Mention the first road-going supercar with a carbon-fiber monocoque, and there’s a good chance the McLaren F1 comes to mind. The legendary British machine certainly helped make the technology famous, but it wasn’t actually first.
That distinction belongs to a far more obscure supercar from Monaco. The Monte Carlo Automotive Centenaire debuted in May 1990 with a carbon-composite monocoque, years before the McLaren F1 reached production.
The Centenaire wasn’t lacking exotic hardware elsewhere, either. Behind the cabin sat a Lamborghini-sourced 5.2-liter V12 paired with a six-speed manual transmission.
Now, the very first Centenaire produced is heading to Broad Arrow’s Zoute Concours Auction on October 9. With an estimate of €900,000 to €1.2 million, this forgotten piece of supercar history could become a seven-figure collectible.
Monaco’s Homegrown Supercar
Monte Carlo Automotive was founded in 1985 by former Formula 2 and CART driver Fulvio-Maria Ballabio. Its Centenaire project brought together several experienced motorsport figures, including legendary engineer Carlo Chiti.
Lamborghini agreed to supply its 5.2-liter Countach 5000 QV V12 for the project. In this car, it produces 455 PS, or 449 hp in American measurements, which is routed to the wheels through a ZF six-speed manual transmission.
The Centenaire’s carbon-composite construction was the real breakthrough. Broad Arrow says its May 1990 debut came months before the Jaguar XJR-15 was announced that November, while the McLaren F1 wouldn’t be unveiled until 1992.
This Is The First One
The car being offered is particularly significant because it was the very first Centenaire produced. MCA documentation identifies it as original chassis 001, although it was later redesignated EL0002 after serving as a development, testing, and presentation vehicle.
It was also the only example originally finished in Ivory White with a red leather interior, representing Monaco’s national colors. The car later spent roughly a decade at Lamborghini’s Sant’Agata Bolognese factory before being given to the MCA founder in the early 2000s.
After being repainted blue around 2007, it appeared at Rétromobile alongside the Lamborghini Pregunta concept. Its current owner acquired it in 2014 and subsequently had the body restored to its original Ivory White.
Less Than 1,600 Kilometers Showing
Today, the Centenaire’s odometer displays just 1,560 kilometers, or roughly 970 miles. Broad Arrow cautions that it likely accumulated additional mileage during its development days before the odometer was reset for its first private owner.
The car comes with extensive documentation, including MCA correspondence, period photographs, and even a copy of the agreement between Lamborghini and Ballabio covering the supply of engines.
Its €900,000 to €1.2 million estimate is serious money for a supercar many enthusiasts have probably never heard of. Then again, being able to tell a friend that your car did the carbon-monocoque thing before their McLaren F1 will probably be worth every cent for some well-heeled collector.