The great F. Scott Fitzerald summed it up perfectly: “Let me tell you about the rich. They are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them… unless you were born rich, it is very difficult to understand.”
Apparently, Neiman Marcus understands all too well, no matter if they were born rich, married into money or made their fortune by themselves. That’s why every year its Christmas Book catalogue includes, among other things, a limited edition of an automobile, which is priced accordingly.
Of course, it doesn’t pick just any car: in the past, models that have received the Neiman Marcus treatment include the Lexus IS-F, the BMW 750 Li and the Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible.
Topping last year’s US$395,000 Ferrari FF was always going to be a difficult task.
The 2013 McLaren MP4-12C Spider, though, is not a bad choice at all for this year’s customers. The luxury retailer will offer just 12 examples priced at US$354,000 – a paltry US$85,750 more than the stock version that you can purchase at McLaren. And that’s excluding taxes and destination charges.
What you get for your $354k+ is a “volcano red” Spider with matching Neiman Marcus luggage set and a three-day trip to England in February where you will have a tour of the McLaren factory and get to dine with the company’s chairman, Ron Dennis.
Neiman Marcus will also donate US$3,000 to national charity Big Brothers Big Sisters for each sale.
You can order your “special” McLaren by phone starting October 24, but don’t expect to delivery before early 2013.
You had better hurry, though, because last year it took only 50 minutes for the 10 Ferraris to sell out…
By Andrew Tsaousis
PHOTO GALLERY
