Now available through RM Sotheby’s, this 2024 Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 represents one of the most uncompromising interpretations of the modern driver’s car. Chassis number 047 is the 47th of just 100 production examples and combines virtually delivery-fresh condition with an exceptionally considered specification. It has covered only 62 miles from new, has remained under single ownership, and was built to European Union specifications with its Certificate of Conformity.
The T.50 was conceived by Gordon Murray as the spiritual successor to the McLaren F1, drawing upon three decades of engineering experience while embracing contemporary technology without compromising the fundamentals of driving. At a time when performance cars have become increasingly large and heavy, the T.50 takes an almost radical approach to simplicity and mass reduction. Weighing just 997 kilograms, it has a footprint comparable to a modern Porsche Boxster, yet incorporates three seats, advanced aerodynamics, and a remarkably sophisticated powertrain.
At its core is a bespoke Cosworth-developed 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V-12 producing 661 horsepower. Remarkably, the engine weighs only 178 kilograms and can accelerate at an extraordinary rate of 28,400 rpm per second before reaching its 12,100-rpm redline. Fed by a roof-mounted ram-air intake positioned directly above the driver, the V-12 sends its power exclusively to the rear wheels through a six-speed Xtrac manual transmission. A lightweight titanium and Inconel exhaust system completes an engine package engineered around response, character, and mechanical purity rather than forced induction or electrification.
Equally distinctive is the T.50’s rear-mounted aerodynamic fan. Inspired by Murray’s work on the McLaren F1 and the fan-assisted Brabham BT46B, the system extracts air from beneath the car’s upper surfaces, reducing drag by approximately 12.5 percent while working with the diffuser to generate additional downforce. Its aerodynamic effect produces a simulated longtail profile, eliminating the need for a large conventional rear wing while preserving the T.50’s elegant shape.
Chassis 047 is finished in a unique combination of Harrier paintwork and Luffield Tan leather with charcoal Alcantara. Satin paint-protection film gives the exterior a distinctive matte appearance, complemented by satin-finished carbon fiber and gloss-carbon details around the rear-view cameras, window trim, and airbox. Since factory completion, the car has been professionally stored in the United Kingdom and driven only for factory testing, leaving it virtually as new.
The extraordinary demand for the T.50 reflects its rarity and engineering significance. Half of the production allocation was sold from Murray’s original sketch and description alone, while the entire run was spoken for shortly after its public unveiling. With its naturally aspirated V-12, manual transmission, three pedals, and three-seat layout, chassis 047 offers an exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire a virtually untouched example of a car widely regarded as the definitive spiritual successor to the McLaren F1.
Source: RM Sotheby’s
