GTR #28R to headline Bonhams auction at the Quail Lodge in Monterey
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Peloton25
04-09-2012, 04:41 PM
Big news!! :cool:
Legendary Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren F1 GTR to Headline Bonhams' Quail Lodge Sale
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20G/th_632-2_000051-01.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20G/632-2_000051-01.jpg)
This year, for its Quail Lodge Sale, Bonhams is thrilled to present an absolute icon of modern-era sports car racing: an ex-GTC Gulf Team Davidoff 1997 McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ FIA GT Endurance Racing Coupe.
The McLaren F1 GTR design is from that pantheon of victors, including the legendary Ford GT40 and Porsche 917K, to wear Gulf Oil’s charismatic pale-blue and orange team livery.
The 20th Century’s ultimate motoring icon, the McLaren F1 not only earned its place amongst such exalted company on genuine merit, but appears on most aficionados’ top-ten list of the greatest sports cars ever built.
This particular example, chassis ‘028R’, was the 28th and last McLaren F1 GTR produced by the British McLaren Cars factory in Woking, Surrey. It is the last of that final year’s batch of only ten highly developed ‘Longtail’ cars. These definingly beautiful, ultra-modern competition coupes – with their unique centerline driving position and super-sophisticated all-composite structure – were the ultimate development of McLaren’s entire Le Mans-winning F1 GTR family. Indeed, they had to be to resist the tailor-made circuit-racing projectiles then unleashed by the AMG Mercedes-Benz operation.
In 1997 ‘028R’ contested FIA GT Championship 4-hour races at the Nurburgring, Spa-Francorchamps, Austria’s A1-Ring, Donington Park and Mugello, plus the Sebring and Laguna Seca 3-hours events and the Suzuka 1,000 kms. Driven in these races by Andrew Gilbert-Scott, Geoff Lees, Anders Olofsson and John Neilsen, ‘028R’ finished sixth at Suzuka and Laguna Seca, seventh at Donington and tenth at Sebring.
As the last of this rarefied and now much coveted breed, the McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ ‘028R’ embodies all the lessons learned during that highly successful period. In short, this Gordon Murray-designed beauty is today one of the finest and most exclusive and charismatic racing coupes available anywhere in the world.
“We are delighted to have been appointed by an international collector to represent this breathtaking piece of competition machinery,” says Mark Osborne, Head of Motoring at Bonhams. “Racing legends like the McLaren F1 GTR rarely if ever appear at auction and Bonhams' appointment speaks volumes about our leadership in this sector of the market.”
This year Bonhams is very excited to present its offerings in a new, larger venue on the same Quail Lodge grounds in Carmel Valley. This new location – on the lawns at the western end of the property – provides spacious plein air viewing against the backdrop of the stunning wooded highlands. This is a much more open and accessible site and, while providing greater space on preview and auction days as two key aims behind this move, will also enable our clients to park with ease right at the sale.
Bonhams is currently accepting consignments of rare and pedigree motorcars of all vintages to go alongside the McLaren F1 GTR. Interested sellers may e-mail [email protected] or contact one of the following motorcar experts:
Mark Osborne, San Francisco: 415-391-4000
Rupert Banner, New York: 212-461-6515
David Swig, West Coast: 415-503-3285
The 2012 Bonhams Auction of Exceptional Motorcars will take place Thursday and Friday, August 16th and 17th at Quail Lodge in Carmel, California.
Hope to be there to see it! :)
>8^)
ER
Legendary Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren F1 GTR to Headline Bonhams' Quail Lodge Sale
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20G/th_632-2_000051-01.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20G/632-2_000051-01.jpg)
This year, for its Quail Lodge Sale, Bonhams is thrilled to present an absolute icon of modern-era sports car racing: an ex-GTC Gulf Team Davidoff 1997 McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ FIA GT Endurance Racing Coupe.
The McLaren F1 GTR design is from that pantheon of victors, including the legendary Ford GT40 and Porsche 917K, to wear Gulf Oil’s charismatic pale-blue and orange team livery.
The 20th Century’s ultimate motoring icon, the McLaren F1 not only earned its place amongst such exalted company on genuine merit, but appears on most aficionados’ top-ten list of the greatest sports cars ever built.
This particular example, chassis ‘028R’, was the 28th and last McLaren F1 GTR produced by the British McLaren Cars factory in Woking, Surrey. It is the last of that final year’s batch of only ten highly developed ‘Longtail’ cars. These definingly beautiful, ultra-modern competition coupes – with their unique centerline driving position and super-sophisticated all-composite structure – were the ultimate development of McLaren’s entire Le Mans-winning F1 GTR family. Indeed, they had to be to resist the tailor-made circuit-racing projectiles then unleashed by the AMG Mercedes-Benz operation.
In 1997 ‘028R’ contested FIA GT Championship 4-hour races at the Nurburgring, Spa-Francorchamps, Austria’s A1-Ring, Donington Park and Mugello, plus the Sebring and Laguna Seca 3-hours events and the Suzuka 1,000 kms. Driven in these races by Andrew Gilbert-Scott, Geoff Lees, Anders Olofsson and John Neilsen, ‘028R’ finished sixth at Suzuka and Laguna Seca, seventh at Donington and tenth at Sebring.
As the last of this rarefied and now much coveted breed, the McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ ‘028R’ embodies all the lessons learned during that highly successful period. In short, this Gordon Murray-designed beauty is today one of the finest and most exclusive and charismatic racing coupes available anywhere in the world.
“We are delighted to have been appointed by an international collector to represent this breathtaking piece of competition machinery,” says Mark Osborne, Head of Motoring at Bonhams. “Racing legends like the McLaren F1 GTR rarely if ever appear at auction and Bonhams' appointment speaks volumes about our leadership in this sector of the market.”
This year Bonhams is very excited to present its offerings in a new, larger venue on the same Quail Lodge grounds in Carmel Valley. This new location – on the lawns at the western end of the property – provides spacious plein air viewing against the backdrop of the stunning wooded highlands. This is a much more open and accessible site and, while providing greater space on preview and auction days as two key aims behind this move, will also enable our clients to park with ease right at the sale.
Bonhams is currently accepting consignments of rare and pedigree motorcars of all vintages to go alongside the McLaren F1 GTR. Interested sellers may e-mail [email protected] or contact one of the following motorcar experts:
Mark Osborne, San Francisco: 415-391-4000
Rupert Banner, New York: 212-461-6515
David Swig, West Coast: 415-503-3285
The 2012 Bonhams Auction of Exceptional Motorcars will take place Thursday and Friday, August 16th and 17th at Quail Lodge in Carmel, California.
Hope to be there to see it! :)
>8^)
ER
Sami Aaltonen
04-10-2012, 04:41 AM
Ok, this is interesting. What might be the price when of if it will be sold..... :smokin:
And this sales-advertisingment gaved good specific history of this #28R chasis, Have to copy that to my files.!:smokin:
And this sales-advertisingment gaved good specific history of this #28R chasis, Have to copy that to my files.!:smokin:
carbuilder2002
04-10-2012, 07:06 AM
A fabulous thing to own even if I do prefer the short tail variant. But honestly what use would you get out of it?
Peloton25
04-10-2012, 01:16 PM
I don't expect any kind of record number for this car. It will almost surely sell for less than the road cars have been lately. There's a pretty limited market for people looking for something like this. There's also very limited use potential right now and relative to other retired racing cars these are said to be rather expensive to run. Additionally, when this car was for sale in Japan it was without any spares which makes using it even more difficult.
It will be quite interesting to see what happens but my initial feeling is that bidding on the car will fall somewhere around $3M USD which may not be enough to complete a sale that day. With a better set of race results, more well known drivers or some history of racing at Le Mans the car would fare a little better than that. The things it has going for it are the very impressive and iconic Gulf livery and it's in impeccable condition.
>8^)
ER
It will be quite interesting to see what happens but my initial feeling is that bidding on the car will fall somewhere around $3M USD which may not be enough to complete a sale that day. With a better set of race results, more well known drivers or some history of racing at Le Mans the car would fare a little better than that. The things it has going for it are the very impressive and iconic Gulf livery and it's in impeccable condition.
>8^)
ER
hurstg01
04-10-2012, 01:28 PM
It was obviously being priced far too high to sell in Japan, and $3m seems like a steal for the last ever GTR
BlueEdge
04-10-2012, 01:52 PM
It's a real shame about the lack of spares, this would be great for the Blancpain Revival Series if it weren't for that.
If I were wealthy enough and there wasn't a chance to use it as intended I think I'd buy it just to have it as an ornament in my office.
If I were wealthy enough and there wasn't a chance to use it as intended I think I'd buy it just to have it as an ornament in my office.
F1GTRUeno
04-10-2012, 01:56 PM
Would be nice to see it being bought to be used, even if only for private trackdays and such.
The lack of spares will probably ensure that never happens though, which is sad.
Surely if you could afford to buy the car you could afford to have some spares made up by McLaren or whoever.
The lack of spares will probably ensure that never happens though, which is sad.
Surely if you could afford to buy the car you could afford to have some spares made up by McLaren or whoever.
carbuilder2002
04-10-2012, 05:52 PM
Being the last of its kind is obviously what they are relying on, other than livery and condition of course.
hurstg01
04-11-2012, 04:04 AM
Would be nice to see it being bought to be used, even if only for private trackdays and such.
The lack of spares will probably ensure that never happens though, which is sad.
Surely if you could afford to buy the car you could afford to have some spares made up by McLaren or whoever.
I don't think there are many spares left [last I heard] to have for these GTR's.....
The lack of spares will probably ensure that never happens though, which is sad.
Surely if you could afford to buy the car you could afford to have some spares made up by McLaren or whoever.
I don't think there are many spares left [last I heard] to have for these GTR's.....
Peloton25
04-11-2012, 04:38 AM
Being the last of its kind is obviously what they are relying on, other than livery and condition of course.
Yeah - I should have included that in my comments too.
There's an interesting twist with this car though - it actually has the repaired chassis originally built for GTR #27R which was crashed during its initial shakedown run. (Edit: I should have looked this up instead of drawing from memory. The car was not actually crashed - see below.) As I understand it, they essentially swapped chassis plates between the two and then repaired the damaged car making it 28R after the fact. I wonder if that will get disclosed in Bonhams full description or how that information will be handled leading up to the auction?
>8^)
ER
Yeah - I should have included that in my comments too.
There's an interesting twist with this car though - it actually has the repaired chassis originally built for GTR #27R which was crashed during its initial shakedown run. (Edit: I should have looked this up instead of drawing from memory. The car was not actually crashed - see below.) As I understand it, they essentially swapped chassis plates between the two and then repaired the damaged car making it 28R after the fact. I wonder if that will get disclosed in Bonhams full description or how that information will be handled leading up to the auction?
>8^)
ER
ArchangelGTR
04-11-2012, 09:40 PM
Not sure how they're going to avoid the info regarding the chassis swap since two blogs have posted it.
From GTSpirit:
A rare McLaren F1 GTR Longtail will be auctioned. Back in the 1990s, the McLaren F1 was the pinnacle of what a supercar could be. The iconic British driving machine was once the fastest road car in the world. Nowadays the F1 is among wealthy collectors one of the most sought after cars in the word.
Auction house Bonhams will offer a McLaren F1 GTR Longtail at its Pebble Beach auction. This McLaren was originally built as chassis #27R, but was damaged in transport. It was rebuilt as #28R for GTC Competition as spare car before ending up in the 1997 FIA GT season.
The car is also the last of that final year’s batch of only ten highly developed ‘Longtail’ cars which were the ultimate development of McLaren’s entire Le Mans-winning F1 GTR family. The Longtails featured a longer nose and tail in order to reduce drag and to gain as much aerodynamic downforce as possible.
The Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren is finished in the famous pale-blue/orange Gulf livery, similar to other epic cars like the Ford GT40 and Porsche 917K. The McLaren F1 GTR was driven by Andrew Gilbert-Scott, Geoff Lees, Anders Olofsson and John Neilsen and entered races at the Nürburgring, Spa-Francorchamps, Austria’s A1-Ring, Donington Park, Mugello, Sebring and Laguna Seca.
One of the most epic cars ever made in one of the most legendary liveries ‒ an interesting combination that surely will appeal potential bidders. The McLaren could be regarded as a great investment in an era of economic doubt. One year ago the same car was offered for € 3,000,000 ($ 3,990,000). It will be interesting to see how much the Longtail will fetch this summer.
The Gulf McLaren F1 GTR Longtail will auctioned at the Pebble Beach auction which is scheduled for Thursday the 16th of August and Friday the 17th, at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, California.
and MotorAuthority:
Set to grace the auction block at Bonhams’ annual Quail Lodge Sale leading up to August's 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is this ultra-rare Gulf Team Davidoff 1997 McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' race car.
Long-term readers of this site may remember the car being up for sale previously in Japan, though it appears whoever bought it is now selling it off once again.
This particular F1 GTR has chassis number ‘028R’ and was the last one of its kind to be built by McLaren, though it originally started out life as chassis number '027R' and was later rebuilt after being damaged during transportation.
The car’s current design is from that pantheon of victors, including the legendary Ford GT40 and Porsche 917K, to wear Gulf Oil's charismatic pale-blue and orange team livery. Its 'Longtail' longer rear wing section was a change in the aero for 1997 that was designed to increase grip over the rear wheels.
Built for racing, the F1 GTR competed in the BPR Global GT Series, now known as the FIA GT Championship. With all of its modifications, the F1 GTR with chassis number 028R weighed only 2,000 pounds but generated more than 600 horsepower from its modified 6.0-liter racing version of the production F1's 60-degree V-12 engine.
Some of the races it contested included the 1997 FIA GT Championship four-hour races at the Nurburgring, Spa-Francorchamps, Austria's A1-Ring, Donington Park and Mugello, plus the Sebring and Laguna Seca three-hours events and the Suzuka 1,000 kms. Driven in these races by Andrew Gilbert-Scott, Geoff Lees, Anders Olofsson and John Neilsen, the car finished sixth at Suzuka and Laguna Seca, seventh at Donington and tenth at Sebring.
Bonhams’ Quail Lodge Sale takes place from August 16-17 in Carmel, California.
From GTSpirit:
A rare McLaren F1 GTR Longtail will be auctioned. Back in the 1990s, the McLaren F1 was the pinnacle of what a supercar could be. The iconic British driving machine was once the fastest road car in the world. Nowadays the F1 is among wealthy collectors one of the most sought after cars in the word.
Auction house Bonhams will offer a McLaren F1 GTR Longtail at its Pebble Beach auction. This McLaren was originally built as chassis #27R, but was damaged in transport. It was rebuilt as #28R for GTC Competition as spare car before ending up in the 1997 FIA GT season.
The car is also the last of that final year’s batch of only ten highly developed ‘Longtail’ cars which were the ultimate development of McLaren’s entire Le Mans-winning F1 GTR family. The Longtails featured a longer nose and tail in order to reduce drag and to gain as much aerodynamic downforce as possible.
The Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren is finished in the famous pale-blue/orange Gulf livery, similar to other epic cars like the Ford GT40 and Porsche 917K. The McLaren F1 GTR was driven by Andrew Gilbert-Scott, Geoff Lees, Anders Olofsson and John Neilsen and entered races at the Nürburgring, Spa-Francorchamps, Austria’s A1-Ring, Donington Park, Mugello, Sebring and Laguna Seca.
One of the most epic cars ever made in one of the most legendary liveries ‒ an interesting combination that surely will appeal potential bidders. The McLaren could be regarded as a great investment in an era of economic doubt. One year ago the same car was offered for € 3,000,000 ($ 3,990,000). It will be interesting to see how much the Longtail will fetch this summer.
The Gulf McLaren F1 GTR Longtail will auctioned at the Pebble Beach auction which is scheduled for Thursday the 16th of August and Friday the 17th, at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, California.
and MotorAuthority:
Set to grace the auction block at Bonhams’ annual Quail Lodge Sale leading up to August's 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is this ultra-rare Gulf Team Davidoff 1997 McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' race car.
Long-term readers of this site may remember the car being up for sale previously in Japan, though it appears whoever bought it is now selling it off once again.
This particular F1 GTR has chassis number ‘028R’ and was the last one of its kind to be built by McLaren, though it originally started out life as chassis number '027R' and was later rebuilt after being damaged during transportation.
The car’s current design is from that pantheon of victors, including the legendary Ford GT40 and Porsche 917K, to wear Gulf Oil's charismatic pale-blue and orange team livery. Its 'Longtail' longer rear wing section was a change in the aero for 1997 that was designed to increase grip over the rear wheels.
Built for racing, the F1 GTR competed in the BPR Global GT Series, now known as the FIA GT Championship. With all of its modifications, the F1 GTR with chassis number 028R weighed only 2,000 pounds but generated more than 600 horsepower from its modified 6.0-liter racing version of the production F1's 60-degree V-12 engine.
Some of the races it contested included the 1997 FIA GT Championship four-hour races at the Nurburgring, Spa-Francorchamps, Austria's A1-Ring, Donington Park and Mugello, plus the Sebring and Laguna Seca three-hours events and the Suzuka 1,000 kms. Driven in these races by Andrew Gilbert-Scott, Geoff Lees, Anders Olofsson and John Neilsen, the car finished sixth at Suzuka and Laguna Seca, seventh at Donington and tenth at Sebring.
Bonhams’ Quail Lodge Sale takes place from August 16-17 in Carmel, California.
Peloton25
04-11-2012, 09:59 PM
...damaged during transportation...
Thanks for thosee references and I'm glad they got the story straight on what occurred, unlike me. :redface:
I was drawing from memory there and have edited my prior post to note the mistake.
>8^)
ER
Thanks for thosee references and I'm glad they got the story straight on what occurred, unlike me. :redface:
I was drawing from memory there and have edited my prior post to note the mistake.
>8^)
ER
cabrio92
04-12-2012, 06:44 PM
Exciting news. So, the car is the last or not ?
Phil
Phil
Peloton25
04-12-2012, 10:14 PM
#28R was certainly the last of the F1 GTRs to be completed (as a spare car for the GTC team) and of course it wears the last chassis number in the sequence of F1 GTRs. To many that makes it the last one for sure.
All that said though, its chassis is actually the repaired chassis that was originally fitted to GTR #27R, and when they were swapped to allow delivery of #27R to Parabolica Motorsport after it had been damaged, each one was renumbered in the process.
I also found an alternate source of information that refers to this incident and it specifically says that 27R was 'damaged in shakedown'. That doesn't mean 'crashed', but it also doesn't exactly sound like a transporting accident either. :dunno:
Le Man - do you recall anymore details on this?
>8^)
ER
All that said though, its chassis is actually the repaired chassis that was originally fitted to GTR #27R, and when they were swapped to allow delivery of #27R to Parabolica Motorsport after it had been damaged, each one was renumbered in the process.
I also found an alternate source of information that refers to this incident and it specifically says that 27R was 'damaged in shakedown'. That doesn't mean 'crashed', but it also doesn't exactly sound like a transporting accident either. :dunno:
Le Man - do you recall anymore details on this?
>8^)
ER
Le Man
04-14-2012, 12:08 PM
#28R was certainly the last of the F1 GTRs to be completed (as a spare car for the GTC team) and of course it wears the last chassis number in the sequence of F1 GTRs. To many that makes it the last one for sure.
All that said though, its chassis is actually the repaired chassis that was originally fitted to GTR #27R, and when they were swapped to allow delivery of #27R to Parabolica Motorsport after it had been damaged, each one was renumbered in the process.
I also found an alternate source of information that refers to this incident and it specifically says that 27R was 'damaged in shakedown'. That doesn't mean 'crashed', but it also doesn't exactly sound like a transporting accident either. :dunno:
Le Man - do you recall anymore details on this?
>8^)
ER
Only what,s on the more detailed GTR race history chart that I shared with you :wink:. We did cover this somewhile back, but I could not locate the thread when I did a quick search.
The main criteria is how well the repairs were caried out. after looking very closely at several repaired F1,s. McLaren do an excellent job, as you would expect from such a company. This info should not detract anything from the cars value, in the same way as its lack of race results should either.
All that said though, its chassis is actually the repaired chassis that was originally fitted to GTR #27R, and when they were swapped to allow delivery of #27R to Parabolica Motorsport after it had been damaged, each one was renumbered in the process.
I also found an alternate source of information that refers to this incident and it specifically says that 27R was 'damaged in shakedown'. That doesn't mean 'crashed', but it also doesn't exactly sound like a transporting accident either. :dunno:
Le Man - do you recall anymore details on this?
>8^)
ER
Only what,s on the more detailed GTR race history chart that I shared with you :wink:. We did cover this somewhile back, but I could not locate the thread when I did a quick search.
The main criteria is how well the repairs were caried out. after looking very closely at several repaired F1,s. McLaren do an excellent job, as you would expect from such a company. This info should not detract anything from the cars value, in the same way as its lack of race results should either.
hurstg01
04-14-2012, 01:14 PM
Only what,s on the more detailed GTR race history chart that I shared with you :wink:. We did cover this somewhile back, but I could not locate the thread when I did a quick search.
The main criteria is how well the repairs were caried out. after looking very closely at several repaired F1,s. McLaren do an excellent job, as you would expect from such a company. This info should not detract anything from the cars value, in the same way as its lack of race results should either.
I agree with regards to the repairs, you wouldn't know the difference from pre-crash to post-repair [I bet Rowan is delighted!] but provenance is all; #01R is worth alot more than other GTR's, despite only racing and winning the one race
The main criteria is how well the repairs were caried out. after looking very closely at several repaired F1,s. McLaren do an excellent job, as you would expect from such a company. This info should not detract anything from the cars value, in the same way as its lack of race results should either.
I agree with regards to the repairs, you wouldn't know the difference from pre-crash to post-repair [I bet Rowan is delighted!] but provenance is all; #01R is worth alot more than other GTR's, despite only racing and winning the one race
Peloton25
04-14-2012, 04:42 PM
I think the fact that this one did not ever race at Le Mans is probably why Duncan Hamilton chose instead to source and restore 22R for the ROFGO Collection. This car was certainly available at the time they did that and would have made for a quick solution to having a Gulf McLaren in the collection. I think in the long run these are the sorts of things that will matter from a value perspective.
There's certainly a halo effect this car benefits from because of the results of other GTRs, but in order of preference of the 3 current Gulf longtails I think #20R ranks highest because of its 1997 Le Mans result, then #22R would follow because of its immense racing history, and then 28R falls in after that.
>8^)
ER
There's certainly a halo effect this car benefits from because of the results of other GTRs, but in order of preference of the 3 current Gulf longtails I think #20R ranks highest because of its 1997 Le Mans result, then #22R would follow because of its immense racing history, and then 28R falls in after that.
>8^)
ER
tak43
04-17-2012, 03:08 PM
Check this link out on the Daily Mail web site today
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2130978/Supercar-expected-fetch-3million-auction---driven-roads.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2130978/Supercar-expected-fetch-3million-auction---driven-roads.html
Peloton25
04-17-2012, 03:15 PM
A $5M dollar valuation is difficult to comprehend for this particular car, but what do I know. :grinno:
>8^)
ER
>8^)
ER
carbuilder2002
04-17-2012, 06:59 PM
You sell yourself short my friend.
Peloton25
06-20-2012, 01:40 PM
I am told by a reliable source that GTR #28R is on display in the McLaren San Francisco showroom from now until the time of the auction in two months. If you happen to be in the area, do make a special trip. ;)
>8^)
ER
>8^)
ER
hurstg01
06-20-2012, 01:51 PM
I am told by a reliable source that GTR #28R is on display in the McLaren San Francisco showroom from now until the time of the auction in two months. If you happen to be in the area, do make a special trip. ;)
>8^)
ER
:1:
and take your camera ;)
>8^)
ER
:1:
and take your camera ;)
hurstg01
06-20-2012, 03:36 PM
cabrio92
06-20-2012, 05:11 PM
Damn, McLaren dealers have a lot of stuff in the USA !
Peloton25
06-20-2012, 06:19 PM
ta daaaaa
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/GTR_Longtail.jpg
;)
Wow - you got there quick! I thought they grounded the Concorde? :p
>8^)
ER
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/GTR_Longtail.jpg
;)
Wow - you got there quick! I thought they grounded the Concorde? :p
>8^)
ER
hurstg01
06-21-2012, 02:10 AM
Just like I said in the other post, "like a ninja!".
;)
;)
Peloton25
06-21-2012, 03:41 AM
Seems like Motor Trend magazine might have gotten their hands on this one at Laguna Seca a few days ago.
Hopefully that means we have something more to look forward to than these Instagram photos. :cool:
http://distilleryimage2.s3.amazonaws.com/6bcbc7e0b71c11e1ab011231381052c0_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage6.s3.amazonaws.com/c7d14e3eb71c11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg
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http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/6d648b54b88f11e1a9f71231382044a1_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage4.s3.amazonaws.com/aab76262b74d11e1a9f71231382044a1_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage9.s3.amazonaws.com/a607a20cb74f11e19dc71231380fe523_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/1628f6e4b72d11e192e91231381b3d7a_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com/07e7c858b99e11e180d51231380fcd7e_7.jpg
>8^)
ER
Hopefully that means we have something more to look forward to than these Instagram photos. :cool:
http://distilleryimage2.s3.amazonaws.com/6bcbc7e0b71c11e1ab011231381052c0_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage6.s3.amazonaws.com/c7d14e3eb71c11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage1.s3.amazonaws.com/a2d429c6b72111e1a8761231381b4856_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage8.s3.amazonaws.com/47cc7eb6b71c11e1b10e123138105d6b_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/088557a0b72111e1be6a12313820455d_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/d5bdbec8b72211e1aebc1231381b647a_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/2e0782bcb72311e1be6a12313820455d_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage3.s3.amazonaws.com/44adc19eb72711e1be6a12313820455d_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/1edb18ccb72211e1bf341231380f8a12_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage3.s3.amazonaws.com/792ba8b4b72711e1af7612313813f8e8_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage4.s3.amazonaws.com/a184426eb91411e1a8761231381b4856_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage6.s3.amazonaws.com/ca2cb358b73a11e1a9f71231382044a1_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/6d648b54b88f11e1a9f71231382044a1_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage4.s3.amazonaws.com/aab76262b74d11e1a9f71231382044a1_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage9.s3.amazonaws.com/a607a20cb74f11e19dc71231380fe523_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/1628f6e4b72d11e192e91231381b3d7a_7.jpg
http://distilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com/07e7c858b99e11e180d51231380fcd7e_7.jpg
>8^)
ER
Peloton25
06-21-2012, 09:22 PM
Two hires shots forwarded from Alessandro @ McLaren San Francisco. :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20L/th_2012-06-21092448m.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20L/2012-06-21092448m.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20L/th_2012-06-21092500m.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20L/2012-06-21092500m.jpg)
He told me it is difficult to get any work done with that thing sitting in his showroom. :lol2:
>8^)
ER
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20L/th_2012-06-21092448m.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20L/2012-06-21092448m.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20L/th_2012-06-21092500m.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20L/2012-06-21092500m.jpg)
He told me it is difficult to get any work done with that thing sitting in his showroom. :lol2:
>8^)
ER
carbuilder2002
06-22-2012, 02:42 AM
Interesting the chassis plate is held on by stabndard allen head screws and not the usual domed ones?
Peloton25
06-22-2012, 03:26 AM
I noticed that as well. If you look in the chassis plaque photo thread there are a couple of GTRs with non-standard screws holding on their chassis plates. #27R actually had Phillips head screws when it was still Orange - appears they were replaced with the correct items when it went through its recent restoration.
>8^)
ER
>8^)
ER
PatrickT82
06-22-2012, 03:47 PM
uhm which chassis was the Davidoff GTR that I saw in Paris last year?
hurstg01
06-22-2012, 03:52 PM
#22r ;)
PatrickT82
06-22-2012, 03:55 PM
ok:)
Peloton25
06-24-2012, 01:32 AM
hurstg01
06-24-2012, 04:07 AM
^^ Pretty awesome!
hurstg01
06-30-2012, 03:49 PM
another one from the showroom from eidolon off flickr -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/7473763534_dd3820f014_o.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/7473763534_dd3820f014_o.jpg
Peloton25
07-03-2012, 12:59 AM
Little teaser from Brian:
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/529096_4005556173740_1482288674_a.jpg (http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/529096_4005556173740_1482288674_n.jpg) <-- Clicky
>8^)
ER
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/529096_4005556173740_1482288674_a.jpg (http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/529096_4005556173740_1482288674_n.jpg) <-- Clicky
>8^)
ER
Peloton25
07-06-2012, 02:46 AM
Another teaser - lucky man! :cool:
https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/559271_4020314062678_1441867497_n.jpg
Should have put some air in that front tire though. ;)
>8^)
ER
https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/559271_4020314062678_1441867497_n.jpg
Should have put some air in that front tire though. ;)
>8^)
ER
carbuilder2002
07-06-2012, 02:48 AM
Front splitter is amazingly close to the floor.
Peloton25
07-06-2012, 03:04 AM
It's that low tire I mentioned. Also no idea when the last time this was serviced - that may play a part in other bits that could need some attention.
I am going to help Bonhams with the auction description but I suspect they might know more than me on this one.
>8^)
ER
I am going to help Bonhams with the auction description but I suspect they might know more than me on this one.
>8^)
ER
hurstg01
07-08-2012, 12:21 PM
A video of #28R in the dealership has been added to the Video thread :)
hurstg01
07-12-2012, 03:45 PM
I want this, soooo bad....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/7557265552_9a371180f8_o.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/hurstg01/7557265552_9a371180f8_o.jpg
carbuilder2002
07-12-2012, 06:31 PM
This shot clearly shows why no 1997 GTR's have ever been converted for road use, might even have trouble getting it in and out of ones motor house?
Peloton25
07-12-2012, 08:05 PM
Video on the Bonhams website from their shoot at Laguna Seca last month:
http://www.bonhams.com/video/10817/
>8^)
ER
http://www.bonhams.com/video/10817/
>8^)
ER
Peloton25
07-12-2012, 11:54 PM
Brian's video is done now too! :cool:
7MOHC0Z3HQE
>8^)
ER
7MOHC0Z3HQE
>8^)
ER
mtbscott
07-19-2012, 02:48 PM
So I've been thinking about the upcoming auction for this car....I realize that because of the lack of spares and high costs, it wouldn't really be practical to become a fulltime vintage racer....and for much of the same rationale, it would be unrealistic that someone would want to have the world's most expensive track rat.
I believe I've read that the later GTR's such as this do not make good candidates for road conversion for a number of reasons. So all of this leads me to thinking that whomever buys it will be wanting it primarily for its collectibility, either real or imagined by their personal beliefs.
There's not too many folks who are multiple F1 owners although there are a few here in the US. Does anyone think maybe a current F1 owner will want to add this to his stable and join the even more exclusive club of owners with more than one?
I believe I've read that the later GTR's such as this do not make good candidates for road conversion for a number of reasons. So all of this leads me to thinking that whomever buys it will be wanting it primarily for its collectibility, either real or imagined by their personal beliefs.
There's not too many folks who are multiple F1 owners although there are a few here in the US. Does anyone think maybe a current F1 owner will want to add this to his stable and join the even more exclusive club of owners with more than one?
Peloton25
07-19-2012, 03:15 PM
Simple answer = Yes.
>8^)
ER
>8^)
ER
hurstg01
07-19-2012, 04:58 PM
Seconded
PatrickT82
07-19-2012, 04:59 PM
it would be great if someone did convert it for roaduse though:)
Peloton25
07-20-2012, 03:17 AM
A thing of beauty made the cover of the Bonhams Quail Lodge auction catalog:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20L/th_canvas.png (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20L/canvas.png) <-- Click
Lot #459 is now shown on their website here:
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20322/lot/459/
DO NOT MISS THEIR 43 PHOTOS!
Here's a copy of the full description for future reference:
The Ex-GTC Gulf Team Davidoff - the final example produced
1997 McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' FIA GT Endurance Racing Coupe
Chassis no. 028R
* 6.1-liter BMW V12
* 6-speed sequential gearbox
* Carbon-fiber monocoque
* The final, ultimate F1 GTR
* FIA GT points-scoring example
* Stunning, iconic Gulf livery
* First time ever offered publicly
* A Gordon Murray concept
Following in the wheel tracks of such charismatic designs as the Ferrari 250 GTO, the Ford GTs and the Porsche 917s, in recent years the McLaren F1 GTR has become absolutely the most desirable endurance racing collectors' car from the 1990s.
The compact Gordon Murray-designed all-composite construction three-seat road car design, with its totally distinctive centerline driving position and utterly majestic 6.1-liter 4-cam fuel-injected V12 engine by BMW, emerged as the 'ultracar' with everything. Its active aerodynamics and 550-plus horsepower succeeded in achieving the McLaren company's aim of producing "the greatest driver's car there has ever been, or is ever likely to be" – and it is a measure of the initial production car's 240mph capabilities that once subjected to the restrictions of racing regulations – the resultant F1 GTR actually had to be de-tuned to be acceptable!
The 1995 Le Mans 24-Hours race-winning McLaren merely set the foundation for an entire family of more dedicated racing Coupes to follow. The gleaming example we are now privileged to offer here is actually the last example made of the ultimate variant of the entire McLaren F1 series. It is the tenth and last of the 1997-season McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' endurance racing Coupes. It is one of the cars campaigned that year by the McLaren F1 GTR racing program's most attractively-liveried and most charismatic teams – the GTC Motorsport Gulf Team Davidoff operation. And with its legendary Gulf racing-blue finish it is a latter-day successor to the revered bloodline of Gulf-Mirage, Gulf-Ford GT40, Gulf-Porsche 917 and 908/3 cars which remain such enduring landmarks of motor racing history.
McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' '28R' offered here is a veteran of no fewer than eight premier-league FIA GT World Championship-qualifying races – in which it achieved two points-scoring sixth place finishes.
It would have been easy for McLaren Cars Ltd to bask in the simple afterglow of its technical achievement in producing what they intended to be the finest "driver's car" ever manufactured in the one hundred yearlong history of the motor industry. But no high-performance car manufacturer can expect to build such a world-beater, without one or two prominent and enthusiastic customers becoming keen to prove its capabilities 'in anger' on the race tracks of the world.
Despite design – now Professor – Gordon Murray – having concentrated totally upon producing nothing other than a purebred street car, enthusiastic customers began to persuade McLaren to change their minds through the summer of 1994. McLaren principal Ron Dennis made it quite clear that if some customers wished to go racing then McLaren Cars Ltd would offer the most comprehensive factory back-up and support possible – and would not run a works car against them.
Into 1995 the first race-modified McLaren F1 GTR cars emerged. Three made the model's debut in the February, 1995, Jerez 4-Hours race in Spain, and Ray Bellm/Maurizio Sandro Sala won in the former's GTC racing team entry. The same pairing followed up with another victory in the Paul Ricard 4-Hour race in France, then Thomas Bscher/John Neilsen's West-sponsored McLaren made it three in a row for the new GTRs at Monza, Italy. No fewer than seven McLaren F1 GTRs started the 1995 Le Mans 24-Hour race, and five finished, in first, third, fourth, fifth and 13th places. The winning Ueno Clinic-sponsored car was co-driven by J.J.Lehto/Yannick Dalmas/Masanori Sekiya. For McLaren Cars, Le Mans '95 marked the greatest Le Mans race debut in depth ever achieved, by any manufacturer...ever. Not too shabby for a detuned road car!
Through the first half of 1996, in its second season of racing, the McLaren F1 GTR maintained its glittering record of success, mainly in the face of Ferrari F40 variants. But the emergence of an all-new tailor-made purebred racing Porsche GT1 and – more controversially – its acceptance in late-season BPR Global Endurance Championship racing, caused little less than shock, disbelief and frustrated dismay amongst the McLaren teams.
Amidst considerable grumbling that "Porsche built a racing car and forced us to do it", the McLaren F1 GTR underwent the major revision during the winter of 1996-97 which produced the 'Longtail' model as now offered here. Gordon Murray explained that: "Our pure-bred road-going production-based cars with their long-travel, high camber-change suspension and limited downforce had been leapfrogged by the Porsche GT1. They got away with running Rose-jointed proper-geometry true road-racing suspension on a car which we felt was not genuinely available for sale. We didn't like what had happened, because we didn't feel it was at all within the regulations, but we had to face up to it.
"To comply with the regulations as written we had to build a new road car, sell one a month before the first race, have dealers, brochures and parts back-up for it. I went to Ron for a budget to do just that, and actually started the wind tunnel program before I'd got the go-ahead.
"We needed big overhangs at nose and tail to achieve competitive downforce and downforce/drag proportions, and really had to re-write our total winter program. Now we had to develop not only a new racing car, but first a new road car model to legalize it! We were determined to do it all precisely to the letter of the regulations, in the spirit their original authors had plainly intended."
The frontier-technology all moulded carbon-composite monocoque shell remained absolutely as production while the longer nose and tail were carefully shaped, profiled, under-floored and proven in the moving-ground wind tunnel. Three road-going McLaren F1 GT (Longtail) cars were to be built while the racing 'Longtail' variants were rushed out in parallel.
The first was the development chassis – serial '19R' – destined for Team Lark in Japan, completed on November 18, 1996. The GTC Motorsport team – headed by engineer Michael Cane and backed by Ray Bellm – now combined Gulf Oil Livery with David Classic – brought in by German banker and BPR Champion driver Thomas Bscher – to cover a regular three-car entry. The operation became known as McLaren's"British team" – a private entry operation.
In Germany Team Schnitzer became the chosen 'BMW Motorsport' operation, fielding what came to be regarded as 'works car' with Fina oil brand sponsorship. Nine 'Longtail' F1 GTR cars followed that 1997 prototype car, including this one now offered here – chassis '28R' – initially as a spare supplied to GTC Motorsport in support of their three race cars, chassis '20', '22' and '26R'. This car, '028R', actually began life plated as '27R' but was damaged in a shake-down testing accident and was replated with its ultimate identity after repair.
The FIA GT Championship season of 1997 comprised 11 qualifying rounds, and reached its pulsating climax in the USA, initially at Sebring, Florida, and then one week later at Laguna Seca, California. Two titles were to be awarded, one for the new World Champion GT Team/Constructor, and the other for Driver Pairing.
What developed during that year was the closest and most ferociously hard-fought endurance racing World Championship for several decades. These 1997 'Longtail' McLaren F1 GTRs were absolutely the ultimate development of the Woking marque's sophisticated and civilized original road car. They were confronted most ominously by the brand-new, late-announced tailor-made circuit racing Mercedes-Benz AMG projectiles.
The 'Longtail' McLarens began the new year's World Championship season with a 1-2-3 defeat of Mercedes-Benz upon home German soil at Hockenheim that April. The McLarens won again at Helsinki, Finland, and – just – at Silverstone in England. AMG Mercedes missed Le Mans to prepare for the Nurburgring 4-Hours in June, where they finally outpaced the 'Longtail' McLarens to finish first and second. An epic race at Spa in Belgium then saw a narrow McLaren victory over AMG Mercedes-Benz, but the three GTC Gulf-Davidoff GTRs were all eliminated in a multiple collision on the opening lap...
At the A1-Ring in Austria Mercedes dominated while Karl-Heinz Kalbfell of BMW – manufacturer of the entirely bespoke McLaren F1 GTR's engines – remarked to one journalist "Well, BMW is winning the GT race!" – underlining the Munich company's increasing exasperation with the GT Championship eligibility situation.
Mercedes again finished 1-2 in the following Championship race at Suzuka, Japan, showing a performance advantage which was magnified at Donington Park, in England, where the Stuttgart team won again. The 'Longtails' fought back to win at Mugello in Italy, with just the final American rounds to be run. Mercedes took full points at Sebring, McLaren now had to win at Laguna to take the World title. It was not to be, retirements and collisions ceding the Championship at the last gasp – to Mercedes-Benz. McLaren versus Mercedes-Benz – this is the true measure of these cars' significance, and the level at which they were raced as new.
This startlingly handsome Gulf Team Davidoff car was called into action during the second half of the 1997 FIA GT Championship season, in which it was co-driven most often by the experienced and capable pairing of Briton Geoff Lees and Swede Anders Olofsson.
'Longtail' McLaren F1 GTR '28R' made its racing debut on June 29, 1997 in the FIA GT Championship-qualifying Nurburgring 4-Hour race in Germany. It was co-driven there by Britain's Andrew Gilbert-Scott and Anders Olofsson as race number '1' but was sidelined by accident damage and did not finish. At Spa on July 20 – shared by the same pairing – '28R' was involved in the opening lap team collision and again retired. A wheel problem caused withdrawal from the A1-Ring 4-Hours in Austria where Geoff Lees joined Gilbert-Scott and Olofsson in the driver team, but on August 4 in Japan's grueling Suzuka 1,000 Kilometer race Andrew Gilbert-Scott/Geoff Lees/John Nielsen qualified '28R' offered here seventh fastest overall, and finished sixth. Back home in England on September 14th, Anders Olofsson/Geoff Lees drove the car to finish seventh in the FIA GT Championship Donington Park 4-Hours, and the same pairing followed up with eighth place at Mugello, Italy. In the penultimate round at Sebring they finished tenth, and in the deciding round at Laguna Seca on October 6 they helped salvage McLaren pride by bringing '028R' home into another sixth place overall.
We understand from the vendor that the car remained with GTC after its active FIA career, upon which it made its way back to the McLaren Works in Woking. The car was preserved for several years, and was reportedly sold through McLaren to the Jim Gainer Racing operation in Japan in 2004. According to the vendor, it was imported to Japan in factory-restored condition, reportedly being prepared to Suzuka circuit specification prior to delivery. In 2006, '28R' was acquired by the current owner, who has had the car started and run annually since that time, though to our knowledge it has not been track-tested. We are advised that the engine was run as recently as this past January. Most significantly, McLaren has offered to undertake a full technical inspection of the car free of charge for the new owner following this Sale.
In recent years market perception of the McLaren F1 production cars - and their more glamorous F1 GTR racing sisters such as '28R' offered here – has grown with fantastic rapidity. So many superlatives have been justifiably heaped upon this street car design that went racing, that we can hardly add more. The McLaren F1 GTR is the production-based racing model that won Le Mans, and then in its more sophisticated racing iterations – as offered here in this ultimate 'Longtail' variant – took on the giants of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche on unequal terms...and sometimes beat them.
Add the extra cachet of Gulf racing heritage, these fabulously futuristic good looks and that simply magnificent bespoke BMW V12 engine – absolutely tailored to McLaren requirements – and the very special nature of this remarkably significant artifact can be fully appreciated.
Refer to department
Estimate: n/a
Footnotes
Please note that this vehicle is offered on a Bill of Sale
This auction description was written for the Bonhams catalog by author and historian Doug Nye - a very recognizable name around these parts - and I was happy to supply a few tidbits through a contact at Bonhams which may have helped round it out to be as complete as possible.
Unfortunately I wasn't given a chance for a final review or I might have caught the one minor mistake I've noted which is with the engine displacement. Unlike all other variants of the F1 which had 6,064cc engine displacement, the longtail GTRs had just 5,990cc's in order to keep the engine under 6.0Ls and take advantage of less air restriction imposed by the FIA/ACO regulations. The 6.1-liter V12 they have listed is therefore incorrect.
I'd still put my money down for it if I had enough nickels - indeed I would. :grinyes:
Something to keep in mind when factoring the final price:
The Buyer shall pay Bonhams a premium of SEVENTEEN PERCENT (17%) on the first One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) of the Hammer Price of such Lot and TEN PERCENT (10%) on any amount by which such Hammer Price exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), together with any applicable sales or use tax and any fees or duty due on the Lot.
If, for instance, the car reaches $4M as the hammer price, add an additional $407,000 for auction premium paid by the buyer.
...unless the buyer pays with cash or cash equivalent, then that 17% on the first hundred thousand is reduced to 15% - basically a discount of $2,000.
Last thing - you can download a high res copy of the catalog cover from my MediaFire account here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?55y545odzs9wyy2
>8^)
ER
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20L/th_canvas.png (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20L/canvas.png) <-- Click
Lot #459 is now shown on their website here:
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20322/lot/459/
DO NOT MISS THEIR 43 PHOTOS!
Here's a copy of the full description for future reference:
The Ex-GTC Gulf Team Davidoff - the final example produced
1997 McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' FIA GT Endurance Racing Coupe
Chassis no. 028R
* 6.1-liter BMW V12
* 6-speed sequential gearbox
* Carbon-fiber monocoque
* The final, ultimate F1 GTR
* FIA GT points-scoring example
* Stunning, iconic Gulf livery
* First time ever offered publicly
* A Gordon Murray concept
Following in the wheel tracks of such charismatic designs as the Ferrari 250 GTO, the Ford GTs and the Porsche 917s, in recent years the McLaren F1 GTR has become absolutely the most desirable endurance racing collectors' car from the 1990s.
The compact Gordon Murray-designed all-composite construction three-seat road car design, with its totally distinctive centerline driving position and utterly majestic 6.1-liter 4-cam fuel-injected V12 engine by BMW, emerged as the 'ultracar' with everything. Its active aerodynamics and 550-plus horsepower succeeded in achieving the McLaren company's aim of producing "the greatest driver's car there has ever been, or is ever likely to be" – and it is a measure of the initial production car's 240mph capabilities that once subjected to the restrictions of racing regulations – the resultant F1 GTR actually had to be de-tuned to be acceptable!
The 1995 Le Mans 24-Hours race-winning McLaren merely set the foundation for an entire family of more dedicated racing Coupes to follow. The gleaming example we are now privileged to offer here is actually the last example made of the ultimate variant of the entire McLaren F1 series. It is the tenth and last of the 1997-season McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' endurance racing Coupes. It is one of the cars campaigned that year by the McLaren F1 GTR racing program's most attractively-liveried and most charismatic teams – the GTC Motorsport Gulf Team Davidoff operation. And with its legendary Gulf racing-blue finish it is a latter-day successor to the revered bloodline of Gulf-Mirage, Gulf-Ford GT40, Gulf-Porsche 917 and 908/3 cars which remain such enduring landmarks of motor racing history.
McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' '28R' offered here is a veteran of no fewer than eight premier-league FIA GT World Championship-qualifying races – in which it achieved two points-scoring sixth place finishes.
It would have been easy for McLaren Cars Ltd to bask in the simple afterglow of its technical achievement in producing what they intended to be the finest "driver's car" ever manufactured in the one hundred yearlong history of the motor industry. But no high-performance car manufacturer can expect to build such a world-beater, without one or two prominent and enthusiastic customers becoming keen to prove its capabilities 'in anger' on the race tracks of the world.
Despite design – now Professor – Gordon Murray – having concentrated totally upon producing nothing other than a purebred street car, enthusiastic customers began to persuade McLaren to change their minds through the summer of 1994. McLaren principal Ron Dennis made it quite clear that if some customers wished to go racing then McLaren Cars Ltd would offer the most comprehensive factory back-up and support possible – and would not run a works car against them.
Into 1995 the first race-modified McLaren F1 GTR cars emerged. Three made the model's debut in the February, 1995, Jerez 4-Hours race in Spain, and Ray Bellm/Maurizio Sandro Sala won in the former's GTC racing team entry. The same pairing followed up with another victory in the Paul Ricard 4-Hour race in France, then Thomas Bscher/John Neilsen's West-sponsored McLaren made it three in a row for the new GTRs at Monza, Italy. No fewer than seven McLaren F1 GTRs started the 1995 Le Mans 24-Hour race, and five finished, in first, third, fourth, fifth and 13th places. The winning Ueno Clinic-sponsored car was co-driven by J.J.Lehto/Yannick Dalmas/Masanori Sekiya. For McLaren Cars, Le Mans '95 marked the greatest Le Mans race debut in depth ever achieved, by any manufacturer...ever. Not too shabby for a detuned road car!
Through the first half of 1996, in its second season of racing, the McLaren F1 GTR maintained its glittering record of success, mainly in the face of Ferrari F40 variants. But the emergence of an all-new tailor-made purebred racing Porsche GT1 and – more controversially – its acceptance in late-season BPR Global Endurance Championship racing, caused little less than shock, disbelief and frustrated dismay amongst the McLaren teams.
Amidst considerable grumbling that "Porsche built a racing car and forced us to do it", the McLaren F1 GTR underwent the major revision during the winter of 1996-97 which produced the 'Longtail' model as now offered here. Gordon Murray explained that: "Our pure-bred road-going production-based cars with their long-travel, high camber-change suspension and limited downforce had been leapfrogged by the Porsche GT1. They got away with running Rose-jointed proper-geometry true road-racing suspension on a car which we felt was not genuinely available for sale. We didn't like what had happened, because we didn't feel it was at all within the regulations, but we had to face up to it.
"To comply with the regulations as written we had to build a new road car, sell one a month before the first race, have dealers, brochures and parts back-up for it. I went to Ron for a budget to do just that, and actually started the wind tunnel program before I'd got the go-ahead.
"We needed big overhangs at nose and tail to achieve competitive downforce and downforce/drag proportions, and really had to re-write our total winter program. Now we had to develop not only a new racing car, but first a new road car model to legalize it! We were determined to do it all precisely to the letter of the regulations, in the spirit their original authors had plainly intended."
The frontier-technology all moulded carbon-composite monocoque shell remained absolutely as production while the longer nose and tail were carefully shaped, profiled, under-floored and proven in the moving-ground wind tunnel. Three road-going McLaren F1 GT (Longtail) cars were to be built while the racing 'Longtail' variants were rushed out in parallel.
The first was the development chassis – serial '19R' – destined for Team Lark in Japan, completed on November 18, 1996. The GTC Motorsport team – headed by engineer Michael Cane and backed by Ray Bellm – now combined Gulf Oil Livery with David Classic – brought in by German banker and BPR Champion driver Thomas Bscher – to cover a regular three-car entry. The operation became known as McLaren's"British team" – a private entry operation.
In Germany Team Schnitzer became the chosen 'BMW Motorsport' operation, fielding what came to be regarded as 'works car' with Fina oil brand sponsorship. Nine 'Longtail' F1 GTR cars followed that 1997 prototype car, including this one now offered here – chassis '28R' – initially as a spare supplied to GTC Motorsport in support of their three race cars, chassis '20', '22' and '26R'. This car, '028R', actually began life plated as '27R' but was damaged in a shake-down testing accident and was replated with its ultimate identity after repair.
The FIA GT Championship season of 1997 comprised 11 qualifying rounds, and reached its pulsating climax in the USA, initially at Sebring, Florida, and then one week later at Laguna Seca, California. Two titles were to be awarded, one for the new World Champion GT Team/Constructor, and the other for Driver Pairing.
What developed during that year was the closest and most ferociously hard-fought endurance racing World Championship for several decades. These 1997 'Longtail' McLaren F1 GTRs were absolutely the ultimate development of the Woking marque's sophisticated and civilized original road car. They were confronted most ominously by the brand-new, late-announced tailor-made circuit racing Mercedes-Benz AMG projectiles.
The 'Longtail' McLarens began the new year's World Championship season with a 1-2-3 defeat of Mercedes-Benz upon home German soil at Hockenheim that April. The McLarens won again at Helsinki, Finland, and – just – at Silverstone in England. AMG Mercedes missed Le Mans to prepare for the Nurburgring 4-Hours in June, where they finally outpaced the 'Longtail' McLarens to finish first and second. An epic race at Spa in Belgium then saw a narrow McLaren victory over AMG Mercedes-Benz, but the three GTC Gulf-Davidoff GTRs were all eliminated in a multiple collision on the opening lap...
At the A1-Ring in Austria Mercedes dominated while Karl-Heinz Kalbfell of BMW – manufacturer of the entirely bespoke McLaren F1 GTR's engines – remarked to one journalist "Well, BMW is winning the GT race!" – underlining the Munich company's increasing exasperation with the GT Championship eligibility situation.
Mercedes again finished 1-2 in the following Championship race at Suzuka, Japan, showing a performance advantage which was magnified at Donington Park, in England, where the Stuttgart team won again. The 'Longtails' fought back to win at Mugello in Italy, with just the final American rounds to be run. Mercedes took full points at Sebring, McLaren now had to win at Laguna to take the World title. It was not to be, retirements and collisions ceding the Championship at the last gasp – to Mercedes-Benz. McLaren versus Mercedes-Benz – this is the true measure of these cars' significance, and the level at which they were raced as new.
This startlingly handsome Gulf Team Davidoff car was called into action during the second half of the 1997 FIA GT Championship season, in which it was co-driven most often by the experienced and capable pairing of Briton Geoff Lees and Swede Anders Olofsson.
'Longtail' McLaren F1 GTR '28R' made its racing debut on June 29, 1997 in the FIA GT Championship-qualifying Nurburgring 4-Hour race in Germany. It was co-driven there by Britain's Andrew Gilbert-Scott and Anders Olofsson as race number '1' but was sidelined by accident damage and did not finish. At Spa on July 20 – shared by the same pairing – '28R' was involved in the opening lap team collision and again retired. A wheel problem caused withdrawal from the A1-Ring 4-Hours in Austria where Geoff Lees joined Gilbert-Scott and Olofsson in the driver team, but on August 4 in Japan's grueling Suzuka 1,000 Kilometer race Andrew Gilbert-Scott/Geoff Lees/John Nielsen qualified '28R' offered here seventh fastest overall, and finished sixth. Back home in England on September 14th, Anders Olofsson/Geoff Lees drove the car to finish seventh in the FIA GT Championship Donington Park 4-Hours, and the same pairing followed up with eighth place at Mugello, Italy. In the penultimate round at Sebring they finished tenth, and in the deciding round at Laguna Seca on October 6 they helped salvage McLaren pride by bringing '028R' home into another sixth place overall.
We understand from the vendor that the car remained with GTC after its active FIA career, upon which it made its way back to the McLaren Works in Woking. The car was preserved for several years, and was reportedly sold through McLaren to the Jim Gainer Racing operation in Japan in 2004. According to the vendor, it was imported to Japan in factory-restored condition, reportedly being prepared to Suzuka circuit specification prior to delivery. In 2006, '28R' was acquired by the current owner, who has had the car started and run annually since that time, though to our knowledge it has not been track-tested. We are advised that the engine was run as recently as this past January. Most significantly, McLaren has offered to undertake a full technical inspection of the car free of charge for the new owner following this Sale.
In recent years market perception of the McLaren F1 production cars - and their more glamorous F1 GTR racing sisters such as '28R' offered here – has grown with fantastic rapidity. So many superlatives have been justifiably heaped upon this street car design that went racing, that we can hardly add more. The McLaren F1 GTR is the production-based racing model that won Le Mans, and then in its more sophisticated racing iterations – as offered here in this ultimate 'Longtail' variant – took on the giants of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche on unequal terms...and sometimes beat them.
Add the extra cachet of Gulf racing heritage, these fabulously futuristic good looks and that simply magnificent bespoke BMW V12 engine – absolutely tailored to McLaren requirements – and the very special nature of this remarkably significant artifact can be fully appreciated.
Refer to department
Estimate: n/a
Footnotes
Please note that this vehicle is offered on a Bill of Sale
This auction description was written for the Bonhams catalog by author and historian Doug Nye - a very recognizable name around these parts - and I was happy to supply a few tidbits through a contact at Bonhams which may have helped round it out to be as complete as possible.
Unfortunately I wasn't given a chance for a final review or I might have caught the one minor mistake I've noted which is with the engine displacement. Unlike all other variants of the F1 which had 6,064cc engine displacement, the longtail GTRs had just 5,990cc's in order to keep the engine under 6.0Ls and take advantage of less air restriction imposed by the FIA/ACO regulations. The 6.1-liter V12 they have listed is therefore incorrect.
I'd still put my money down for it if I had enough nickels - indeed I would. :grinyes:
Something to keep in mind when factoring the final price:
The Buyer shall pay Bonhams a premium of SEVENTEEN PERCENT (17%) on the first One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) of the Hammer Price of such Lot and TEN PERCENT (10%) on any amount by which such Hammer Price exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), together with any applicable sales or use tax and any fees or duty due on the Lot.
If, for instance, the car reaches $4M as the hammer price, add an additional $407,000 for auction premium paid by the buyer.
...unless the buyer pays with cash or cash equivalent, then that 17% on the first hundred thousand is reduced to 15% - basically a discount of $2,000.
Last thing - you can download a high res copy of the catalog cover from my MediaFire account here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?55y545odzs9wyy2
>8^)
ER
hurstg01
08-03-2012, 04:14 PM
I've added a few more videos to the video thread of #28R whilst in the showroom / around the showroom :)
Peloton25
08-10-2012, 08:32 PM
Spotted at Laguna Seca today. :cool:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/8aaa5ea1.jpg
>8^)
ER
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/8aaa5ea1.jpg
>8^)
ER
Peloton25
08-13-2012, 01:44 PM
UltimateCarPage have added six new shots of #28R spotted in the same spot at Laguna Seca:
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3173/McLaren-F1-GTR-Longtail.html
>8^)
ER
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3173/McLaren-F1-GTR-Longtail.html
>8^)
ER
McF1
08-15-2012, 04:59 AM
The Ex-GTC Gulf Team Davidoff - the final example produced
1997 McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' FIA GT Endurance Racing Coupe
Chassis no. 028R
* 6.1-liter BMW V12
Once again this specification surprises me.
I understood that the 1997 GTR had a destroke engine in order to have larger air restrictors. The capacity of the BMW was then 5995 cc.
Meanwhile, on the GT, the BMW retained the 6064 cc engine (seemignly for easier homologation, as it was already passed by previous versions),
What is your view on this particular #028R?
Thanks in advance.
1997 McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' FIA GT Endurance Racing Coupe
Chassis no. 028R
* 6.1-liter BMW V12
Once again this specification surprises me.
I understood that the 1997 GTR had a destroke engine in order to have larger air restrictors. The capacity of the BMW was then 5995 cc.
Meanwhile, on the GT, the BMW retained the 6064 cc engine (seemignly for easier homologation, as it was already passed by previous versions),
What is your view on this particular #028R?
Thanks in advance.
Peloton25
08-15-2012, 05:25 AM
Your understanding is correct. :)
I included a comment in my post about that specifically. There was a lot to read though so here it is again:
Unfortunately I wasn't given a chance for a final review (of the catalog description) or I might have caught the one minor mistake I've noted which is with the engine displacement. Unlike all other variants of the F1 which had 6,064cc engine displacement, the longtail GTRs had just 5,990cc's in order to keep the engine under 6.0Ls and take advantage of less air restriction imposed by the FIA/ACO regulations. The 6.1-liter V12 they have listed is therefore incorrect.
I'm sure the car retains its original S70/3 GTR engine - maybe not the exact engine that was fitted originally if there was ever a mechanical issue during its racing career that would have necessitated a swap, or for it's engine to be borrowed for another car. From what can be seen of #28R's engine in photos it appears very much like the one that is fitted to all the other longtails out there. I can not envision any logical reason to change it to the 6.1L at any point in its life.
>8^)
ER
I included a comment in my post about that specifically. There was a lot to read though so here it is again:
Unfortunately I wasn't given a chance for a final review (of the catalog description) or I might have caught the one minor mistake I've noted which is with the engine displacement. Unlike all other variants of the F1 which had 6,064cc engine displacement, the longtail GTRs had just 5,990cc's in order to keep the engine under 6.0Ls and take advantage of less air restriction imposed by the FIA/ACO regulations. The 6.1-liter V12 they have listed is therefore incorrect.
I'm sure the car retains its original S70/3 GTR engine - maybe not the exact engine that was fitted originally if there was ever a mechanical issue during its racing career that would have necessitated a swap, or for it's engine to be borrowed for another car. From what can be seen of #28R's engine in photos it appears very much like the one that is fitted to all the other longtails out there. I can not envision any logical reason to change it to the 6.1L at any point in its life.
>8^)
ER
McF1
08-15-2012, 05:36 AM
Your understanding is correct. :)
From what can be seen of #28R's engine in photos it appears very much like the one that is fitted to all the other longtails out there.
>8^)
ER
Thanks again Erik.
I have a lot of catch up to do, so I had not read your comment on this point yet :uhoh:
I do agree with you, from the overhead covers, it looks like the one fitted on the longtails.
From what can be seen of #28R's engine in photos it appears very much like the one that is fitted to all the other longtails out there.
>8^)
ER
Thanks again Erik.
I have a lot of catch up to do, so I had not read your comment on this point yet :uhoh:
I do agree with you, from the overhead covers, it looks like the one fitted on the longtails.
Le Man
08-17-2012, 06:20 AM
I'm sure the car retains its original S70/3 GTR engine - maybe not the exact engine that was fitted originally
>8^)
ER
28R was supplied to GTC Motorsport as a rolling chassis only,
Hope it goes to a good home :)
As for jumping on a plane Erik, I,ve been too busy for any hobbies, F1 or otherwise, have a great time in Monterey :thumbsup:
>8^)
ER
28R was supplied to GTC Motorsport as a rolling chassis only,
Hope it goes to a good home :)
As for jumping on a plane Erik, I,ve been too busy for any hobbies, F1 or otherwise, have a great time in Monterey :thumbsup:
Peloton25
08-17-2012, 10:43 AM
A ray of hope perhaps? This is a more recent photo...
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/391213_455420551144921_994859497_n.jpg
>8^)
ER
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/391213_455420551144921_994859497_n.jpg
>8^)
ER
Peloton25
08-17-2012, 10:45 AM
28R was supplied to GTC Motorsport as a rolling chassis only,
True, of course, but I just meant whatever engine the originally gave it when it came time to put it in service.
Hope it goes to a good home :)
My sincere hope as well! :thumbsup:
As for jumping on a plane Erik, I,ve been too busy for any hobbies, F1 or otherwise, have a great time in Monterey :thumbsup:
Well, you will be missed. :)
>8^)
ER
True, of course, but I just meant whatever engine the originally gave it when it came time to put it in service.
Hope it goes to a good home :)
My sincere hope as well! :thumbsup:
As for jumping on a plane Erik, I,ve been too busy for any hobbies, F1 or otherwise, have a great time in Monterey :thumbsup:
Well, you will be missed. :)
>8^)
ER
Peloton25
08-17-2012, 05:51 PM
Hammer falls at $3.3M
>8^)
ER
>8^)
ER
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