I just always look for the '
LM' badge...
Funny you should ask this question as I was just discussing it with someone else the other day.
There's more ways to disprove that a car is not an LM than there is to identify one. Meaning, that if you study the features that are present on the LM's, it's easy to say what's not a true LM. The two most obvious things are the small intake port on the left side ahead of the rear wheel which you won't find on the LM, but was present on the GTR's. All the GTR's that I have seen which have received the LM-look still have this intake on the side. It's a dead giveaway.
The other major visual difference can be seen from the front. Notice the difference in the center hood vents on the three variations in the photo at the bottom. The '95 GTRs looks no different than a standard F1 road car. The LM's adds a large vent opening near the top. The '96 GTR has a similar vent, but it's mounted much lower on the cover and isn't a perfect rectangle as it has a small drop down section in the center. This particular '96 GTR also has the extra roof scoop which wouldn't be seen on a true LM. Though it was never seen on any '95 GTRs, not all '96 GTR's have this additional scoop attached to the roof intake.
- True LM's have smooth rocker panels that hang almost straight down from front to back. If you look closely at #11R you'll see it has small wings that stick out from the rocker panels aft of the door line.
- LM's have the locking fuel filler on the left side c-pillar as seen on the F1 road car. The converted GTR's just appear to have a blank carbon fiber circle in it's place on the left, and their fuel filler is on the right side c-pillar.
- LM's have windows through the engine compartment allowing for internal rear view mirrors. Converted GTRs don't/wouldn't have those.
- LM's can have sliding side windows, whereas I have never seen those fitted to a converted GTR.
- LM's do not have a built in roll cage as you will still find on most converted GTR's. They also don't have the large panel of switches on located in the right side footwell.
- LM's have a beautiful logo engraved into the side plates of the rear wing which reads "GTR" and "24 HEURES DU MANS" with "1995 WINNERS" below. I've never seen that on any of the converted GTRs.
- LM's actually have "F1 LM" engraved into one of the spokes on each magnesium OZ wheel. On some, but not all GTRs, you will find "GTR" painted onto one of the spokes - I believe #11R has it.
- LM's wear the 'F1 LM' badge on upper left corner of the rear grille and a lone 'McLaren' badge on the lower right.
- LM's have the same three cut-outs in the center of their front bumper as the GTR's do, however on the LM's they are blanked out, whereas on the GTR's they are somewhat larger and have removable screens.
- While I can't guarantee this to be true for all, every LM I have seen photos of was wearing a black windshield banner that reads "F1LM_____McLaren_____F1LM"
Hope all that info helps!
>8^)
ER
