Question(s) about #074 and #075

Hello,

I don't know if you will find this topic interesting or not, just thinking :
1) Does Ralp Lauren bought his two road cars new ?
2) I find the gap between #074 VIN and 56th production order too wide. Is it possible RL wanted the last car or at least the last number and Mansour Ojjeh changed that with #075, last car built and higher VIN ?
3) I am looking for #075 pic when it was advertised in 2006 to verify the place where the pic was taken. If someone know a little his history between 2006 and today, thank you very much.

Philippe

Sorry this thread went seemingly unnoticed Phil.

I do believe Ralph was the original owner of both his F1s, but I can not absolutely confirm that. I am sure both were originally built with normal doors and then later had the high mirrors fitted by replacing the doors. This was done by the F1 service center in New Jersey according to one source. The original doors then went back into the boxes.

There were a lot of strange gaps in the F1 production sequence that are difficult to understand. My guess is that Ralph may have wanted the last car but was told it had already been promised to Mansour's brother, Aziz. Second to last is not so bad.

On your last question - in 2008 the car was photographed outside of a hotel in Geneva and I was later told that Lewis Hamilton had been the one driving it. Not a bad perk for him. ;)

I an not sure of the validity of the sales ad - the proper way to sell the last F1 road car was not what we saw with that. It would have either been brokered in a very private sale or at the other end of the spectrum gone through a very public auction. In any event I have been told that the car is Mansour's now and that it is the only F1 he currently owns. Not 100% sure on its location but Geneva does make the most sense. :)

>8^)
ER

1) I was under the impression that Ralph bought them 2nd / 3rd hand; I have nothing to back that up, but I've always thought that.....
2) 56th car built and chassis #74 - perhaps the original owner [if it wasn't Ralph] wanted the car but hadn't made their mind up on the final colour / trim specification, so the build number was allocated to it but by the time it was handed over its chassis # was that late
3) Here are the pics Erik alluded to re #075

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/AF/P1020010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/AF/P1020004.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/AF/P1020009.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/AF/P1020005.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/AF/P1020007.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/AF/P1020006.jpg

Hello,

manys thanks to answer my question 6 months after. I discover these shots ! We can see the plate. I was pretty confident the car stayed "with" McLaren especially with press shots of 12C.

So, it must be the second F1 on Geneva.

Maybe Patrick will see it :)

I wonder where #001 is ? If you have some clue, please post or pm.

Phil

1) I was under the impression that Ralph bought them 2nd / 3rd hand; I have nothing to back that up, but I've always thought that.....

I could certainly believe that with #055, however, the timing of #074's build puts it after Dick Fritz had started importing the Ameritech cars. As there was a fairly small window where that was allowed to occur I have to believe that Ralph was #074's original owner.

I wonder where #001 is ? If you have some clue, please post or pm.

The lack of info on chassis #001 and its owner has always frustrated me. I am afraid I can offer no clues on that one. :(

>8^)
ER

001 went to Switzerland new and has popped up for sale a few times

I hope with that statement you aren't counting the recent Jameslist ad offering the "first McLaren F1" for sale. :headshake :D

>8^)
ER