RE: Jaw-dropping McLaren 720S GT3 X for sale
RE: Jaw-dropping McLaren 720S GT3 X for sale
Saturday 13th January 2024

Jaw-dropping McLaren 720S GT3 X for sale

Only 15 examples of McLaren Motorsport's monster were made - this is the first secondhand one we've come across


Confession time: despite having written about the McLaren 720S GT3 X romping up the Goodwood FoS hill a couple of years back, your hopeless scribe had forgotten that a few were actually going to be made. I honestly thought it was a one-off - can’t get the staff these days. So imagine the excitement at discovering a 750hp McLaren race car for sale that you never thought existed.

In my defence, it’s hardly like the world is short of competition-spec machines that can’t race right now - both from McLaren and the wider supercar industry. It’s a fascinating recent phenomenon, where cars are created that can lap faster than both GT3 and GT2 cars - typically combining the aero of the former with the power of the latter, then a bit more of both for good measure - yet will only live a life of exclusive track days. Seems a bit odd given actual racing is the best thing you can do in a car, but the apparent demand is undeniable. 

The trend has created some spectacular cars, too, from Ferrari 499P Modificata to Maserati MCXtrema, so it’s hard not to be excited by them. The 720S was just as jaw-dropping as might be expected from a GT3 car made without consideration for the rules. This was as fast as McLaren Motorsport could make a 720, and it most certainly looked it, pumped up and hunkered down like nothing we’d really ever seen from McLaren before. Alright, maybe the Senna GTR could rival the X for impact, but then the 720 was at least something you’d want to look at. 

The spec of the 15 cars was suitably extreme. Power from the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 was rated at 750hp with the push-to-pass engaged, a six-speed Xtrac sequential was standard, as were Alcon carbon ceramic brakes, GT3 suspension, GT3 aero (with even bigger spoilers) and a choice of slick or wet Pirelli tyres. Interestingly, the advert for this one suggests that just 10 per cent of parts for the X were shared with the standard 720S, and half with the GT3. So this is rather more than the race car with another 200hp and a passenger seat, even if that offer on its own is pretty compelling.

Whatever the actual reality, it’s guaranteed to be a pretty wild ride. Having experienced their GT3X once at Silverstone in 2022, the first owner of this one is moving on (how mad is it?!), meaning this Gloss Black car effectively presents as new. It comes complete with an exhaust silencer for quieter days, another set of wheels that could have the alternative tyre on, plus VBox telemetry installation and camera. Everything is set, basically, to obliterate any circuit day of your choosing. Short of an LMP car, nothing is going to be faster. 

Exactly what that experience might cost, however, isn’t clear. Given the rarity, the kudos of being a Motosport build and the apparent increase in demand for bonkers track cars, it seems unlikely that the GT3X will be any less than its £750k new price - especially as it’s basically box fresh. More than a Senna, less than a P1, basically, and likely to make both feel a bit tame once on circuit. All you’ll need to do is arrive at the McLaren Racing track day (an evening at Bedford doesn’t quite seem appropriate) ready to have your head turned upside down. Don’t forget about that passenger seat, too, if anyone’s brave enough. 


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Author
Discussion

wistec1

Original Poster:

799 posts

71 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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It's a yes: ... Nuff said.

Mannginger

10,267 posts

287 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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Essentially risk free purchasing from the original owner. If you have the means, why the hell not?!

Xenoous

2,447 posts

88 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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I'd love to be able to afford cars like this and rag them around on track.... I.e. What they were designed for.

I suppose that's why I'll never be wealthy!

Nik Gnashers

945 posts

186 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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What a machine.
I have just heard a story, about an industrial recycling centre in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, where somebody spotted them crushing 50 brand new McLaren's.
So the reported has said, they only removed the cats, and everything else was left on and crushed.
Anyone else heard any more information on this ?

Sandpit Steve

15,084 posts

104 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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That’s going to be a whole load of trackday fun - but my biggest takeaway from the piece was the adverts alongside, suggesting that the entry price for a more regular 720S is now under £120k. Now that’s one hell of a lot of car for the money!

Jamesas86

36 posts

124 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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Same! £120k starting prices for a 720s is amazing car for the money. Still can’t afford one but closer than expected

86wasagoodyear

984 posts

126 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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They weren't wasting their time making these. A pair of no doubt quite similar 720S GT3 will run in the WEC LMGT3 championship this year - so we'll see them at Le Mans :-)

GreatScott2016

2,523 posts

118 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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Looks to be trying a bit too hard. The orange detailing is dreadful too, particularly around the rims. That said, I'd happily take it for a test drive biggrin

Arsecati

2,781 posts

147 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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Yeah, but is it ULEZ compliant?

Fr0dders

216 posts

254 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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Delivered to it’s sole private owner from new in 2021, this GT3 X has only seen track time on one occasion at Silverstone in 2022 and now sits here in our showroom ready for it’s next (very brave!) owner to enjoy

What a crying shame. This thing was built to go racing, not to sit in somebody's collection. Sadly however, that's how most of these limited run track specials end u p - in the hands of collectors with 30/ 40 cars, a yacht, multiple properties in different countries and it means they never see any use.

200Plus Club

13,607 posts

308 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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A look of a koenigsegg at the front view? Stunning thing though

nismo48

7,070 posts

237 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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That's a cracking looking car..

arkitan

140 posts

34 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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I saw this at Goodwood and it looked/ sounded mega, however it's hard to overlook the fact that you can buy an actual lightly used GT3 720 for around £300K and they usually come with a lot of spares.

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/138557/m...

I'd bet that pretty much no-one on PH could use the extra performance of the non reg compliant version at double the price!

This car and its ilk do define the 'all the gear and no idea' approach to trackdays, and you can't even actually race it as it is not compliant with GT3 rules.


For the price of this you could buy a 720 GT3 and a 991 cup car plus an Ariel Atom or BAC Mono for when you want lightweight fun. (Yes I know the intended buyers are not price conscious, but that's kind of the point I am making, 'All the gear...')



Wheel Turned Out

2,377 posts

68 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
quotequote all
arkitan said:
I saw this at Goodwood and it looked/ sounded mega, however it's hard to overlook the fact that you can buy an actual lightly used GT3 720 for around £300K and they usually come with a lot of spares.

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/138557/m...

I'd bet that pretty much no-one on PH could use the extra performance of the non reg compliant version at double the price!

This car and its ilk do define the 'all the gear and no idea' approach to trackdays, and you can't even actually race it as it is not compliant with GT3 rules.


For the price of this you could buy a 720 GT3 and a 991 cup car plus an Ariel Atom or BAC Mono for when you want lightweight fun. (Yes I know the intended buyers are not price conscious, but that's kind of the point I am making, 'All the gear...')
As you allude to at the end, most buyers in this realm don't give a single thought to logic. They're wealthy enough to have this and the other things mentioned - they don't make choices based on use case or a thought process, they just see something they fancy then put in a call and it turns up. Then when they get bored of looking at it, or decide they want the space for an even more limited edition bauble, they move it on.

A wonderful thing. But a thing to have just because you can, not because you need.

LotusOmega375D

9,364 posts

183 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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Also with regards to your last point, the original owner might well get all of his money back on this, so he’s had his little bit of fun in a McLaren hypercar and it hasn’t cost him a penny.

Maccmike8

1,608 posts

84 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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Its a no from me, I just dont think they sound good enough.

sidesauce

2,967 posts

248 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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Nik Gnashers said:
What a machine.
I have just heard a story, about an industrial recycling centre in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, where somebody spotted them crushing 50 brand new McLaren's.
So the reported has said, they only removed the cats, and everything else was left on and crushed.
Anyone else heard any more information on this ?
Heard about this, I believe they were pre-production hybrid cars (so the batteries would be taken out too, not just the cats); on new product launches, all pre-production versions are usually completely scrapped.

Also, there's a McLaren factory around 40 miles from Ilkeston, up the road in Sheffield - it's called the McLaren Composites Technology Centre and I believe they build composite chassis there.

Edited by sidesauce on Sunday 14th January 20:33

MountainsofSussex

437 posts

216 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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To me, something like this should be the top class in endurance racing - take a GT3 level, add a couple of hundred horsepower, 10-20% more downforce, lose 50-100kg, but still recognisable as a production car underneath. Keep it sane with maybe maximum price, probably the dreaded BoP, rules on materials. A modern day GT1 would in my opinion at least be far more interesting than those expensive ugly and irrelevant LMH cars

VR6 Eug

824 posts

229 months

Sunday 14th January 2024
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That's a mean looking car! Love itsmile

British Beef

2,572 posts

195 months

Monday 15th January 2024
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Do these GT3s run the original cars Grazianos gearbox albeit with straight cut gears?

Is this gearbox a weak point on mclarens or are the failures over publicised?