McLaren's Park Lane showroom in London closes up shop...

I just received an early report through a friend that suggests that McLaren has abandoned the Park Lane showroom in London.

He had messaged me earlier in the week, knowing about my interest in the F1, as he was trying to get the exact address so his parents could stop by to see the car. They had been there several years back, but were a little unsure of its location on their return trip.

I provided the address, as well as the relevant info about XP5 being displayed there. Today he responded with this bit of info:

"My dad went by the McLaren showroom this morning. It is closed now and the showroom is empty. So unfortunately, I will have no pictures of the 'XP5'. Thanks for providing me with the showroom and car information."

I asked him to confirm that they had vacated it and he said he will confirm with his dad to be sure. It sounds to me like it is closed for good. I'll provide an update once he gets back to me.

Hopefully this means that the McLaren Museum at the Paragon/McLaren Tech Center will be opening soon.

>8^)
ER

:( for the showroom

:) for the museum. I wonder if it will be ready by July... :D

Well, unfortunately for anyone planning a visit, the news just became official:

"Ok,
He said that the building was completely empty. There was no sign, no desk, nothing. The only way he knew he was at the right building was because of the address and exterior picture. It is unfortunate, and I am glad I made it there while it was open in the past. Anyway, thanks again for your help."

>8^)
ER

it would be awesome to have one of the big signs up on my wall :D :D . The door handle was cool too, it was the F1 logo...

Maybe someone will auction it on Ebay. ;)

>8^)
ER

That sucks! My friend was just in London but he's not a automotive fanatic and he never walked past it so he couldn't confirm if it was really closed or if you guys are trying to pull an april fools joke, but I doubt that you are.

Not an April Fool's joke - I promise. I posted this on 3/31 which would have been a day early for that.

Referencing my other thread: Apparently some people don't understand that you can't start an April Fool's joke on the day before April 1st. :rolleyes:

Besides, what would be funny about this?

Anyway- here's a cool photo I put in a similar thread on SC.net. It shows the "F1" logo door handle. I like the photo because it's not what you normally see from people who go there to take pictures. You can click on it for a larger version. :cool:

http://a9.cpimg.com/image/DF/59/31675359-97fd-027B01DD-.jpg (http://speed.supercars.net/boardpics/2004-3-1/2172061-Peloton25a.jpg)

>8^)
ER

that door handle is really cool. knowing how fanaticaly some McLaren followers might get, one of them walking by would have probably stolen it already :frown:

Uh, it was already April 1st in some parts of the country when the post was spotted. Although not funny, it could easily have been a hoax.

Whatever. So, it's true? AF is going away? Can you confirm?

Yeah - it ended up being an April Fool's hoax - and not even a funny one in my mind, but oh well...

I found out that the poster "Oz" is from Australia, so being that he's on the other side of the International Date Line when he posted the thread is was already 4/01. For most of the people here there was still a lot of 3/31 left. I ended up deleting my doomsday thread to avoid further confusion about it.

>8^)
ER

P.S.: Have a good time at the Grand Prix! :cool:

Phew :D

Have fun at the Grand Prix man

Here's an interesting photo:

http://a6.cpimg.com/image/12/19/31982866-d697-028001E0-.jpg

>8^)
ER

Bit sad. Some filler, paint, a quick powerwash, and it will be as if it never existed! A few months ago I ran into a Saudi guy whose family owned the building for a while. He was not into cars much, but he did remember the silver car and the showroom vividly.

:crying: It will be missed. There were probably some poor kids who were planning to see it.

The photographer who took that shot was headed to London just 5 days after I announced the showroom had closed. He was extremely disappointed when I posted the news. He still came back with a pretty cool shot I think. He also said the building was dark and empty just as I reported earlier.

I'm kind of disappointed that I never had the opportunity to go before it closed. I decided last year that instead of going to see the showroom, I would wait for the museum to open since that's really my only reason to make the long trip. Hopefully when the museum is open there will also be provisions for some kind of tour of the McLaren Technology Center as well. It sounds like the musuem will not be housed in the main building though, so maybe that will still be off limits.

>8^)
ER

so the whole showroom is gone? I wonder what will go in? In December the tag stereos were gone so i guess the only thing keeping it there was the F1. Shame

I heard talk that an SLR was gonna be put in there. Maybe the property is not changing owners or anything but just all the "F1" logos and such are being removed because a different vehicle is being put in.

I think the idea that they were going to put an SLR in there was just speculation on our part. I think they're done with the site given that it's been emptied out.

>8^)
ER

That's a shame. I was really looking forward to going there this July. Although the glimmer of hope is that July is the height of tourist season there, so hopefully McLaren will be wise and have the museum open by then. The crowds wil be horiffic though.

i passed by the showroom recently as well and was upset to see xp5 was not there as i have only ever seen 1 mclaren and this was #065 at park lane, seeing xp5 would have been an idescribable treat. i live in maidstone and am very keen to visit the new mclaren factory.

i passed by the showroom recently as well and was upset to see xp5 was not there as i have only ever seen 1 mclaren and this was #065 at park lane, seeing xp5 would have been an idescribable treat. i live in maidstone and am very keen to visit the new mclaren factory.


Hello .

How does it go ? almost completely finalised? (New Technology)
when is it going to be open? because still waiting that date.
As you see below pics, it's woking and could you explain park lane showroom and New technology center more in detail ?

http://www.multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?client=public&x=500000&y=158000&scale=25000&width=700&height=410&multimap.x=388&multimap.y=153

unfortunately i know very little of the mclaren factory and museum at woking, i am however driving to bristol tomorrow and am tempted to visit woking on the way to try and find the factory. Maybe i'll see my second F1.

unfortunately i know very little of the mclaren factory and museum at woking, i am however driving to bristol tomorrow and am tempted to visit woking on the way to try and find the factory. Maybe i'll see my second F1.Finding MTC is not a problem as it's on the road you join when you come off the M25 at junction 11. However seeing any of it is another story. All you will be able to see is a security gate and some big grass mounds so I'm not sure it would be worth your while IMHO.

As for seeing an F1, don't hold your breath. I've seen an F1 on local roads less than 5 times in my lifetime.

My opinion would be that until the museum opens, don't go out of your way to make it there. You'll only be dissappointed.

Any ETA on that opening date for the museum Mr B?

Also, do you know how much use Gordon Murray gets out of his F1? I take it that it's not his daily driver. ;)

>8^)
ER

This may sound like a stupid question, but does Gordon Murray own an F1 ? If so, does anyone know which one ?

A few months back it was learned that Gordon owns XP3. I have confirmed this through another source as well. I was told the car received a complete refit and then was given to him by McLaren Cars - that last part may or may not be true.

Previously is was thought that XP3 had been destroyed in a crash with the former BMW President, but apparently that was a different F1.

>8^)
ER

Wow. Well that's news to me.
I am glad he has one, as he should have one since he is the creator of the car.
I wonder though, do you think he had it fitted to the factory specs, ie no radio, standard features, or would you say he personally added a few amenities? I'd like to think since he was so adamant about the features on the car, he had it down to factory specs.

If there's one thing that GM isn't, it's a hypocrite. He designed it as he wanted it and as such his own car reflects that.

Of course this car isn't completely standard cause it isn't a production model. IIRC its a bit lighter and a bit more powerful :D

Why did mclaren close its doors in the park lane showroom? Why won't they just have both open.

i assume because tag stereo moved out

If there's one thing that GM isn't, it's a hypocrite. He designed it as he wanted it and as such his own car reflects that.

Of course this car isn't completely standard cause it isn't a production model. IIRC its a bit lighter and a bit more powerful :D

Cool. Well now, lighter and more powerful makes it all the better :D
Thanks for the info.

:crying: It will be missed. There were probably some poor kids who were planning to see it.

yeah, like me! am 14 an i got a quick look at the showroom when the silver one was there a few years ago, but i am going to london in the summer and was planning to see it, never mind i live 5 mins from the factory and carnt wait for the museum to open

sorry to drag this topic back up, but did mclaren ever open a museum to the public?

sadly not:(

sadly not:(
.....yet ;)