Mr. Bean Net Worth: Rowan Atkinson Sells Wrecked Supercar for $12M
Famous comedian, Mr. Bean star, and well known auto enthusiast Rowan Atkinson recently sold his McLaren F1 supercar to an unknown buyer for a staggering $12 Million.
The news was reported by the Daily Mail, saying that Atkinson sold his prized possession through Taylor & Crawley at an estimated £7.3 million profit. Atkinson purchased the coveted super car in 1997 for £640,000.
The paper notes that this is one of the highest ever recorded fees for a car sale in the United Kingdom. The only cars that have gone for higher are vintage 1960's Ferrari's and the like. Also notable is the fact that the car sold for so much despite Atkinson having crashed it twice previously.
The comedian first damaged the car on October 1999, on the A6 highway in Lancashire. More than a decade later in 2011, he totalled the car on the A605 near Peterborough. Atkinson escaped from the second crash with just a broken shoulder, but the car was not as lucky. The Car's engine was severed from the rest of the body and the rear tires were completely detached.
The second crash is also notable for yielding the single highest car insurance pay out in British history, a mind boggling £900,000.
Only 64 Mclaren F1's were ever made, which no doubt helped keep the value up despite the well documented history of damage. The car is considered an automotive landmark and of the best cars in history. It turned heads at the time it was released because of its break neck speeds, which were then the fastest in the world. Its unique centre seat cockpit also makes the driver feel he is driving a formula car. Other celebrity owners of the car include talk show host and comedian Jay Leno and the Sultan of Brunei/