Rare McLaren Elva Supercar Needs Your Help To Leave the Nest

It may not show its age, but the McLaren Elva is over four years old. The official unveiling was hosted back in November of 2019, and it has the 1960s M1A, M1B, and M1C to thank for inspiring its design. The Woking-based automaker originally intended to build 399 of them, yet shortly after the presentation, they announced that they'll only build 249 copies. However, production ended after only 149 were made.

McLaren's fabulous-looking Elva was all about firsts, as it was the brand's first open-cockpit car that could be driven on public roads. It was also their lightest and the most extreme-looking supercar. And if you must know, not all of them were screenless, as some were fitted with the optional heated glass windscreen, complete with the surround made of carbon fiber. This version also gets washer jets, rain-sensing wipers, and sun visors and increases the weight by 44 pounds (20 kg).

With a curb weight of 2,798 pounds (1,269 kg), the McLaren Elva has many things in common with the 720S, Senna, and Speedtail. It measures 181.5 in (4,611 mm) in length, 76.5 in (1,944 mm) in width, and 42.8 in (1,088 mm) in height with the doors closed. As for the straight-line performance, it is more than any petrolheads would ever need. It can hit 62 mph (100 kph) and 124 mph (200 kph) in 2.8 and 6.8 seconds, respectively, and has a 203 mph (326 kph) top speed and a 1/4-mile time of 9.9 seconds.

Anyone with a slight thing for modern Maccas can tell you that it uses a 4.0-liter V8 engine with dual turbos that can be revved up to a stunning 8,500 rpm. Available at 7,500 rpm, the output is rated at 804 hp (815 ps/600 kW), and it produces 590 pound-feet (800 Nm) of torque at 5,500 rpm. Everything goes to the rear wheels through a seven-speed gearbox. For what it's worth, it returns the equivalent of 19.8 US mpg (11.9 l/100 km) combined on the WLTP cycle and emits 270 g/km of CO2.

When McLaren launched the Elva for the 2021 model year, they used to ask almost $1.7 million in our market. Shortly after, certain examples started popping up on the used car market for a little over $2 million, and that's how much the copy pictured in the gallery is. In fact, you are looking at €2,094,000, including tax, or $2,257,080 at today's exchange rates should you want to see it in your garage. The supercar is in stock and can be shipped worldwide, and it's a brand-new example.

Due to its roofless and screenless design, it is bound to turn heads anywhere, yet its future owner will have to make sure that they keep an eye on the weather should they not wish to make that exquisite interior wet. It's finished in white and features some red accents here and there, and comes with red leather upholstery with contrasting white trim in the cockpit. Air conditioning is obviously on deck, as it is a modern machine, after all, alongside an audio system, reversing camera, infotainment system, and lots of carbon fiber trim.

Now, over $2 million is a lot of money to pay for anything, let alone a car, but if you're considering spending your hard-earned (or is it?) money on it, then you should at least consider jumping behind the wheel of a new McLaren 750S before you do. It's a lot more practical, comes with windows and a roof over the passenger compartment, and it's equally fast to 62 mph despite having less power from its V8 that's rated at 740 hp (750 ps/552 kW). At 206 mph (332 kph), the top speed is superior to that of the Elva. Oh, and the 750S starts shy of the $330,000, excluding destination.

That's a lot to think of, and if you're willing to live with a used McLaren, then its predecessor, the 720S, might be just what the doctor ordered. A decent example will set you back in the region of $200,000, so you could buy no fewer than ten copies for the single price of this Elva. We don't know about you, but if we were shopping for a barely-driven or brand-new McLaren, we'd probably pass on this Elva and get the 750S instead. And by us, that would be an I. But what would you do?