Check Out Elon Musk Taking Delivery Of His First Supercar

It was in 1999 and the man had a taste: he got a McLaren F1. Sadly, he destroyed it one year later.

Check Out Elon Musk Getting Delivery Of Supercar That Is Not Electric

Gustavo Henrique Ruffo

By: Gustavo Henrique Ruffo

Jan 11, 2021 at 6:18pm ET

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There was a time when was fond of combustion-engined cars – so much so that he bought one of the best ever made: the McLaren F1. This video from 1999 ironically gives us something Justine Wilson said she was afraid Musk could miss: “a sense of appreciation and perspective.”

We cannot talk about appreciation because that depends on the viewer’s background and expectations, but we can say we appreciate what the F1 probably did for EV history. Perspective, on the other hand, is what the video above offers the most. Among other things, it helps us understand why Tesla took the right path towards becoming a popular brand.

Although some people loathe combustion-engined cars, the McLaren F1 must have taught Musk what a car should be. In the brief period he drove it, the F1 probably have amazed Musk multiple times to the point he knew the Model S would not be good enough if it did not do the same. For the record, the Tesla CEO destroyed the car trying to amaze Peter Thie only a few months later in 2000.

If Tesla and Musk followed a path of rationality, energy efficiency, and environmental concern, the Roadster would probably have been a flop, as well as the Model S. It was necessary to convince people these things could be a plus to something they already desired: speed. The electric sedan went beyond the sports car by joining an amazing performance with the versatility of carrying up to seven people and having a frunk.

In that sense, the McLaren F1 was also extraordinary. It did not seat two people, but three. It also had a central driving position and could carry a reasonable amount of luggage, making it one of the most capable hypercars in history.