Ho-ho-ho, Merry Christmas? All that's missing from the Neiman Marcus McLaren 12C is the bow.
We haven’t even seen Santa anchor New York’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade yet, but with the local CostCo already lighting up the artificial tree we’ve begun to scratch our head hoping to think up some creative Christmas presents.
If only we had the money to pop for the big one being offered by Neiman Marcus in its holiday catalog this year. The caterer to America’s 1%, the Dallas-based chain is offering a dozen special edition McLaren 12C Spiders.
“What will it be today? “Normal,” “Sport,” or “Track” mode? You set the handling and head out,” suggests the new Neiman Marcus Holiday Catalog. “It’s a beautiful day for a drive. How about putting the top down? No need to pull over—with the push of a button, it retracts in just 17 seconds while traveling undr 20 mph. The coast is clear, and you punch it. AHHH! The incredible rush of hitting 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Curve ahead! Channeling Bruce McLaren, you head into the turn . . .”
Of course, folks don’t refer to the tony store as “Needless Markups” for nothing. The catalog edition of the McLaren 12C will go for a whopping $354,000, about $86,000 more than what you’d pay at one of the maker’s equal upscale dealers. Out of that premium, however, McLaren promises $3,000 will go to charity – specifically Big Brothers Big Sisters.
And it isn’t a mere “base” McLaren you’ll be getting. Each of the 12 cars offered (12C, if you didn’t get it) will be offered in a special Volcano Red paint finish, with diamond-cut black-out wheels and a special set of McLaren luggage – along with a trip to England tossed in so you can tour McLaren’s Wokking headquarters and finish the day up with a dinner with company chairman and racing legend Ron Dennis.
One thing that can be said about the Neiman Marcus folk, they’re nothing if not eclectic in their choice of cars. Over the years, they have offered a bewildering array of models as modest as the ‘90s-era Ford Thunderbird, a Chevrolet Camaro and last year’s Ferrari FF. Equally amazing is the speed with which they vanish off the digital shelves – often within minutes of the online catalogue going live.
So, consider the opportunity to rip off the wrapping, untie the bow and watch the look of joy on your loved one’s face as you sing out, “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way…as we head out for a ride in our 616-horsepower carbon-fiber sleigh.”
Perhaps Santa himself could use one to speed up the deliveries?