Taking a gamble, two brothers purchased a heavily discounted 2016 McLaren 650S Spider from a salvage yard, despite the listing stating it was inoperable. The seller confirmed the car’s location in a home garage, as the brothers had hoped.
However, the good news ended there. The garage had been compromised by a fire, filling the car with smoke and raining down debris as the house above succumbed to the flames.
Remarkably, the car started and ran after the fire, leading the previous owner to a McLaren dealership to assess its repairability.
The dealership’s repair plan went far beyond addressing the smoke damage. They proposed a complete interior replacement, discarding the original carbon fiber and Alcantara for a hefty $70,000, solely to eliminate the lingering odor even though the fire hadn’t touched the interior.
Additionally, the dealership deemed the wheels and tires unfit, recommending a $12,000-$14,000 replacement despite their perfect condition.
Their concerns extended to the car’s electrical system, suggesting a full replacement of wiring, hoses, and cables due to potential smoke damage, seemingly equating airborne smoke to a choking hazard for electrical components.
Finally, the dealership concluded the car required a new rear quarter panel and a fresh coat of paint. An insurance company’s battle to declare a McLaren 650S Spider a total loss backfired spectacularly.
After a lengthy court case, the owner prevailed, receiving a hefty payout and leaving the insurer with a slightly damaged but ultimately functional car. This legal battle also meant the car languished in storage for years, only to be discovered by Christian and RJ at auction.
Despite the unknowns, they took a chance and bought the McLaren sight unseen. Their gamble paid off a quick polish revealed only minor cosmetic issues beneath the insurance company’s markings. Now, after a thorough inspection, this fire-free McLaren is ready to turn heads and dominate the road once again.
