F1 Designer Gordon Murray’s Car Collection As Legendary As The Man Himself

Gordon Murray, often called the father of F1, is an automotive legend. The South African-British designer spent nearly two decades with Brabham and McLaren, where his cars achieved an unmatched 75% success rate.

His passion for cars began at age five, influenced by his motorcycle racer father. Though destined to be a driver, he became a designer out of necessity—building and modifying cars himself due to financial constraints. With four decades in racing, design, and championships, it’s no surprise Murray’s collection is extraordinary. Few can rival its diversity—perhaps only Jay Leno’s legendary garage comes close.

The Gordon Murray Automotive founder owns over 40 cars and 40 motorcycles, and he reveals that 14 of his 22 garages are packed with classics, while the rest hold rare treasures most have never seen.

2017 Alpine A110

The impression of this French sports car was so big on Gordon Murray that he pulled it apart to check the trick behind it for a great riding experience and its handling abilities. “When you analyze that car– and we did, we pulled mine apart for two months, we benchmarked it – that car’s got nothing trick on it. It just does the basics well, "said Muray to the ‘’Car Throttle’’.

Gordon Murray spent 17 years in F1, and another motorsport icon, Spanish F1 driver Fernando Alonso, with over two decades in the sport, also owns an Alpine A110.

1951 Mark IV Cooper 500

Talking about his early days in South Africa, Gordon Murray said that his dad was a motor mechanic, and he comes from a racing family. 

Marc Cooper is the car he saw his dad working on for one of his friends, as the father of this F1 designer used to help people build special cars. This was the reason he bought this 1951 Mark IV Copper 500, and added it to his nostalgic side of the garage. 

1967 IGM T1: Gordon’s First Creation

Right next to the Mark IV Cooper, Gordon Murray keeps the first-ever car he built. The 1967 IGM T1 is truly handmade, and the only thing Gordon didn’t build was the Weber carburettors.

But he had to borrow the money from his brother and his aunt. And it was worth it because he drove the T1 a few years ago at Goodwood and felt like “19 again”. 

Brabham BT44: The Gamechanger

While the IGM T1 was Gordon’s first creation, the Brabham BT44 is the one that changed the whole game in the history of F1. The BT44 is an improved version of the BT42 with some changes in the design elements, specifically, the rising rate suspension was taken from the 750 Formula racing car that he previously designed. 

This resulted in better control of roll and bump, and at the same time, moved the spring out of the airstream, reducing any blockage of the air rushing through. If you are wondering how much it changed history, at present, there is not a single racing car without a rising rate and a rod suspension. 

Gordon Murray T50s Niki Lauda

About the name T.50 Niki Lauda, Gordon said that he had a great experience with the three-time world champion, Niki (1949-2019), and the Austrian race driver deserved to have something named after him.

In a Top Gear interview, the GMA visionary explained that the goal was to create the ultimate driving experience—both on the road and track. To achieve this, his team developed the T.50s Niki Lauda as a separate project from the GMA T.50, even though they share the same foundation.

Gordon believes the T.50s Niki Lauda will offer the best track experience ever created—and possibly for years to come. He explained that the philosophy behind the car was identical to that of the T.50 road car: to deliver the ultimate driving experience. With no road regulations to restrict the design, the GMA team had full freedom to push limits purely for performance. The result is a track-focused machine built with the same obsessive attention to detail, but engineered to be as fast and visceral as possible.

2022 GMA T.50

For Murray, the T.50 is the ultimate expression of driver-focused engineering. As the spiritual successor to the McLaren F1, it combines timeless design principles with state-of-the-art technology.

 Its fan-based aerodynamics, influenced by his own Brabham BT46B "Fan Car," reflect his relentless pursuit of innovation. Murray has repeatedly emphasized that the T.50 was built for pure driving pleasure, free from unnecessary complexity.

The top five from Gordon Murray’s car collection

Gordon, however, is not that lenient towards the Alpine, and he mentioned a few others when questioned about his favorites from the garage. 

Alfa Romeo 1600 Junior Zagato

This iconic green Alfa Romeo 1600 is one of the few road cars Gordon Murray has been spotted driving, notably when he took it to a Kidd in a Sweet Shop interview.  He pointed out that the driver's seat had to be lowered a few inches below the base to accommodate his height.

The upgraded Junior Zagato by the British company Alfaholics won him over, and became a daily-driver car for the motorsport genius. From the same Italian brand, the late Brazilian F1 legend Ayrton Senna (1960–1994), a three-time world champion, also had an Alfa Romeo Alfasud Ti in his garage.

1963 Abarth 1000 GT Bialbero

Taking second place is the 1963 Abarth 1000 GT Bialbero and which won the inaugural World Sportscar Championship and went on to ensure 6 consecutive wins. 

1956 Lancia Appia With Zagato Coachwork

Gordon Murray’s third pick is the Lancia Appia Zagato, a lightweight Italian coupé produced from 1956 to 1963. Lancia allocated 5,000 chassis for coachbuilt versions, with 700 going to Zagato, which also developed a successful racing variant. 

Competing in events like the Mille Miglia, the car embodied agility and balance—qualities Murray values deeply.

1966 De Tomaso Vallelunga

Calling it a rare machine, Gordon pointed out that this was De Tomaso’s first car. He jokingly remarked on its combination of a sleek Italian body and a Cortina GT engine in the back—an unusual pairing that he finds fascinating. 

His deep appreciation for the Ford Kent engine, and that, along with the car’s compact, beautiful design, made him drive it frequently in the past.

1959 Lotus Elite

Gordon, as a teenager, was a fan of Colin Chapman, another automotive legend who designed and built so many incredible cars.

So it’s a dead giveaway that Gordon loves Lotus cars, and the beautiful black Lotus Elite from 1963 sits at the bottom of his top five. The Elite was the world’s first road car that came with an all-composite carbon-fiber monocoque. 

Gordon’s love for Lotus

The Lotus Elite is not the only car that found a place in Gordon Murray’s garage, as he has 3 more- 

1967 Lotus Elan S3

Gordon has not one but 2 Lotus Elan models, elevating the glamour of his garage. The first is the Lotus Elan S3 variant from 1966, and the other is the 1970 Lotus Elan S4. 

The two look eerily similar because of the same chassis and color, and the only differences are the narrow grill-like structure after the window and the fuel system. Murray had a Lotus Elan S3 before he bought these two, and he considers the Lotus Elan to be the best sports car.

1956 Lotus Eleven

The Lotus Eleven sits at a distance from its cousins in the same garage. The front-engine single-seater open-top sports car is from 1958, and Gordon has it in green with bright yellow along the middle of the hood and a little silver covering along the sides near the ground. 

1959 Lotus Seven

The Lotus Seven also sits in Gordon’s garage—a car he truly loves. Every vehicle in his collection reflects something about unparalleled persona, and this one stands out because it was designed by his favorite automotive designer, Colin Chapman, renowned for creating lightweight cars. 

Also known as "The White Tornado" among his friends, Gordon’s favorite automotive designer, Mr. Chapman, was behind the Lotus 79, which now sits in the garage of McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. During his time as McLaren’s technical director from 1987 to 1992, Gordon played a key role in shaping the team’s engineering direction.

1966 Lotus Europa S2

Apart from needing a bit of room on the steering wheel, Gordon Murray feels this car is just the fit he would like. In his own words, once you're in, it's well worth it. 

Gordon waited for ten years for the good twin-cam engine, and always envisioned it in pistachio green color, exactly the one it wears today.

1948 Lotus 31 Formula 3

Before Gordon started talking about his Lotus 31, he gave us a great deal of detail when it comes to Formula cars. If you're only familiar with Formula 1, there are actually multiple tiers—Formula 1, Formula 2, and Formula 3. The Lotus 31 belongs to the Formula 3 category.

Gordon became deeply passionate about racing cars in the 1960s when Formula 1, 2, and 3 cars all looked nearly identical. Joking about his 6'4" height, he remarked that he’d have to find someone else to race it someday.

1982 Gordon’s Midas Touch

Gordon Murray has a Midas touch, there is no denying that fact. However, we are talking about the Midas car from the early 90s. Midas was already good-looking, and that’s what hitcheed Gordon in the first place, but being who he is, there were some necessary changes. 

Murray brought in a new lower section, transforming the Midas into a mid-engine car, and fitted a new Alfasud engine in it. The only backlog is that his Midas is still not perfect by his definition, and he admitted to driving it around the car park only.

1967 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4

The automotive designer was considering the Lamborghini Urraco during the late 70s. The Ferrari 246 Dino was somewhat of a contemporary but Murray never liked the looks of it. However, the Ferrari 308 GT4 was able to change his mind, and Gordon ended up bringing it home instead of the Lambo.

Although known as the father of F1, Murray has never been particularly fond of Ferrari or Lamborghini race cars, considering them too big, too costly. Such extensive car collections are rare to find, but American icon Elvis Presley owned one such large garage, with an unknown number of automobiles, including a Ferrari Dino 308 GTB4.

1964 Minibug T2

While most celebrities opt for a rental to take a tour around the cities of Europe, Gordon Murray and his wife decided to build one for themselves. With the help of a young friend, Murray had already built four Minibugs, but for the special trip, he made “Continuation No 5” with a Mini Cooper S engine. The Minibug T2 turned out to be a blast. 

1959 Fiat-Abarth 750 GT Zagato

Well, as a kid in his early teenage years, Gordon used to gaze at these small, lightweight Fiat Abarth 750 GTs with their Zagato bodies, dreaming of owning one someday.

Simon Porter, a member of the Gordon Murray Automotive staff, has played a role in helping Murray track down these cool additions to his collection, along with some of his business friends. For Murray, it’s always about finding the right one.

1970 Fiat-Abarth 1000 SP

Another Abarth in Gordon’s garage is the Fiat Abarth 1000 SP, an incredible addition to his collection. It’s one of many Abarths he owns, with seven mentioned here. In his interview, he noted that several of his cars were at home and not present in the garage at the time.

1966 Fiat Abarth 1300 OT Coupe

Talking about his red 2000 OT, also known as Periscopio due to its unique periscope-style air vent that cools the driver, Gordon highlighted Carlo Abarth’s brilliance as a prolific designer, known for creating some truly successful and stunning cars. 

This particular model is one of only four remaining in the world, and rare gems like this are what make Gordon Murray’s car collection so special.

1958 Fiat Abarth 2000 Sport Spider

What Gordon loves about the Abarth 2000 Sport is its clear instrumentation, tachometers, rear counters, and thin gear levers. Interestingly, it’s one of the few racing cars he can fit into comfortably, despite his 6'4" height. 

However, the car was rebuilt during lockdown, and he hasn’t had the chance to get behind the wheel yet. For Gordon Murray, this remains one of his favorite Abarths.

1972 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato was a somewhat remodelled version of the Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce. Zagato delivered a winner for Alfa Romeo for the International Championship for GT Manufacturers.

1962 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider came in 1962, and it was basically a renamed Giuletta but an open-top version. Given the level of success and popularity, it would have been unusual not to see the two Alfa Romeo included in Gordon Murray’s car collection. 

1959 Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 is another gem inside the Gordon Murray garage, making it a wonderful piece of automobile as a collectible. The story of this Fiat 500 is that, originally, it was imported as a test vehicle for the McLaren, but its similar weight made it ideal for studying the power-to-weight ratio of their 1990s city car project.

Such little classics aren’t just a Murray favorite—they have also been admired by other racing legends. Seven-time F1 world champion and motorsport legend Michael Schumacher owns a Fiat 500 Abarth, showcasing his appreciation for compact cars.

1959 BMW 700

One of the world’s most legendary automotive designers, Gordon Murray, praised the BMW 700 for its pivotal role in saving the brand. “This is the car that saved BMW,” he said. He had always admired this compact BMW and was thrilled to finally own and drive what he calls a “class city car.”

While speaking to Johnny from The Late Brake Show, Gordon mentioned that only a few of these cars remain on the market today.

1959 Morris Mini Minor

Talking about his dark red Mini 850, Gordon mentioned how much he loved the car and that he had the option to buy a Cooper S in the same color but chose the Austin Mini instead, as these are some of the most fun cars to drive. 

He also mentioned that it was from October ’59, meaning it was one of the very first Minis—and the one he got when he was just 18.

1963 Hillman Imp

Gordon recalled exactly why he bought this car—it was all about the design. He admired the clever engineering of the Hillman, especially the hatch and folding back seat, which were pretty advanced for its time. 

When Jonny asked if he ever owned the Hot Imp, the racing version, Murray said he hadn’t—and wouldn’t—because he got this one purely for what he really cares about.

1972 Honda S600

When the Journalist Jonny talked about his struggle with the Honda S800, due to its smaller size, Gordon had to share his methods of how he managed to fit his size of man inside this car. 

He said ‘’I had to that smaller wheel seat upholstery out of the seat, and ribbers off the paddle’’ and that’s how he had to toil hard to fit this car to his height, adjusting several things to conserve his position to the steering wheel of his Honda S600. 

1966 Ford Cortina GT

Now these two are the exact opposites of the Fiat 500. The Ford Cortina is a mid-sized family car, while the Cortina GT is a more performance-oriented variant. Murray really loves driving this one as it offers the thrill of the 60s.

1957 Ford Thunderbird

The Ford Thunderbird, on the other hand, is one of the most prolific names from the muscle car era, and Murray has one with a porthole hardtop. Both are equally iconic and prove that Gordon’s garage is the most versatile among the collectors. 

1962 Smart Roadster

The Thunderbird is not the only droptop in the garage as Murray has a few more. The Smart Roadster is one of them and he loves driving around in this. Gordon stated in an interview that the Roadster is a great car and it does everything he needs. The Smart sportscar, being small and lightweight are obvious contributing factor behind his statement.

1959 Austin-Healey Sprite

Produced from 1958 to 1961, the Austin-Healey Sprite is a 2-seater sports car that was known for its distinctive appearance. The front fascia of the car looked like a bug and even had nicknames like “Frogeye Sprite” or “Bugeye Sprite”.

The car is lightweight and despite its unimpressive power output, the handling was agile enough to provide a lively driving experience. It was more popular for racing and rallying and Murray loved the car, especially for its distinctive styling.

The Racing DNAs from Gordon Murray’s car collection

The following were built for the track only and are also some of the closest to the automotive legend. 

1972 Duckhams LM Cosworth

The Prototype is one of the most unusual yet cool cars in Murray’s possession, and it is one of the best as well. The Le Mans 3.0L prototype, aka the Duckhams, was built in just four months as Alain de Cadenet was going to race in 1972.

They agreed on a fee of 250 quids for Gordon, but at the end of building the pancake-flat race car, he only got 200. However, Murray said Alain gave him a Hewlett-Packard scientific calculator to compensate for the 50 quids he still owed him.

1992 Light Car Company Rocket

This is the car with the most appropriate name in the entire history of automobiles. The Light Car Company Rocket was built in 1993, and it is still one of the lightest cars on the road, with just over 815 lbs. The torque of 77 lb-ft might not look the most exhilarating, but it was more than enough at that time. Gordon made it from bespoke parts with a Yamaha FZR1000 engine. 

1948 Ford Sprint Car

For Gordon, growing up in England, this was the shape that he believed was what a racing car would look like for him. He always wanted one of these cars. 

Inside Gordon Murray's garage, sitting next to the LCC Rocket, the Al Sherman Sprint Car looks like a distant cousin, made by Ford back in 1948. Al Sherman raced with it from 1948 to 1954 and made it a legend on the tracks.

Beyond The Racecars And Lightweights

1953 Porsche 550 Spyder

Gordon Murray’s car collection is not just about quirky four-wheelers. He is more about having fun and doing something that people don’t usually do. Take the Porsche 550 Spyder, for example, which looks so real that even the manufacturer might be taken aback to learn that it’s a replica. 

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is perhaps the heaviest car in his garage. Although in his Interview, Gordon said that he wouldn’t want to drive this sort of car, he does appreciate its engineering and design aspect, especially its carbon fiber chassis, for being so stiff and strong.

 All the details we have about Murray’s cars are thanks to automotive journalists, and among them, one of the most well-known is Jay Leno. Among Leno’s favorites, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren serves as a more practical daily driver from his list of stylish automobiles.

Special Mention

1962 Lotus 23

Gordon owns a lot of Lotus cars—perhaps even more than the seven we've covered here. There are also cars in his collection that he didn’t get the chance to talk about, despite being present in his garage. In the interview, he mentioned having 22 garages, making it no easy task to go through all of his cars.

2001 Honda NSX

One of the special cars that is dear to Gordon Murray’s heart is the Honda NSX, in an interview given to Honda Japan. As per the report, Murray drove this car for almost six to seven years, having almost 75,000 km of ride with this high-performance sports car.

‘’The NSX is a landmark car. It awoke not only a lazy Ferrari, but Porsche as well and sparked advances in usability, ergonomics, and handling’’ said the automotive engineer. 
Interestingly, British legendary actor Mr. Bean also owns a Honda NSX, adding a unique touch to his garage, which is filled with some outrageously luxuries such as Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Bentley, and few high-end Mercedes .

1972 Lamborghini Miura SV

Although Murray himself claims that he isn't a fan of owning expensive and larger-size cars, there are posts about him owning a 1972 Porsche Miura SV, in Light green color. 

From the European continent, we do have another celebrity, the popular singer, Jay Kay, owning this special Lamborghini Miura SV, adding more value to his collection of cars.

1967 IGM F750 (T.4)

Calling it a very historical car, Gordon said that when he went there in the UK for the first time, he still had that racing bug in him, and the only car that was a perfect fit for the budget he had was the Formula 750. 

Praising heavily this 1972 racing car, he talked highly about its features and design, calling it ahead of its time for the 70s.

This was the first car that used IGM’s pull rod rising rate suspension, which Gordon designed in 72, and copied across his Formula One cars. 

Gordon Murray's Bikes

Another funny characteristic of Murray is that he loves motorcycles. We know what you are thinking, “his father was a motorcycle racer, how is this funny”? Gordon has over forty motorbikes and the most amazing part is that he has one from each manufacturer. 

He rides them just for fun, which is how it should be. But wait, once he is through with a bike, he hangs it on his garage wall. Some of the most exclusive from his list are - the 1952 Atala 65T Ducati Cucciolo, 1967 Ducati 200 Elite, 1968 Oscar Super Sport Sport, and 1968 Tetsi champion MK 1, among many others.

That’s all from us on the cars inside Gordon Murray’s extensive garages. To explore more stunning car collections from the world’s top enthusiasts, check out the links below.

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