Rowan Atkinson’s Investment Cars

Rowan Atkinson is best known as the man behind Mr. Bean, but among car collectors, he’s respected for something else entirely — buying cars that don’t depreciate.

Atkinson’s car collection is a masterclass in investment cars, proving that the right vehicles can outperform inflation, stocks, and even real estate — all while being driven and enjoyed.

Let’s break down Rowan Atkinson’s most famous investment cars and what they teach us about buying cars for long-term value.

Rowan Atkinson’s McLaren F1: The Ultimate Investment Car

Rowan Atkinson purchased his McLaren F1 brand new in 1997, paying an estimated $800,000.

Instead of treating it like a museum piece, he drove it regularly, covering over 40,000 miles. During his ownership, the car was crashed twice, including a major accident that resulted in one of the largest insurance payouts in automotive history.

Despite this, Atkinson sold the McLaren F1 in 2015 for $12,000,000.

McLaren F1 Investment Breakdown

• Purchase price (1997): $800,000
• Inflation-adjusted cost today: ~$1,619,000
• Sale price (2015): $12,000,000
• Estimated value (2026): $25,000,000
• Inflation-adjusted gain: $23,381,000
• Total return: 1,444%

If he had kept the McLaren F1 to today, it would be worth approximately $25,000,000.

This single car alone cements Rowan Atkinson as one of the most successful celebrity car investors of all time.

Rowan Atkinson’s Lexus LFA: A Modern Classic Investment

The Lexus LFA was misunderstood when new. Today, it’s widely regarded as one of the greatest modern supercars ever made.

• 2015 price: ~$350,000

• Today: Investment-grade examples selling for $950,000+

With its naturally aspirated V10, carbon-fibre construction, and limited production, the LFA is now considered a blue-chip investment car.

This is a perfect example of how underappreciated cars can dramatically increase in value over time.

Rowan Atkinson’s Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The Mercedes SLS AMG represents the end of an era for Mercedes performance cars.

• 2015 price: ~$150,000

• Today: Investment-grade examples selling for $325,000+

As the last naturally aspirated V8 AMG flagship and a true halo car, the SLS AMG has become increasingly desirable among collectors, pushing values steadily upward.

Rowan Atkinson’s Honda NSX (NA1)

The original Honda NSX is one of the most important Japanese performance cars ever made — and Rowan Atkinson recognised that early.

• 2016 price: ~$80,000

• Today: Investment-grade examples selling for $160,000+

With Ayrton Senna’s involvement, lightweight construction, and timeless design, the first-generation NSX has become a staple Japanese investment car.

Why Rowan Atkinson’s Cars Don’t Depreciate

Rowan Atkinson consistently bought cars with:

• Low production numbers

• Naturally aspirated engines

• End-of-era engineering

• Global enthusiast demand

• Strong long-term collectability

These are the exact traits that define good investment cars.

Want to Buy Cars That Don’t Lose Money?

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I’ve manually created a non-generic list of the 100 best investment cars to buy in 2026, focusing on:

• Underappreciated models

• Last-of-their-kind drivetrains

• Where the buyer market is growing

• Cars still early in their value cycle

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Rowan Atkinson proves one thing clearly:

You don’t need luck to make money with cars — you need the right knowledge.