Fate of XPs

[maartenvanthek]

On the other thread. GM sais XP3 is the fastest F1 around, because of older and stronger engine. So it might still be in existance, and in possession of the woking boys

[Stratoraptor]

Originally posted by Peloton25


Where do you get this info??

I'm fairly certain that XP3 was destroyed in the accident with the BMW Chairman.

The only one of the XP road cars I'm aware of that is still in the possession of the factory is XP5 - the dark green car that was used for marketing, promotions, and test drives/rides for prospective customers.

Do you have more info on your claims about XP3, or were you simply confused?

>8^)
ER

not confused, i have never seen an article or heard of any of the XP models being sold or crashed (except for the XP1 and XP2). but if im wrong, please correct me on this proposed sale of an XP model with more info. to my knowledge, there is no recorded sale of any XP model...except for the XP4, im not too sure on that chassis...maybe u can enlighten me on that one too.

[gerd]

VIN: SA9AB5ACXP1048XP4
Owner: Larry Blair (may have sold this car)
ICI: JK Technologies
Approved for S or D: 9/14/2000

[Peloton25]

Here's the ever famous photos of XP4 in front of a house (apparently not Blair's home) in Fremont, CA.









As far as XP3 - the only info I'm sure of is that was the car that was "destroyed by Bernd Piechstrieder" - if it was ever repaired, I wouldn't know, but I don't believe the car exists any longer. I'm fairly certain that XP4 and XP5 are the only surviving F1 road car prototypes.

I'll try to find more info - I know the story that sticks in my head is buried in one of my old car magazines. It wasn't a fairly big story when the accident happened, but I do recall Road&Track or some other magazine doing a side bar on it. I'll go looking when I have some time.

Edit: Here's a small piece of information in two seperate articles that can at least back up the claim that the BMW Chairman rolled an F1.

http://www.cleavemotorsalvage.com/mkt3.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/...ile/273538.stm

And a seperate webpage which confirms the car was destroyed (needs translation if you can't read French):

http://ibelgique.ifrance.com/bmwcars/exclusif399.htm

Now I know that neither article makes a direct association to XP3 in regards to the accident, but I do know that XP3 was the F1 McLaren Cars provided to BMW engineers for the majority of their engine development testing once XP1 was lost. That certainly would give the Chairman of BMW access to that particular vehicle. The car in the photo could of course be any silver F1 though.

There was another short blurb in a third article that mentions the car was "written off with his mother-in-law in the passenger seat..." That probably didn't go over too well with her...

The mystery continues...

>8^)
ER

[Stratoraptor]

u mean thats the XP4???

i have seen the car before, but never from the angle that read "XP4." all i knew was that the XP4 was an electric blue color....

not to be a prick, but the XPLM is also a survivng prototype F1. i think that the 56XPGT is too. i know that there is a F1 GT in McLaren Cars Ltd. headquarters, but im not sure that its the 56XPGT.

[Peloton25]

I know you weren't being a prick - and its funny you mention that because I almost included those in my post...

I know they are both also surviving prototypes, but not "F1 road car" prototypes in the sense that I was referring to. Though both XP1 LM and 56XPGT are intended for road use, I wouldn't call them "F1 road car prototypes" I'd call them the LM prototype and long tail road car prototype.

It's just an issue of semantics - no worries.

= = = = =

Isn't XP4 simply beautiful....

>8^)
ER

[gerd]

The plates on the car in this picture are manufacuter or dealer (Mr. Khan would know!) plates and belong to a concept car company whose owner is a friend of Blair's.

[mini magic]

does anyone know who took those photos of xp4??

[Peloton25]

I tried very hard to find that out when I first found them, following the links through several message forums looking for the original poster of the photos, but was never able to find out.

>8^)
ER

[jkbon]

http://voliron.phy.ncu.edu.tw/voliron/History/5/f1.html

[Peloton25]

I'm sure most are familiar with these shots - but if you weren't aware, they are XP4 too. Note the single lamp on each side of the rear of the car - I think it looks wider without both lamps and really quite strange.









Personally, I really prefer the Electric Blue - this color is kind of dreary and doesn't look very exotic...

>8^)
ER

[mini magic]

Originally posted by Peloton25
I'm sure most are familiar with these shots - but if you weren't aware, they are XP4 too. Note the single lamp on each side of the rear of the car - I think it looks wider without both lamps and really quite strange.









Personally, I really prefer the Electric Blue - this color is kind of dreary and doesn't look very exotic...

>8^)
ER

i thought they were xp3?

[Peloton25]

Originally posted by mini magic
i thought they were xp3?

XP3 was bright silver - pull out your copy of "Driving Ambition" and you'll see.

Also, the caption with these four pics on Cottingham's site reads:

This was the very first view that I ever got of a road going F1, at the Coys Historic Festival, Silverstone, in 1993. This is prototype XP4 and visibly differs slightly from the production cars with the absence of side lights with the front indicators, and a different design of rear light.

>8^)
ER

Hello, my name is 'XP3'

[Stratoraptor]

Originally posted by Peloton25


>8^)
ER

Hello, my name is 'XP3'

if thats the XP3, which one is this?

[Peloton25]

That's the non-running F1 prototype built by MGA commonly known as the "Clinic Model".

It was used at the Monaco Launch Party in 1992, that quarry photo shoot for the initial press kit photos, a Shell gasoline advertisement featuring Gordon Murray, and is seen in several other photos painted burgundy or yellow. It eventually received the lower mounted mirrors making it a bit harder to distinguish from other F1s, but there are still a few ways to tell. The mockup has no engine or drivetrain and a fixed engine cover, but it is designed to appear complete "to all but the most persistent of enthusiasts".

Do you have a copy of "Driving Ambition"? There's almost an entire chapter dedicated to that particular car.

>8^)
ER