It seemed the best idea for the English fleet thread was to do the same thing I did last year with the Japan fleet. Start fresh with a new one and close the
original thread - in fact this is long overdue.
I'd spoken with Chris (mini magic) about doing this many months ago since he was the originator of the first English fleet thread and I didn't want to step on his toes. We both agreed it was the correct course of action and that whomever got to it first would do it. I back-burnered it and I know he has been very busy, but I finally decided yesterday (after some gentle prodding from our newest contributor
) that it really did need to be done
now.
So here we go - to the best of my knowledge with help from here, there and everywhere...
XP3 - Gordon Murray
The earliest surviving McLaren F1. Refreshed and given to Gordon at the completion of F1 production. The last remaining F1 with prototype front indicators.
= = =
XP5 - McLaren Cars
Rumors of a sale were greatly exaggerated. Set the F1s speed record in 1998 after being used as the marketing and demonstration car from almost the beginning.
= = =
020 - Tony Smith
Original owner - had the HDF Kit fitted in ~2003. This car is almost certainly the mileage leader for production F1s.
= = =
025 - Dhani Harrison
Car originally belonged to his father, George Harrison. Was painted to match the color of a portion of Dhani's custom painted racing helmet. The car features the Buddhist
"Aum" symbol on the centers of the wheel nuts, and also ghosted into the clearcoat of the paint along with other unique touches.
= = =
040 - Flemke
Originally in Germany with its first two owners. This was the first 'high mirrored' F1. Came to the UK in the early part of the last decade and was resprayed from silver. The car completed a refit in mid-2011.
= = =
043 - Owner's name withheld
<--
File Photo from Japan
Originally owned by Motokazu Sayama in Japan - the owner of the Le Mans winning F1 GTR's title sponsor "Ueno Clinic". He had his road car painted to match the Le Mans winner. Came to the UK in 2011.
= = =
046 - Clive Joy
Originally belonged to racer Ray Bellm and was painted Genesis Blue Metallic. Has had several owners, always remaining in the UK to my knowledge. This car has seen a fair bit of use and the new owner has apparently set a goal of being the first to reach 100,000 miles in a production F1. Good on him!
= = =
050 - Ron Dennis
Very lightly used up until 2010. Was the second F1 built with high mirrors.
= = =
059 - John Studholme
This car has a very unique set of headlamps that really alter the look of the nose of the car. High Downforce Kit was fitted in the latter part of the 1990s. Has a GT-spec interior.
= = =
061 - Rowan Atkinson
Original owner. An accident in 2011 caused extensive damage. Hopefully McLaren will restore it to how it was in these photos soon.
= = =
069 - Aaron Hsu
Car was originally in the UK then spent years being held by US customs after some importation problems. Eventually it was released and returned to the UK. Formerly wore the HDF Kit which was removed in 2009. Has an LM-spec interior.
= = =
XP1 LM - McLaren Cars
The LM prototype - promised to Lewis Hamilton if he can win 3 F1 Driver's Championships for McLaren.
= = =
56XPGT - McLaren Cars
The GT prototype - missing in action from 2004 until 2010 when it appeared at the MTC owner's gathering. This car is still in McLaren's private collection.
= = = = = =
F1 GTRs:
01R - McLaren Cars
1995 24Hrs of Le Mans winner.
= = =
02R - Owner unknown - road converted
Hidden away somewhere in the UK and has not really been seen since 1998.
= = =
04R - McLaren Cars
Replaced GTR #14R for the last race of the 1996 JGTC season. Now part of McLaren's private collection.
= = =
06R - David Clark - road converted
= = =
07R - Andrew Pisker - road converted
= = =
10R - Nick Mason - road converted
The 1996 development GTR. Owned by Nick Mason for more than a decade after having the factory convert it for road use. Reappeared wearing it's original Presentation Livery in mid-2009.
= = =
12R - Aaron Hsu - road converted
= = =
13R - Andy - road converted
= = =
14R - Adrian Newey - road converted
This GTR had a longtime owner who was also in the UK. Adrian purchased the car from him in early 2011 making him probably the only McLaren F1 owner who might not be extended an open invitation to the MTC.
= = =
16R - Mark Beeston - road converted
= = =
19R - Owner's name withheld
Last seen in LARK livery while in the USA, this GTR left there for the UK in June 2009. Its second UK owner has undertaken an ambitious plan to fully rebuild and restore the car to its original Presentation livery as pictured above.
= = =
20R - McLaren Cars
= = =
22R - Roald Goethe
= = =
24R - Paul Knapfield (EMKA livery)
= = =
27R - Owner's name withheld
= = = = = =
No longer in the UK:
Clinic Model
Last seen in the Beaulieu National Motor Museum painted yellow in the late 1990s. According to GM the Clinic Model was eventually crushed.
= = =
003 - Ron Dennis
Used for some of the early marketing and press work. Sold to Japan in 1996.
= = =
007 - Chris Palmer
Originally owned by a member of the Saudi Royal Family but kept in storage at McLaren. Auctioned in 1998 through Bonhams for £380,000 - perhaps the lowest selling price ever for an F1. Left the UK for the USA around April 2001.
= = =
011 - Owner unknown
Auctioned through Christies in the UK in 2003. Went to USA.
= = =
015 - Owner unknown
Appeared at the London Motorshow - year unknown.
= = =
017 - David Morrison
Destroyed in an accident in 1999 while being driven by Christopher Dawes. He and his two passengers did not survive.
= = =
023 - Paul Stewart
Originally in Japan and painted British Racing Green. The car came to the UK and was owned by Liam Howlett who had it redone in silver and then had the Downforce Kit fitted. Car was sold to Paul Stewart and may have had another owner in between before selling again to South Africa in 2009.
= = =
024 - Paul Burdell
Sold to Jim Clark in the USA in early 2002.
= = =
028 - Michael Andretti
Part of Andretti's compensation package from McLaren for the 1993 Formula One season was a McLaren F1 road car and #028 was built to fulfill that obligation. Andretti left the car in the UK for approximately one year after it was finished and with no means to bring it back to the USA at the time the car was eventually sold to a Japanese owner.
= = =
039 - Ron Dennis
<-- File photo from Mexico
Built for Ron Dennis, but the story goes that the results weren't quite what he had hoped for. I've been told the car had one other owner briefly in the UK before it went to Mexico.
= = =
044 - Owner unknown
<-- File Photos
Owned in the UK before coming to the USA in 1997.
= = =
065 - McLaren Cars
Honorable mention here as it was the Park Lane showroom car for roughly 6 years. Finally sold by the factory in 2004 to Singapore. Then it returned briefly to London for the RM auction in 2008 where it set the record price of £2.5M when purchased by its new US owner.
= = =
068 - Owner unknown
<--
File photo from USA
Briefly in the UK from August 2010 until early 2011. Returned to California or possibly Mexico. Had also been in the UK for at least a brief period of time prior to November 1999.
= = =
073 - Owner unknown
Auctioned by Christies in December 2003 where it was sold to its current US owner.
= = =
LM3 - David Morrison
= = =
As you can probably tell this was started as just a rough draft More photos and descriptions will follow shortly to give the look and feel of the other fleet threads, but I did want to get things moving in the right direction for us.
If you see any mistakes or adjustments that are needed please do offer an assist. I am especially bad with UK geography so if any of that info could be compiled that would be great. I could never do this alone of course.
>8^)
ER