There was a time when Elon Musk loved cars with internal combustion engines – so much so that he bought one of the best ever made: the McLaren F1. This 1999 video ironically gives us something that Justine Wilson said she was afraid Musk might miss: a sense of appreciation and perspective. ‘
We can not talk about appreciation because it depends on the viewer’s background and expectations, but we can say that 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 chose the right path to become a popular brand.
Although some people dislike internal combustion engines, the McLaren F1 Musk must have learned what a car should be. In the short time he has been driving it, the F1 Musk has probably surprised several times already to the point that he knew that Model S would not be good enough if he did not do the same. For the record, the CEO of Tesla destroyed the car only to surprise Peter Thie a few months later in 2000.
If Tesla and Musk had followed a path of rationality, energy efficiency and environmental concerns, the Roadster would probably have been a flop, as well as the Model S. It was necessary to convince people that these things could be a plus for something they already desire. : speed. The electric sedan went further than the sports car by offering a great performance with the versatility of transporting up to seven people and having a frunks.
In that sense, the McLaren F1 was also extraordinary. There were not two people, but three. It also has a central driving position and could carry a fair amount of luggage, making it one of the most capable cars in history.
It was the surprise that made people crave a Model S and an F1. By selling it in a minimal quantity, Mclaren made the F1 one of the most valuable classic cars of our time. Musk followed a different path and used the desirability of the Model S to achieve high production numbers, which nowadays Model 3 and Model Y intend to take to a new level.
Musk was afraid he would be seen as an imperialist brak because he bought the F1. Justine Wilson was also worried that they would become ‘spoiled crumbs’. On the other hand, perspective shows that the most valuable car business in the world can be largely credited to a car of $ 1 million internal combustion engines from 1999 onwards.
Sources: CNN via Carscoops, and PandoDaily