Two brothers, Christian and RJ, recently embarked on an ambitious project by purchasing a fire-damaged 2016 McLaren 650S Spider, the cheapest they found on the salvage market. Despite its non-running condition, they saw potential in the luxury sports car and decided to take a risk. Days after uploading a video of their new acquisition to YouTube, they received a surprising message from the car’s former owner, shedding light on its past.
The previous owner revealed that the McLaren had been parked in a home garage when a fire broke out, filling the garage with smoke and causing debris to fall on the car. Despite this, the owner managed to start the engine, finding that it ran and drove normally. He took the car to a McLaren dealership to assess the damage, where they declared it a potential write-off.
The dealership's evaluation concluded that the car needed a complete interior replacement, including the carbon and Alcantara seats, dashboard, and all plastics, costing around $70,000. Additionally, they suggested replacing the wheels and tires, which would add another $12,000 to $14,000, despite them being in perfect condition. Concerns over the integrity of the wiring and electronics due to smoke exposure led to recommendations for new wiring, hoses, and cables. Furthermore, they believed the McLaren required a new rear quarter panel and paintwork.
Given the estimated repair costs, the former owner faced a tough decision. Ultimately, after a two-year legal battle, he won the case, forcing the insurance company to pay for the car and cover the trial fees. The McLaren, which had been parked for over three years, was eventually auctioned off, where Christian and RJ spotted and purchased it.
Taking a significant risk, the brothers bought the McLaren sight unseen. However, they quickly realized their gamble might pay off. Upon inspection, they managed to start the car without noticing any substantial fire-related damage. The only visible issues were a dent and a scratch in the paint, both of which could be easily fixed with a polish procedure. The insurance company's markings on the body, indicating damage, proved to be unfounded.
After hours of work, the McLaren looked almost as good as new. The once fire-damaged sports car now shone brilliantly, showing no signs of its troubled past. Christian and RJ plan to put the McLaren through a full annual inspection before putting it up for sale.
On its first test drive, the McLaren 650S Spider proved its worth, performing exceptionally and attracting attention like a Christmas tree in July. The brothers' daring venture turned out to be a successful resurrection of a supercar once thought to be lost.
