Beyond The Ultimate: The Definitive McLaren F1 LM Archive

[astonmartindbs001]

Thanks mate, that's a good shot of the gauge cluster.

[Sami Aaltonen]

Finally had enough peacefull time to read all this superb content about LM. Absolutely superb. Thanks you all, who had done this all together and give that specific information of this legendary car to all here at AF-forum!

I enjoyed very much!

[astonmartindbs001]

Some superb Racing Line articles about XP1LM. Enjoy.

They're in PDF format.

http://www.mediafire.com/?yymljmzem2y

http://www.mediafire.com/?ndltwyof1zj

[countachal]

Originally Posted by astonmartindbs001

Thanks again.

Now, in case anyone forgot about these:-

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=609429

Ah glad to see my pictures have not been forgotten about! i have not seen them in a while as they only seem to be on here, unlike some pics which surface all over the net.

[astonmartindbs001]

Photos of XP1LM, taken at the Vodafone VIP Day at the McLaren Technology Center just 2 days ago.




http://picasaweb.google.com/p3rryr/M...hnologyCentre#

[Peloton25]

Don't bother clicking - it isn't a thumbnail:



You should be able to guess by the resolution of the image which LM this is.

>8^)
ER

[Peloton25]

Interesting photo I just stumbled on of LM3 below. The album it's in claims the photo is from July 11th, 1996 which means it was probably taken as they were completing the original build of this car. Strangely the front license plate is already fitted and even more strange it was left exposed while inside the factory which is pretty rare to see.



Click the pic to access the album for a larger version of this shot and another image of a random silver F1.

>8^)
ER

[Paulthagerous]

Ooh I want to speculate (appologies if I get it wrong)

LM3 is clearly still being worked on fairly late in the year. The silver one is almost complete, maybe a few finishing interior touches (hence why near wall of pieces). So chances are it is also a '96 model.

There were only 3 silver ones made in '96: 47 and 55 were Magnesium Silver and 49 was Mercedes Brilliant silver. Comparing some photos of 009 and others (Magnesium Sliver) with 065 (Mercedes Brilliant Silver) it really seems like it has to be the later: Magnesium Silver is just too dark. And I am assuming the chances of it being a refit are slim.

So this is probably another photo of 49, only the 2nd one I have ever seen

(As said before, there are a lot of assumptions here. Anyone have a better idea?)

[Peloton25]

I think you're referencing post crash photos of #009 which was repainted Dark Silver during its repairs. Here's the car wearing its original Magnesium Silver paint:



Another problem with making assumptions on completed cars in old photos taken inside the factory is that they could always be of an earlier production car that is back in for service. I'm guilty of doing this before too.

So, #049 is a definite possibility for that silver car but it would be hard to say so with certainty I think.

One more note - and maybe it was a typo on your part, but #065 was also Magnesium Silver.

>8^)
ER

[Paulthagerous]

Originally Posted by Peloton25

I think you're referencing post crash photos of #009 which was repainted Dark Silver during its repairs. Here's the car wearing its original Magnesium Silver paint:



Another problem with making assumptions on completed cars in old photos taken inside the factory is that they could always be of an earlier production car that is back in for service. I'm guilty of doing this before too.

So, #049 is a definite possibility for that silver car but it would be hard to say so with certainty I think.

One more note - and maybe it was a typo on your part, but #065 was also Magnesium Silver.

>8^)
ER

Like I said before, they were some big assumptions I totally agree it is far from certain, I was just trying to establish a 'most likely' candidate. It could easily have been another one in for repair/servicing.

I also looked at other silver cars' photos and my gut feeling is that magnesium silver is a bit darker than this mystery one in our photo? What do you think?

And yes, I meant #068 not #065

One more thing: IF (BIG IF HERE) we could conclude that is WAS Mercedes Brilliant Silver, then surely #049 is the only possible candidate (since the next one in that colour wasn't done until mid '97)? Or was another repainted this colour this early on?

[astonmartindbs001]

Great posts.

One thing I noticed though, just above LM3's right headlight there seems to be a filled-out hole where previously there was one of the later-deleted eyebrow vents. It appears that the McLaren lads are simply going to cover it over with the orange panel of carbon fiber currently resting over the right side wheelarch cooling vents, rather than mould and autoclave a new solid panel without the vent hole.

Anyone know anything about this, and whether the same is present on all F1s?

[astonmartindbs001]

Rome wasn't built in a day, but I think it's time to take this LM archive to a new level.

XP1LM

[Sami Aaltonen]

[mini magic]

Originally Posted by Peloton25

Interesting photo I just stumbled on of LM3 below. The album it's in claims the photo is from July 11th, 1996 which means it was probably taken as they were completing the original build of this car. Strangely the front license plate is already fitted and even more strange it was left exposed while inside the factory which is pretty rare to see.

I believe that plate was on one of Mr. M's other cars before the LM. I do agree that its wierd to see it in the factory with it fitted and not covered. Wonder if there's a back story?

[astonmartindbs001]

XP1LM