When California real estate investor Manny Khoshbin spent $2.2 million on the fastest street-legal car in the world, he had no idea it would also become the fastest-appreciating asset he'd ever own.
“Quickest $1.9 million I ever made,” Khoshbin told CNBC.
Khoshbin is an Instagram influencer with almost 1 million followers who eat up the almost daily car porn he posts. His feed is filled with pics and videos or his personal collection of insanely expensive rides — many of which sit in the middle of his real estate office, which doubles as a private super-car showroom.
Parked next to his 1,400 pound black aluminum desk, which is shaped like a stealth-bomber, are more than a dozen cars, including a one-of-a-kind Pagani Huayra Hermés edition, a Bugatti Mansory Linea Vincero and a full-body exposed carbon matte finish McLaren P1.
But none of those wheels are as fast as the Koenigsegg Agera RS he had delivered 12 months ago. The hypercar set at least five world records for speed for a street-legal car, with the fastest run clocking in at just over 284 miles per hour. Only 25 were ever made during its three-year run and they sold out in the first 10 months of its debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Khoshbin was in line for the last one, an Agera RS Gryphon that crashed in a test run when the driver lost control at a wet track in Trollhattan, Sweden, in 2017.
Khoshbin's Agera RS Phoenix inside showroomCNBCKoenigsegg said on its Instagram page at the time that it reached “a mutually satisfactory outcome” with Khoshbin “to spec an all-new Agera RS that will blow everyone's mind.”
Khoshbin added some over-the-top upgrades, including a 1,400 horsepower engine, a $300,000 tail wing for increased aerodynamics and lots of 24 karat accents, including the gold-covered exhaust pipe. Parts of the engine and the stripes that run around its entire carbon body are covered in gold.
Gold-exhaust pipe on Agera RS PhoenixCNBCKhoshbin dubbed it the Agera RS Phoenix, rising out of the ashes of the Gryphon. Besides the pricey add-ons, it was the last Agera RS Koenigsegg ever made — making it highly desirable to collectors.
“I wasn't thinking about selling it. Honestly, I was buying to keep it permanently, but I got an offer I couldn't refuse,” Khoshbin told CNBC.
Rear view of the gold-accented Agera RS Phoenix and $300k tail wingCNBCHe says a mutual friend connected him to a prospective buyer who, like Khoshbin, had an appreciation for carbon fiber dripping in gold.
“He had another Koenigsegg in carbon and gold and this was a perfect match to the other in his collection,” Khoshbin said. Just like the Agera RS, the deal moved super fast. It took about a week to negotiate a price, he said. “I said $5 million, we negotiated and landed at $4.1 million.”
Manny Khoshbin and 1,400 pound black aluminum office desk@mannykhoshbin on InstagramIn just over five months, Khoshbin pocketed $1.9 million in profit — which works out to roughly $365,595 a month, $11,875 a day or $495 an hour.
While the real estate investor says he's made millions of dollars buying and selling buildings, he's never made this much money in so little time.
Soon after closing the Phoenix deal, he used the cash to buy a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Rembrandt with just 770 miles on the odometer. The bronze-colored beast, which can go from 0 to 60 in a mind-blowing 2.6 seconds, was a bargain at $2 million. The car's previous owner, a Texas billionaire, bought the Bugatti new in 2014 for just north of $3 million.
Khoshbin at dealership eyeing his Bugatti Rembrandt with Nick Jones, General Sales Manager of Bugatti Long Beach@mannykhoshbin on Instagram “I love cars, but at the end of the day you got to be strategic and smart with your money,” said Khoshbin.
He's passionate about rare cars and says investing in them is more fun than other collectibles like art. “You can't take your Picasso to lunch, but you can drive your Bugatti to the restaurant,” he said.
When I asked Khoshbin if there's a car in his collection that he won't sell he answered without skipping a beat.
“No, the only thing I won't sell is my wife and kids,” he said.
His car obsession continues in the meantime. He's already put a deposit on a replacement for the Phoenix, ordering a Koenigsegg Jesko with 1,600 horsepower that will cost him around $3 million.
Manny Khoshbin with wife Leyla Milani and Pagani Huayra Hermés Edition@mannykhoshbin on Instagram
Tag: McLaren
Cambria opens McLaren dealership in Hatfield
Cambria Automobiles has opened a new McLaren showroom in Hatfield, North London., trading under its Grange arm. McLaren’s UK network now comprises nine sales outlets with outlets in Ascot, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Leeds and New Forest. It recently celebrated the production of the 20,000th car in Woking, Surrey. Last year the group built… Continue reading Cambria opens McLaren dealership in Hatfield
Wed 22 May 2019
An Evening with Professor Gordon Murray CBE – Review
‘One Formula’ Book Launch
Not for the first time this year, the Club’s motoring enthusiasts enjoyed an evening celebrating another car design legend, Professor Gordon Murray CBE.
The evening celebrated Gordon’s latest ambitious project – the result of countless hours of work and hundreds of drawings going into its creation. Not a car, but a book. Published by Porter Press, ‘One Formula – 50 Years of Car Design’ is a two-volume work encompassing nearly all of Gordon’s car designs, of which there are over 80, and our evening celebrated its day of launch.
During the evening, Gordon spoke candidly about his decision to write a book, deeming the 50-year mark as an appropriate milestone. With countless drawings, notes and sketches he was able to record the design story of each car, noting that the most difficult part was choosing what not to include.
During the evening Gordon explained his One Formula philosophy which has run throughout his career. He has always focused on lightweight race cars as the key to helping cars go faster, citing that the combustion engine has almost been pushed to its limits.
The Early Days
The evening was hosted by TV presenter, former Le Mans 24 Hours racing driver and long-term friend of Gordon’s, Alain de Cadenet.
After some motorsport success in South Africa, Gordon sold-up and boarded a converted cargo boat bound for England. It was there Gordon applied for a role at the Lotus Formula 1 team with Colin Chapman but was disappointed to hear that the manufacturer had ran out of funds.
After this setback he joined Brabham under Bernie Ecclestone’s leadership and quickly rose up the ranks. He spoke fondly of his cutting edge BT44B, a design which appeared in the rotunda in celebration of the evening. He also spoke about his other standout designs, including the short lived, but extremely successful, BT46B fan car.
The McLaren Era
Gordon and Alain then spoke about his time spent working at McLaren under Ron Dennis, and for the famous racing duo of Prost and Senna. He recalled his surprise when it was announced they couldn’t begin pre-season testing because Alain Prost had chosen to go skiing. The relaxed discipline of the team proved a big surprise to Gordon!
It was Alain’s turn to reminisce when the conversation moved onto Gordon’s road car designs, and in particular the McLaren F1 car. Alain remembered feeling the full force of the car as it raced to over 230 miles per hour when with him and Gordon in it.
The next big success story for Gordon was his McLaren F1 car competing and winning the at Le Mans 24 Hours race at its very first attempt. The Professor deemed the victory one of his greatest successes, at is demonstrated how good the car was in that it didn’t have to be modified to a huge extent. It was a resounding victory for the team.
Gordon Murray Design
Finally Gordon spoke about his decision to set up his own Design Company, Gordon Murray Design. Now in its twelfth year, the team’s latest iStream technology encompasses the lightweight ‘One Formula’ to help achieve light but robust vehicles. The platform is highly versatile, and can be tailored to fit all engine types, and even autonomous vehicles.
Gordon offered a glimpse into the other vehicles he’s currently working on, including a new autonomous vehicle. He also shared his passion for the Rocket Car built in 1991. Although he didn’t confirm a newer model was on the cards, he did reveal he was running out of reasons not to make a start.
Rotunda Cars
In celebration of the evening, two of Gordon’s designs were placed in the rotunda.
The Brabham BT44B was a Formula 1 car which was driven by Carlos Reutemann and Carlos Pace, in which both of whom achieved a Grand Prix victory.
Also displayed was the first car to be built and raced by Gordon – the IGM Ford T.1. This was his first ever racing car created in his parents’ backyard and raced in sprints, hillclimbs and South African Nation Sports Cars (Class A) before he sold up and boarded a cargo ship for England in 1969.
New McLaren GT: superlight Grand Touring, the McLaren way
15 May 2019 McLaren redefines the rules of Grand Touring with a unique new car for a new McLaren audience New McLaren GT delivers classic Grand Tourer attributes of competition levels of performance and continent-crossing capability, yet is lighter, faster, more engaging and more usable The first true McLaren Grand Tourer in the McLaren product… Continue reading New McLaren GT: superlight Grand Touring, the McLaren way
Tue 14 May 2019
Gordon Murray presents virtual exhibition of life's work
50 years of automotive design and engineering immortalised in online showcase
Fans can ‘sit’ in Senna’s Formula One car; examine detail of a McLaren F1
Free exhibit goes live in tandem with Murray’s One Formula book launch
Gordon Murray has unveiled a fully-immersive, internet-based virtual exhibition of 40 different iconic race and road cars produced during the past 50 years of his illustrious career in vehicle design and engineering. The online exhibition, which brings to life the private ‘One Formula’ exhibition held in late 2017, is free to access and can be found at www.oneformulagordonmurray.com.
Motorsport fans can ‘walk’ among cars driven by legends including Piquet, Senna and Prost, and even ‘sit’ in the cockpits for a driver’s-eye view. Among the grand prix cars featured are the Brabham BT46B ‘Fan Car’, the BT49C that won the 1981 World Drivers’ Championship in the hands of Nelson Piquet, and the McLaren MP4/4, which Ayrton Senna drove to his first Drivers’ Championship victory in 1988.
Visitors can also explore the McLaren F1 – still the world’s fastest naturally-aspirated road car, and its celebrated Le Mans racing siblings. Other famed Murray projects showcased include the OX flat pack truck, the TVR Griffith and the revolutionary iStream® platform manufacturing technologies.
Professor Gordon Murray, CBE, said: “It is such thrill to share my passion for engineering purity, beautiful design, aerodynamic excellence, and technological innovation. Creating an exhibition in a free-to-view format, accessible to all, in stunning virtual reality is exciting and a source of great pride.
“For the One Formula exhibition, we gathered almost every race and road car from my 50-year career to date, and we were inundated with requests from fans across the world who wanted to visit. Being a short-term, private exhibition meant we couldn’t share our passion with these enthusiasts. So, doing so in virtual form is the next best thing!”
The launch of the free virtual exhibition coincides with the launch of Murray’s ‘One Formula’ book, a two-volume, 900-page epic that charts in detail the ideas, personal perspectives, triumphs and records achieved over 50 years of automotive design and engineering.
Those who explore every corner of the detailed and fascinating online showcase will see information and exhibits covering the design, engineering, prototyping and development of vehicles by Gordon Murray Design Limited. By scrutinising the principles Murray has applied across his career, visitors may piece-together the blueprint for a forthcoming supercar – which is currently under top secret development.
-Ends-
Professor Gordon Murray, CBE – biography
Gordon Murray was born in Durban, South Africa in 1946 and gained a Mechanical Engineering Diploma from Natal Technical College. He designed, built and raced his own sports car (the IGM Ford) in the National Class in South Africa during 1967 and 1968.
In 1969 Gordon moved to the UK and joined the Brabham Formula One Team as Technical Director, winning two world championships (1981 and 1983) during his 17 years with the team. Gordon joined McLaren Racing as Technical Director in 1988 and three consecutive championship wins (1988, 1989 and 1990) followed. In 1990, Gordon moved away from Formula One – after 50 Grand Prix wins – to concentrate on establishing a new company for the group, McLaren Cars Limited.
The company’s first project, the F1 road car, is still regarded as one of the world’s best engineered cars. A racing version won two world sports car championships and the Le Mans 24-hour race on its first attempt in 1995. McLaren Cars then completed several other successful projects culminating in the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren programme.
Gordon left McLaren in 2005 to set up his new company Gordon Murray Design Limited (in 2007), of which he is CEO and Technical Director. The innovative British company operates from Shalford in Surrey, and aims to be the world leader in automotive design. It reverses the current industry trend for sub-contracting by having a complete in-house capability for design, prototyping and development.
In 2017, Gordon Murray Design celebrated the company’s 10-year anniversary along with that of the iStream® manufacturing process. At a special event, named ‘One Formula’ Gordon Murray also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the McLaren F1 road car entering production, and his 50th year of car design and engineering.
In May 2019, Professor Murray was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) by the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William. The ceremony, held at Buckingham Palace, recognised the contributions made by Murray to the motorsport and automotive sectors over the past 50 years.
PR contacts
For further information, images or comment about the Gordon Murray Group, please contact:
Jon Visscher
PFPR Communications
Jon.Visscher@pfpr.com
01622 776 680 / 07816 906 794
Sarah Smith, Communications Officer
Gordon Murray Design
sarah.smith@gordonmurraydesign.com
01483 484 710
Virtual exhibition by Insight Simulation
Contact David Hothersall
david@insightsimulation.com
www.insightsimulation.com
DOWNLOADSDownload Release
McLaren Automotive marks building its 20,000th car
McLaren Automotive, the luxury British sportscar and supercar company, has celebrated the 20,000th car to be hand-assembled at its McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, Surrey. The 20,000th car built was a right-hand drive 600LT Spider in Chicane Grey from the brand’s Sports Series line-up. Launched only last summer as the next chapter in the McLaren… Continue reading McLaren Automotive marks building its 20,000th car
New McLaren GT ready to redefine the rules of Grand Touring
7 May 2019 The new McLaren GT will be revealed at 8:00a.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 Superlight Grand Tourer is fourth new model announced under McLaren Automotive Track25 business plan Take part in the McLaren GT conversation using #NEWRULES McLaren Automotive will next week unveil the latest addition to its expanding family of cars… Continue reading New McLaren GT ready to redefine the rules of Grand Touring
Meeting Jost Capito, the man behind Volkswagen’s R division
Next came a lateral move to Sauber, specifically Sauber Petronas Engineering, which was charged with moving Proton beyond its early technical alliance with Mitsubishi. Capito led development of an all-new 2.0-litre engine, and although this didn’t make production his skills at project management were noticed and he was made COO of the Sauber F1 team… Continue reading Meeting Jost Capito, the man behind Volkswagen’s R division
Thu 02 May 2019
Prince William presents CBE to Gordon Murray for ‘services to motoring’
Legendary automotive designer and engineer is recognised for 50 years’ dedicated service to the automotive industry
Today (2 May 2019), Professor Gordon Murray, the renowned automotive designer and engineer, was presented with a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) by the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William. The ceremony, held at Buckingham Palace, recognised the contributions made by Murray to the motorsport and automotive sectors over the past 50 years.
Gordon Murray said: “Receiving a CBE from Prince William is one of the highlights of my life – right up there with Formula One World Championship wins or creating the world’s fastest production car. The Gordon Murray Group is about to embark on an exciting new chapter, with ground-breaking innovation once again driving our growth. Energised by this accolade I can’t wait to continue the journey, supported by a dedicated and hugely talented team.”
50 years of service
Murray designed his first car in 1967 before moving to the UK to join the Brabham Formula One Team as Technical Director. There he won two world championships (1981 and 1983), before moving to McLaren International as Technical Director in 1988 where the team won three consecutive championships – 1988, 1989 and 1990.
After achieving 50 Formula One Grand Prix wins, Murray went on to establish a new company – McLaren Cars Limited. The company’s first project was the world-famous McLaren F1 Road Car. In 1995, a racing version won two world sports car championships and the Le Mans 24-hour race. Murray guided several other successful projects at McLaren Cars, culminating with the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren programme.
In 2007 Murray formed a new British company for the design, engineering, prototyping and development of vehicles – Gordon Murray Design Limited. The Surrey-based company has a global reputation as one of the finest automotive design teams in the world and is responsible for an innovative and disruptive manufacturing technology: iStream®.
On 14 May, Gordon Murray will launch a new book titled ‘One Formula’, which charts in detail his career over the past 50 years. It includes extensive details about the plethora of vehicles he has designed and engineered over the years from Formula One icons, to legendary road and race cars. Also, it covers many of the fascinating situations he’s encountered and achievements he’s made during his long and distinguished career.
-Ends-
Gordon Murray – biography
Gordon Murray was born in Durban, South Africa in 1946 and gained a Mechanical Engineering Diploma from Natal Technical College. He designed, built and raced his own sports car (the IGM Ford) in the National Class in South Africa during 1967 and 1968.
In 1969 Gordon moved to the UK and joined the Brabham Formula One Team as Technical Director, winning two world championships (1981 and 1983) during his 17 years with the team. Gordon joined McLaren Racing as Technical Director in 1988 and three consecutive championship wins (1988, 1989 and 1990) followed. In 1990, Gordon moved away from Formula One – after 50 Grand Prix wins – to concentrate on establishing a new company for the group, McLaren Cars Limited.
The company’s first project, the F1 road car, is still regarded as one of the world’s best engineered cars. A racing version won two world sports car championships and the Le Mans 24-hour race on its first attempt in 1995. McLaren Cars then completed several other successful projects culminating in the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren programme.
Gordon left McLaren in 2005 to set up his new company Gordon Murray Design Limited (in 2007), of which he is CEO and Technical Director. The innovative British company operates from Shalford in Surrey, and aims to be the world leader in automotive design. It reverses the current industry trend for sub-contracting by having a complete in-house capability for design, prototyping and development.
In 2017, Gordon Murray Design celebrated the company’s 10-year anniversary along with that of the iStream manufacturing process. At a special event, named ‘One Formula’ Gordon Murray also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the McLaren F1 road car entering production, and his 50th year of car design and engineering.
PR contacts
For further information, images or comment about the Gordon Murray Group, please contact:
Jon Visscher
PFPR Communications
jon.visscher@pfpr.com
01622 776 680 / 07816 906 794
Sarah Smith, Communications Officer
Gordon Murray Design
sarah.smith@gordonmurraydesign.com
01483 484 710
DOWNLOADSDownload Release
2020 Jeep Gladiator Enters Production In Toledo
autoevolution
cars
moto
news
car reviews
spyshots
driven cars
space junk
green
newspaper
Compare Cars
BAC Calculator
Editorial
Coverstory
Motorsport
Testdrives archive
Auto Shows
Tuning
Car Finder
Photo of the Day
Glossary of automotive terms
Masthead
RSS Feeds
More on this:1 Car Logos, Bauhaus Style2 McLaren 600LT Drag Races 1,000 HP Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk3 Jeep Renegade EV Made Possible By GKN4 All-Electric Jeep Confirmed by FCA in Vast Expansion Plan5 Jeep Announces 2019 Geneva Motor Show Lineup
Up Next
Let's Get Wet: A Simple Guide for Driving in the Rain
2020 Jeep Gladiator Enters Production In Toledo
21 Mar 2019, 7:53 UTC ·
by Mircea Panait
Home > News > Car Profile
Unveiled back in November at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Gladiator is the must-have pickup right now. Jeep has started production of the mid-size workhorse in Toledo, and the first examples of the breed are preparing to hit dealership lots in the United States.
75 photosThere’s no pricing information available for the Gladiator at this moment, but we do know the trim levels start with the Sport. Given the spacious cabin and practicality of the bed, we’re expecting the newcomer to start at more than $31,445, the asking price for the cheapest Wrangler Unlimited available to order.
The Sport S, Overland, and Rubicon round off the list, and depending on configuration, maximum towing is rated at 7,650 pounds. Best-in-class accolades include maximum payload (1,600 pounds) and “the most off-road capable mid-size truck ever.” In the case of the latter, the heavy-duty Dana 44 front and rear axles are complemented by a 4×4 system with high and low range, an electronic disconnecting sway bar up front, FOX shock absorbers, and 33-inch tires developed for all-terrain driving.
The devil is in the details, and if you were wondering, the Gladiator is the only open-air pickup in the industry. The Freedom Top three-piece hard top in the bodywork’s color comes standard. Customers who want to experience the most out of the Gladiator can opt for the Sunrider soft top.
As for the oily bits, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles offers the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 as standard with ESS, 285 horsepower, and 260 pound-feet of torque. The six-speed manual can be swapped with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Not long now, the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 will be added to the lineup, featuring more low-end torque than the gasoline engine.
Being a mid-size pickup with know-how from Ram, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator will have to take on the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma, Honda Ridgeline, and Nissan Frontier. Coincidence or not, FCA will have the highest starting price in the segment given the Jeep badge up front and go-anywhere promise of the Gladiator.
click to load Disqus comments for this storyThis enables Disqus, Inc. to process some of your data.
The Perversion of the Fast and the Furious
How Stan the Robot Parking Valet Works
Lamborghini: the Italian Supercar Dynasty That Was Created Out of Vengeance
Manipulated Into Liking Cars
Let's Get Wet: A Simple Guide for Driving in the Rain
The Fascinating Unknown Cars of the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
Smoke and Mirrors: Volvo's New Top Speed Limit
The Dos and Don’ts of Washing a Motorcycle, Part Two (Final)
Headwave TAG Helmet Music and Navigation System Reviewed
Driverless Cars and the Mating Habits of the Earthbound Humans
What Is the Green NCAP?
Concept Cars to Look for at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
On Electric Harleys and New Generations
The Dos and Don’ts of Washing a Motorcycle, Part One
The Biggest Anticipations in Motorcycling for 2016, Part 1
Could Volkswagen Group's Electric Plans Include Ducati?
How to Use the Tesla Autopilot No-Confirmation Lane Change Option
2019 Formula 1 Round-Up: Cars, Drivers, Regulations
The Engine Start-Stop Systems Conspiracy
Tesla Sentry Mode – The Fancy Loud Alarm System
Aprils Fools' Pranks We’d Love or Hate to See Come True
JEEP models:JEEP Renegade Small SUVJEEP Gladiator Midsize PickupJEEP GRAND CHEROKEE TRACKHAWK Large SUVJEEP Cherokee Medium SUVJEEP Wrangler Rubicon Small SUVAll JEEP models
googletag.cmd.push(function(){ window.slot4 = googletag.defineSlot(“/1004334/AE_news_300x600_noref”, [300, 600], “AE_news_300x600_noref__slot_4”).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.display(“AE_news_300x600_noref__slot_4”); });if(typeof window.REQUEST_NONPERS !== “undefined”) { console.log(“manref”); googletag.pubads().refresh([window.slot4]); } '+'ipt>';
if(i==3) txt+='googletag.cmd.push(function(){ window.slot5 = googletag.defineSlot(“/1004334/AE_news_300x250_noref”, [300, 250], “AE_news_300x250_noref__slot_5”).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.display(“AE_news_300x250_noref__slot_5”); });if(typeof window.REQUEST_NONPERS !== “undefined”) { console.log(“manref”); googletag.pubads().refresh([window.slot5]); } '+'ipt>';
}
txt+=””+
“”+
“”+data[i][0]+””+
“”+
“”+
“”+data[i][2]+”
“+
“”+
“”+
“”;
}
txt+=””;
$('#morescroll').html(txt);
nxloaderactive=false;
});
}
function aenext_lzy() {
$(window).on(“scroll”, function() {
if(nxstories!=false) return;
var footOffset = $(“#footer”).offset().top;
if($(window).scrollTop() > footOffset – $(window).height() – 600) aenext_load();
});
}
function aenews_fixoverlaps_actual() {
window.aeoverlapst=-1;
var $rsoc=$(“.rightsocial”).first();
if($rsoc.length!=0) {
var rsocofs=$rsoc.offset().top;
var $newsgal=$(“.newsgal”).first();
if($newsgal.length==0) return;
var ngofs=$newsgal.offset().top+$newsgal.height();
if(rsocofs