Someone once stole the shift knob off BMWs $20,000,000 McLaren F1 GTR at a car show
Published on Jan 15, 2026 at 3:06 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Jan 15, 2026 at 3:06 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Somebody once stole the shift knob off a $20,000,000, BMW-engineered McLaren F1 GTR.
It is an incredible headline that is almost too ridiculous to believe.
But, to everyone’s shock – including ours – it is absolutely true.
And someone did it in broad daylight at a car show.
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Man brazenly steals shift knob from McLaren F1 GTR
This bizarre story was first reported by The Autopian.
And it turns out that it is a strangely common trend.
As you probably know, the McLaren F1 GTR is an incredibly special supercar.
It was powered by a specially tuned, 6.1-liter V12 from BMW.
Naturally, BMW takes an immense amount of pride in the supercar.
And it still shows them off to this very day.
For most car fans, attending a car show is a highlight event.
But sometime in the mid-2010s, shift knobs started getting stolen from display cars.
Manufacturers quickly realised that thieves were stealing them.
As a result, brands started removing shift knobs from manual transmission cars on display.
And it is a practice that continues to this very day.
Tom Plucinsky is the head of BMW Group Classic USA.
And he explained to The Autopian how the shift knob once got stolen from a McLaren F1 GTR.
“The shift knob was stolen at a show several years ago,” Plucinsky said.
“The nondescript black ball knob has a moving weight in it—kinda like a slide hammer.”
To our surprise, it turns out that the shift knob costs just $875 to replace.
In fairness, that was a decade ago – so prices have likely increased since then.
BMWs engine powers legendary supercar
The McLaren F1 GTR was engineered by the legendary Gordon Murray and designed by Peter Stevens.
When it was released, it absolutely dominated everything in sight.
Gordon Murray originally envisioned the McLaren F1 as the ultimate road-going car.
He never actually had any intention of building a racing machine from the creation.
So what was BMWs involvement?
Well, the German giants supplied the engine – an incredible 6.1-liter V12.
The naturally-aspirated S70/2 V12 produced around 600hp in race trim.
It led to the McLaren F1 GTR winning the iconic 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Today, the McLaren F1 GTR is revered as one of the greatest supercars ever made.
And, thanks to BMW, fans can continue to see the greatness up close.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
