McLAREN F1 ROAD CAR - INTRODUCTION
The philosophy behind the F1 road car was simple - to be the finest drivers’ car ever built, or ever likely to be built...
This meant producing a car not only with outstanding performance but one versatile and usable as an everyday vehicle.
FORMULA 1 TECHNOLOGY
The McLaren F1 benefits from World Championship Formula One technology and experience and is the world’s first production road car to feature an all carbon composite monocoque and body structure.
This unique material combines the low weight necessary for performance with exceptional strength to exceed demanding industry safety requirements.
POWERTRAIN
McLaren Automotive commissioned the BMW S70/2 engine, designed and built specifically for the F1. This 6.1 litre, quad-cam, 48-valve V12 power unit produces no less than 627 bhp and drives through a bespoke six-speed transaxle gearbox.
RADICAL DESIGN FEATURES
Central driving position
‘Ground-Plane Shear' suspension geometry’
Intelligent brake cooling
Fan-assisted ground-effect aerodynamics
These and many more simply amplify the F1's purity as the ultimate "drivers’ car".
Each McLaren F1, tailor-made to the owners’ personal specification, featured as standard full air conditioning, a superb ultra lightweight CD stereo system and exclusive hand-made luggage in soft leather.
In March 1998, the F1 confirmed that it is the fastest production car in the world, achieving a record top speed of 240.14mph. This was a record it held until March 2005.
This achievement was made all the more spectacular by the fact that the McLaren F1 was never conceived to achieve this record. It was merely a consequence of its unrivalled focus and supreme engineering as the ultimate drivers’ car.
McLAREN F1 ROAD CAR - EQUIPMENT
Full cabin air conditioning
SeKurit electric defrost/ demist windscreen and side glass
Electric window lifts
Remote central locking
Kenwood CD stereo system
Cabin access release for opening panels
Tailored document case
Cabin stowage department
Four lamp high performance headlight system
Rear fog and reversing lights
Courtesy lights in all compartments
Map reading lights
Remote battery charging point
Facom titanium tool kit
External battery charger
McLaren F1 owner/drivers handbook
Production of the McLaren F1 drew to a close in May 1998, with a total production of 100 cars built, sold and delivered to customers.
Of the 100 cars 64 were F1 road cars, five were F1 LM versions built to commemorate victory at Le Mans in 1995 and three were F1 GT road going versions of the long tail 1997 F1 GTR race car. The remaining 28 were F1 GTR race cars built for private customers competing in the FIA GT series and the 24 Heures du Mans.
Of the 100 cars 64 were F1 road cars, five were F1 LM versions built to commemorate victory at Le Mans in 1995 and three were F1 GT road going versions of the long tail 1997 F1 GTR race car. The remaining 28 were F1 GTR race cars built for private customers competing in the FIA GT series and the 24 Heures du Mans.
F1 64 GTR 1995 9
F1 LM 5 GTR 1996 9
F1 GT 3 GTR 97 10
For the F1, it requires a few moments thought to come to terms with the fact that only 64 of these exquisite cars will ever exist. Their rarity is guaranteed, and consequently, their value is likely to increase with time.
Most of the existing owners intend to keep their cars for their lifetime - some even intend to pass them on to their own children. But, just occasionally, an F1 becomes available through McLaren’s facilitation service, which helps to place existing F1's with new owners.
Having secured an F1, the new owner would then expect McLaren Automotive to rebuild the car to his own specification. This would include a seat fitting to ensure that all the controls are perfectly positioned, plus any combination of repainting, retrimming and options that he requires.
McLAREN F1 ROAD CAR - TRACK RECORD
The McLaren F1 set three incredible speed records on its way to making automotive history as the finest road car every produced.
On March 31, 1998, the McLaren F1 obliterated the production road car world speed record in XP5, achieving a new official top speed of 240.1mph/386.7kph at Germany's VW Ehra-Lessien proving ground. Incredibly this was a record the F1 held for 7 years, until March 2005.
On December 16th 1998 the same McLaren F1, driven by Peter Taylor, an independent test and development engineer broke the high-speed circuit record at MIRA averaging 168mph round the 2.82 mile banked circuit with a maximum speed of 196.2mph.
In March 1999 BBC's Top Gear, in conjunction with McLaren Automotive, set a new UK closed circuit record in aid of the Comic Relief charity. Driven by Tiff Needell XP5 once again sensationally set the fastest lap record of a British circuit averaging 195.3mph round the 2-mile banked circuit at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.
This was the third proving ground record set by the McLaren F1, a phenomenal achievement by a truly phenomenal road car
The McLaren F1 set three incredible speed records on its way to making automotive history as the finest road car every produced.
On March 31, 1998, the McLaren F1 obliterated the production road car world speed record in XP5, achieving a new official top speed of 240.1mph/386.7kph at Germany's VW Ehra-Lessien proving ground. Incredibly this was a record the F1 held for 7 years, until March 2005.
On December 16th 1998 the same McLaren F1, driven by Peter Taylor, an independent test and development engineer broke the high-speed circuit record at MIRA averaging 168mph round the 2.82 mile banked circuit with a maximum speed of 196.2mph.
In March 1999 BBC's Top Gear, in conjunction with McLaren Automotive, set a new UK closed circuit record in aid of the Comic Relief charity. Driven by Tiff Needell XP5 once again sensationally set the fastest lap record of a British circuit averaging 195.3mph round the 2-mile banked circuit at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.
This was the third proving ground record set by the McLaren F1, a phenomenal achievement by a truly phenomenal road car
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