Missing McLaren F1 hidden in Mexico in 2000 would be worth $20 million today but no one has been able to track down its whereabouts

The McLaren F1 is one of the most revered, valuable and sought-after supercars in the world – but one example remains elusive to this day, the famous El Chapo F1.

This is chassis #39, famously sold to Joaquin Guzman, better known in Mexico as ‘El Chapo. ‘

The Mexicans had one of the biggest drug empires in the world, and the F1 was part of that, driven by Chapo’s lieutenant, Ricardo Beltran.

Several attempts have been made to find the car, including by VINwiki founder Ed Bolian. But after a very close encounter, the trail went cold, and the car’s whereabouts remain a mystery.

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How the McLaren F1 disappeared

Chassis #39 had an interesting life even before it ended up in Mexico.

The car was first bought by McLaren CEO Ron Dennis, who liked its Brazilian Metallic Brown color scheme.

However, Dennis’s wife apparently hated the color and refused to let him keep it.

The McLaren CEO sold the supercar before ordering another F1 that his wife was happy about.

By 1997, chassis #39 had traveled to Mexico, where it had fallen into Beltran’s hands.  

However, after his death in 2000, the family hid the F1 from the cartel and authorities.

The issue was, though, that before dying, Beltran hadn’t told anyone where the car keys were.

Finding the McLaren has been almost impossible

VINwiki founder Ed Bolian made it his mission to find the F1, as he believed it was his best chance of owning his dream car.

The YouTuber and journalist has had several close calls with the F1 over the years.

In 2023, Bolian reported that the current owner had killed in the F1.

Those responsible for his death had then gotten into the supercar and driven it away.

That’s where the trail went cold, and it looked like he would never find the F1.

Bolian, however, had a new lead around 10 months ago that suggested the car might be in the Isle of Man, UK.

Someone had contacted Bolian, saying that while buying a pair of different cars from the collection, they had spotted what they believed was the El Chapo McLaren F1.

However, after creating a story about the police getting involved in the collection, the person just vanished.

He had led Bolian to believe that the car belonged to the late Williams F1 founder, Sir Frank Williams.

However, when he contacted his daughter, Claire, she said she did not know her father owned a McLaren F1.

Once again, the trail went cold, bringing Bolian back to square one.

There are still no clues as to the El Chapo F1’s actual whereabouts, and it remains to be seen whether it can be found at all.

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