How Mr. Bean sold his wrecked McLaren F1 for 12 million (7 photos)
When buying a used car, the biggest fear is ending up with a wreck. Such cars can present unpleasant surprises, so they don't have a high value. But if you're a world-famous comedian, this rule doesn't apply to you. British actor Rowan Atkinson, who played the bungling Mr. Bean in films and sketches for many years, sold his aging McLaren F1 supercar after two accidents for much more than he paid for it. 
Rowan Atkinson, known in Britain only as Mr. Bean, is a well-known sports car collector and professional racing driver. In the mid-1990s, he spent two seasons in the Renault 5 GT Turbo one-make cup, and in 1997, he was ready to buy his first sports car. It was a magnificent McLaren F1, for which the actor paid £540,000. 
This car is equipped with a 6.1-liter V12 engine producing 627 horsepower. The coupe accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, with a top speed of 230 mph (372 km/h). But Atkinson didn't show off his cherry-red car for long. In 1999, he crashed it into an Austin Metro on a Lancashire road. The repairs then cost almost £100,000. 
And in 2011, Rowan again got into trouble in his beloved car. This time, he lost control and crashed into a tree. The luxury car caught fire, and the brave driver injured his shoulder. The car was so badly damaged that it took almost a year to restore it at the McLaren base in Woking. This time, Atkinson received a record insurance payout for a road accident in the UK – £910,000. 
The actor invested around £1.5 million in restoring his car. It seemed the unfortunate car had brought its owner nothing but losses. But that was not the case. Atkinson easily sold the McLaren F1 for $12 million. 
Ford Falcon Sprint from Atkinson's collection
Furious Rowan
Yes, these aren't the only accidents in Mr. Bean's life. In 2011, having barely recovered from a collision in a McLaren, he was involved in another car accident. This time, in an Aston Martin V8 Zagato during an amateur race. And in 2014, he crashed a magnificent Ford Falcon Sprint during a competition at the Goodwood Festival. 
Incidentally, Atkinson is well known at Goodwood—he's a regular at the festival. In 2020, the 65-year-old actor finished 17th in one of the races. That time, he was driving a vintage Plymouth Barracuda from his collection. 
Given the number of accidents, you might think Atkinson isn't a very good driver. But don't jump to conclusions. He once appeared on Top Gear and showed off his skills in the "Star in a Relatively Cheap Car" segment. His record, in a budget Kia Seed, remained unbeaten for a long time.
