F1 Owner on board

[fselldorff]

Originally Posted by McLaren Mike

And here is yet again, another question.
Did you have to partake in the McLaren test drive before ownership? If so, how did it go? Who was the instuctor?
Has anyone tried to steel or damage your car? If so result?

-How did you come across these forums?

Plus please post some more pics of your f1s, can you post a pic with all the compartments and doors open from a front on angle? (worth a try).

-Thanks again

-Mike

Mike,

Since I didn't buy the car new (ie i wasn't the first owner) and the cars were no longer in production when i bought them (1999) I don't know whether there was any instruction required before taking delivery. I was, however, treated exceptionally well and made to feel like i was buying a car directly from McLaren.

-I was offered a tour of the facility.
-I was fitted to the car (custom seat made for me, whell and pedal adjustements)
-I was offered the opportunity to change anything and everything on the car (color, options,...etc.)
-I was given a chance to test drive the car on their test track (it was wet and cold so i didn't push it hard. lots of leaves on the track at the time).
-I was given basic instruction on the car by one of their employees (i can't remember which).

Noone has tried to steal the car to my knowledge. I don't leave it unattended in public very often.

drewtms told me about the forum.

i'll post more pictures if i take them, most of them are already up here somewhere.

Frank

[fselldorff]

Originally Posted by NarutoRamen

I have another question Mr. Selldorff if you don't mind. It might seem childish but i'm pretty serious.

If I go to NY and decide to drive to Mass. Is there any way that you would allow me to look at your cars if I contacted you way before....It's a pretty dumb question...not like i'm going to come to NY anytime soon...but just wanted to ask since you're never going to sell the cars...may be next year.

Mr. Selldorff even if you decide to say no...please respond to this message...or pm me if you want.

Thanks again...

Raman B.

Of course. I will share the car readily with true enthusiasts (for non-commercial purposes).

[fselldorff]

Originally Posted by scoob

Mr Selldorf, welcome to the board. It's great to see someone like yourself contributing.

I would be interested to know something of the history of your LM. There was a LM that did the UK Gumball Rally a few years ago. It was owned by an economist called David Morrison. There are some photos and info at http://www.racecar.co.uk/gumballrally/index.htm One theory that I've heard on here is that your LM is the same one that did the Gumball Rally. Do you know if that is true?

Thanks for any information.

My LM was previously owned by David Morrison. I bought it with around 3000 miles on it.

[TcarR]

hopefully this long question thread will end and you can become a more intergrated member of the forum, but before then i have final question: Do you know anything of the history of 007 (the car, not Mr. Bond)? I heard it was in bonnie scotland during it's first years. is that true?

[fselldorff]

Originally Posted by TcarR

hopefully this long question thread will end and you can become a more intergrated member of the forum, but before then i have final question: Do you know anything of the history of 007 (the car, not Mr. Bond)? I heard it was in bonnie scotland during it's first years. is that true?

I honestly don't know that much about it's history. sorry.

[McLaren F1 Guy]

Have you ever pushed the LM to the limit?

[fselldorff]

Originally Posted by McLaren F1 Guy

Have you ever pushed the LM to the limit?

no. the clutch is going, so i drove it minimally.

[Peloton25]

Originally Posted by fselldorff

My LM was previously owned by David Morrison. I bought it with around 3000 miles on it.

WooHoo - I got one right!!

Actually, that was the answer I was hoping for, and it sparks a few more quesitons from me.

- Do you know why Morrison decided to sell the LM? I know there were reports in the papers about legal troubles relating to his employment, so that's the obvious explanation. If he chose to sell it for another reason, I'd be interested in hearing it if you can share.

- Besides paying a tremendous sum of money, can you explain how the LM ended up in your possession? I would expect the sale of a car as rare and priceless as the F1 LM to be offered in a more public way, such as an auction where competing bidders could really drive the price up to the benefit of the seller. I'm thinking a "Ferrari 250 GTO kind of frenzy" might be created by such an event.

- Do you know if Morrison also owned an F1 road car? I believe that the 5 customer LMs were initially offered only to people who had purchased a road car. If you do know that he had one, can you possibly confirm the color and chassis number of that car? The reason I ask, is because I have an old photo that I believe to be of Morrison's LM in a garage with a burgundy or red F1 road car and a classic Ferrari parked behind it. I can post the photo if you'd like.

- You say that you will not track the LM as it's too valuable. Not that I would want to discourage it, but it leaves me a little perplexed as to why you drive it on the public streets. Certainly on a closed circuit, there are far fewer variables to account for than on a public road. It just seems like a safer place to stretch the legs of such an incredible car to me, even if you're only driving it at 7/10ths.

Once again, thanks to you for becoming a very valuable member of our community. As always, provide as much or as little detail as you choose to.

>8^)
ER

[mini magic]

btw, what kind of ferrari is that?

[Peloton25]

A rare one.

I'm a McLaren expert not a Ferrari one. If I had to guess, I'd say a 250 Lusso or something like that.

Thanks for posting the pic though.

>8^)
ER

[mini magic]

its clearly got a fabric roof ie. convertable which kinda leaves me in the dark. i am no expert on old ferraris...

[fselldorff]

Originally Posted by Peloton25

WooHoo - I got one right!!

Actually, that was the answer I was hoping for, and it sparks a few more quesitons from me.

- Do you know why Morrison decided to sell the LM? I know there were reports in the papers about legal troubles relating to his employment, so that's the obvious explanation. If he chose to sell it for another reason, I'd be interested in hearing it if you can share.

- Besides paying a tremendous sum of money, can you explain how the LM ended up in your possession? I would expect the sale of a car as rare and priceless as the F1 LM to be offered in a more public way, such as an auction where competing bidders could really drive the price up to the benefit of the seller. I'm thinking a "Ferrari 250 GTO kind of frenzy" might be created by such an event.

- Do you know if Morrison also owned an F1 road car? I believe that the 5 customer LMs were initially offered only to people who had purchased a road car. If you do know that he had one, can you possibly confirm the color and chassis number of that car? The reason I ask, is because I have an old photo that I believe to be of Morrison's LM in a garage with a burgundy or red F1 road car and a classic Ferrari parked behind it. I can post the photo if you'd like.

- You say that you will not track the LM as it's too valuable. Not that I would want to discourage it, but it leaves me a little perplexed as to why you drive it on the public streets. Certainly on a closed circuit, there are far fewer variables to account for than on a public road. It just seems like a safer place to stretch the legs of such an incredible car to me, even if you're only driving it at 7/10ths.

Once again, thanks to you for becoming a very valuable member of our community. As always, provide as much or as little detail as you choose to.

>8^)
ER

- I've no idea why Mr. Morrison sold the car
- When the car was presented to me, I was told that I was competing with at least one other individual and the deal was "take it or leave it". i.e. if i didn't meet the asking price then it'd be going to someone else. As I said, I decided to meet the astronomical price rather than miss out on the opportunity to own an LM. I wasn't given much time to think about it, It came up and I had to decide within a day or two. I'm not sure why it didn't go to auction, we'd have to ask Mr. Morrison.
- I don't know about Mr. Morrison's road car, but I do remember being told the story that it was only offered to existing F1 owners.
- After driving it for the first time this summer (I bought it without ever getting inside the car), I realized right away how special it trully was. I decided on the spot that this car won't see much road/track time at all. It will maybe make an appearance or two a year. I'll probably trailer it to and from events to minimize the road hazards you referred to. What I'm thinking about is taking one of my road cars and sending it to McLaren for the LM treatment. That way I can drive a car that sounds and performs like the LM without putting miles on the LM.

let me know if/when you come to the East coast. You deserve to experience it.

Frank

[mini magic]

hehe, i live in PA. i'll be up there soon, i really wanna see the Turner shop (i am obcessed with bmw's as well as mclarens especially the e30 m3)

btw, that reminds me. off topic: are turner still working on the e30 m3 project car? and if so, do you know when it will be completed?

Thanks for all the info Mr. Selldorff.

[TcarR]

The full LM treatment sounds very nice indeed. I imagine it would be 007 if you decided to do it as it is the car that sees most use. Would you change the colour at the same time? Personally i like the black but that blue car with the LM treatment (011) was stunning. Is there any colour you would particularily like? Oh, and when you bought the cars were items such as the McLaren F1 watch and the bespoke luggage cases passed on to you?

Thanks once again. It really is great to be able to ask these questions and I think I speak for all of us when I say we really appreciate it.

[fselldorff]

Originally Posted by mini magic

hehe, i live in PA. i'll be up there soon, i really wanna see the Turner shop (i am obcessed with bmw's as well as mclarens especially the e30 m3)

btw, that reminds me. off topic: are turner still working on the e30 m3 project car? and if so, do you know when it will be completed?

Thanks for all the info Mr. Selldorff.

i don't know what the status of the E30 m3 project car. maybe drewtms can answer that. BTW, i just bought an E30 race car to practice with when i have the time. i can't wait, everyone says it's a great car to drive.