today, but back in the mid 90’s, it was a much different story. Consider this too: the F1 had a top speed of 242 mph, a figure that would still qualify it as one of the fastest production cars today. It also still holds the title of being the fastest naturally aspirated production car. Think about that. No one in the last two decades has ever come close to toppling that record.

As you might expect, McLaren, which crafted a press release to announce the car’s sale, did not disclose the price of this F1. Anybody who is interested needs to inquire about the car directly to specialoperations@mclaren.com.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

Why it matters

At this point in its long and esteemed legacy, there is nothing anybody can say about the McLaren F1 that can ruin the reputation it has rightfully earned. There’s no question that when you’re talking about the most influential cars of the past 20 years, the F1 would belong on that list. That’s a big reason why the supercar is still revered throughout the automotive industry long after production ended in 1998.

So yeah, to have one that’s for sale is a big deal. It’s an even bigger deal considering that this particular F1 is being sold by McLaren itself. The company said that the model is in factory condition, which is arguably the closest thing you can come to being brand new. Heck, it even comes with fitted luggage, a complete Facom titanium lightweight tool kit and Facom tool box, all books and literature, including the correct numbered LM Edition of the ’Driving Ambition’ McLaren F1 book, and a limited edition McLaren F1 owner’s watch from Tag Heuer that is specific to the chassis number. Suffice it to say, the lucky person who ends up buying it will immediately have the crown jewel of his or her collection. That’s the kind of status the F1 has earned and nobody in his right mind will argue that.

Now about that price. Yes, McLaren conveniently left out the price because a sale like this will likely have a ton of negotiations between an interested buyer and McLaren Special Operations. Rest assured, a car like this will fetch millions. A seven figure price is all but certain, but considering the car’s state and its documented history, I won’t be surprised if the price hits eight digits. So if anybody’s interested, rest assured, he or she is going to need to open that checkbook and prepare for the inevitable financial hit that will undoubtedly come from buying this McLaren F1.