Our responses to crashed supercars are something that psychiatrists could probably study for a lifetime. For those of us who can’t afford to own something like a 2020 McLaren 720S Spider, seeing a wrecked one can range from irrational grief to a dark sort of judgemental pleasure from seeing something so opulent destroyed. It’s a strange thing, but it happens. 

But what if you could afford to buy a busted one and hack the supercar system? Would you dive into that quagmire and attempt to restore something like this wrecked 2020 McLaren 720S Spider? 

How much does a 2020 McLaren 720S Spider cost? 

McLaren has gone from a semi-obscure enthusiast British supercar brand to a widely known, major player in the performance car world. The McLaren 720S is a particularly mean piece of kit that starts at $299,000 and quickly goes up in price depending on options and features. The Spider (convertible) option cranks up the price to $315,000. 

This particular example has clearly seen better days. According to CarScoops, this McLaren 720S Spider was recently listed for auction on Copart after getting busted up in what looks to have been a bad accident. 

Although it’s fun to rib supercars owners for having such high-end equipment and not being able to handle them, this one seems to be in the clear as the McLaren was the one hit by another driver.

Can you buy a salvage supercar? 

You certainly can salvage high-end cars, but it’s something that should be taken on a case-by-case basis. The amount of damage, the type of car, and the price should all be considered. Although this is a $315k supercar, the repairs will undoubtedly be a pretty costly sum. 

According to CarScoops, the damage is pretty substantial, but does that mean it’s toast? The lion’s share of the damage appears to be on the passenger side of the McLaren 720S. The front right wheel, quarter panel, and wheel well are obliterated. The damage extends to the front bumper being partially torn off and the McLaren’s hood being bent up. 

CarScoops further recognized the damage as extending to the back right wheel as well. The rear axel likely sustained damage as the rear wheel is sharply bent under the McLaren 720S.

The rear bumper also shows damage to the crashed supercar. The more you look at the McLaren, the more you see the damage is fairly extensive. There is even some visible damage to the driver’s side skirt. 

Copart also notes that there is damage to the underside of the McLaren 720S, although we don’t have those images, and Copart doesn’t explain the extent of the damage. 

Know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em

If, like me, you have poured over these photos and get excited about the potential of having a McLaren 720S Spider for a fraction of what a new one would cost, take a beat. The current bid is only $200, but that will undoubtedly go up.

If it stayed around there, buying the car to salvage even one part would be a no-brainer. The problem is knowing how much it will take to restore or if restoration is even feasible for this crashed supercar. 

These are exciting propositions because we can feel like it’s a chance to skip the line and live out a dream. For some people in some particular cases, it very well might be just that. However, there is a big risk here. So, would you try to save this crashed 2020 McLaren 720S Spider?