Pic Link

[eb110ss4life]

again

[XOTech]

jkbon,
I could not get the links you posted to work properly. Try to repost them and I will take a look and be able to comment on the car.

eb110,
As for the Yellow car, there were only two original yellow cars produced. One was a 1994 (late that year) and the other was a late 1996 car.

[jkbon]

FRANCE, 1993

[Peloton25]

In regards to this photo of the Yellow F1 that appears to be a prototype, there is a story I have heard that XP2 was once painted Yellow for a customer who couldn't decide between Yellow or Silver. It's quite possible that it is XP2, though I'm not sure that it was ever publicly displayed, especially in that color. Also, at the MIRA crash test XP2's front end didn't have the fog lights that are seen in this photo and did have a makeshift front turn signal that is not seen in this photo.

The same story is told here, though it is in Portuguese so you'll probably need a translator:

http://www.uol.com.br/bestcars/colunas/estrada-117.htm

You can try this link which should work for translation or simply go to Google's Language page and enter the above URL.

http://translate.google.com/translat...language_tools

It's still a little rough after translation so maybe there's someone here that can do a better job or I'll try asking at another site.

= = = = =

I'm actually more inclined to believe that it's the Clinic Model - though like XOTech, I have never heard that car being painted any other color than Silver or Burgundy. The reason I suspect that it's the Clinic Model is that it has those eyebrow lines on the bodywork just above the headlights and is without the front turn indicators as I previously mentioned. Besides the Clinic Model, the only other F1 I have seen with those characteristics was XP1. One difference from XP1 - but similarity with the Clinic Model is that the bottom portion of the outside headlamp is cut off at the bottom by the 'floor' of the headlamp housing. To my knowledge, XP1 was never painted and as most of you probably know it was destroyed in a fire that followed a severe crash in the Nambian desert while undergoing hot weather testing by BMW test driver Roman Scherer.

It would be interesting if someone knew where and when this photo was taken as it might help in determining which car that really is. It's possible that the person who told the story of XP2 being painted Yellow was mistaken and really meant to refer to the Clinic Model - I can't be positive on that. I do not believe it to be a production car at all though.

= = = = =

XOTech - In response to this:

As far as other orange cars, there of course, were the 5 LMs, the last car #075 (Yquem), and now this car that was silver. Aside from those, there has been another car that was a GTR that was white that has been converted to European road use. It has been made to look like an LM and is the LM orange color. Those are the only orange cars I am aware of.

Chassis #071 was an F1 road car - the 61st built - and was finished in Historic Orange. Chapter 17 of "Driving Ambition" details the production process of #71 with photos of this car from start to finish of assembly at Genesis beginning on page #188. I have a small suspicion that this may have been the car that was purchased by Micromuse CEO, Christopher Dawes though as I once read that his car was Orange. I know that the car that he died in was not his own, but I recall you saying once that the location of the car that he owned was in question and that it may have been seized by the government in light of his drug trial.

Also, maybe you can address this as well. There are numerous conflicting stories on the paint color of the 5 LMs. Initially, and several times since I have read that they were all to be finished in Historic "Paypaya" Orange, as that is McLaren's traditional racing color. However, several other sources including "Driving Ambition - The Official Inside Story..." list only three of the 5 LMs as being finished in Historic Orange and state that the other two (LM01 & LM04) were painted "Black + Graphics". Do you have any information that could settle this great debate, or could you find this out through your contacts when you have the opportunity??

One final note at the end of this incredibly long post, is that I know of at least two GTRs that have undergone their road going transformation and come out looking like LM's being painted Historic Orange. In fact there is even a series of photos where both cars appear together at the factory undergoing servicing. Incidentally, I'm not correcting you so much as just letting you know. With all the changes that each new customer likes to make to their McLaren it becomes difficult to keep track of them. I do consider it disappointing that they would refinish a GTR to look almost exactly like an F1 LM. The LMs uniqueness, in my opinion, should have been ensured much like the uniqueness of the last road car's color was in the situation you described regarding Dan Kennedy's McLaren.

Oh yeah - and do you know the production number of Dan's F1. I was going to send him an email through his site - www.mclarenforsale.com - but I'm not a "serious principal" when it comes to purchasing so I didn't really want to bother him. By your own account that his car was originally silver, that gives us #001, #006, #009, #010, #012, #013, #033, #037, #038, #040, #042, #044, #045 & finally #050 as possibilities to choose from being built prior to 1996. If you don't know, you could just pick any one.

>8^)
ER

[Peloton25]

Oh yeah - as if I haven't said enough already - here's the three shots of the Yellow F1 that was for sale on the QV500.com website.

>8^)
ER

[Peloton25]

#2

>8^)
ER

[Peloton25]

...and finally #3.

>8^)
ER

[lowridder11]

nice pics

[XOTech]

Peloton,

Here is my evaluation to the best I can determine.

The yellow car in question is none other than the Clinic car. My studies have determined only one difference. You will note the yellow car pictured at a car show of sorts shares the following similarities with the Clinic car...

Driving Lights
The very early non-rubber strip mounted Bumper
(the version including the Driving Lights)
Black Fender Stripe
(actually the Idling Air Exit Vent used with the front Suction concept)
The vent is painted black and looks more like a stripe than a vent.
It is truely a vent.
No front Turn Signals

The only difference from the Clinic Car is the adaption of the Low Mirrors as opposed to the High Mirrors used on the Clinic Car. It would be my estimation that McLaren Cars chose to repaint the car for the third time (1: Silver 2: Burgundy 3:Yellow). In doing so, they took that opportunity to remove the High Mirrors as a result of not passing requirements in certain countries with the High Mirrors. To eliminate too much interest from incoming buyers, I would suggest that they essentially "hid" the high mirrors in the "Concept Car only" addage.

The reason that this car is not XP2 as was suggested in the Portuguese article is as follows..

XP1 was the most like the Clinic Car. It had the Driving Lights (although removed for the testing in the Nambian desert before the crash), the early front Bumper and NO turn signals. However, XP1 DID have the Idling Air Exit Vent (although void of the accompanying Suction System). The system, as you all well know, was deemed too complicated and expensive compared to value added so it was eliminated from further production. XP1 also had Low Mirrors. We also know that XP1 was lost before ever being painted at all. It was tested in raw carbon (with the exception of a protective clear coat). Quite attractive in my opinion. So with the highest degree of similarity to the Clinic Car, it was never painted so clearly the yellow car is not XP1

XP2 was used for the "Roll-over" test (set on its top and observe egress/exit sinerios) and then given to BMW for engine evaluation. It is unknown how long BMW had XP2 for their use or if any pictures were taken and made public over the years. Once XP2 was returned from BMW, it was prepped for the crash testing at MIRA in the summer of 1993. XP2 had the Driving Lights (also removed for the MIRA crash test), Low Mirrors, DID have the Idling Air Exit Vent (although also void of the accompanying Suction System), and the early front Bumper, but DID have turn signals. They are different than the final production version, but the cutouts were the same as that used for the newer style as noted on XP3. Also noted, is the first indication of the small oval in the very center of the front nose. This oval was a removable, clip in panel that would provide access to afix the license plate bracket. It is unknown whether XP2 was ever painted anything other than the exposed carbon fiber (essentially clear) and later the MIRA test Flat Blue with a flat white base coat. The addition of the turn signal cutouts and the small oval panel in the nose are the only indications that determines the yellow car is clearly not XP2.

XP3 was used for excessive track testing at MIRA. It did have Driving Lights, the early nose, Low Mirrors, but the Idling Air Exit Vents have completely and finally disappeared. Also the turn signals are more closely styled to final production. Without further detail, XP3 is clearly not the yellow car.

XP4 and XP5 both continue with the cutout turn signals and other details closer and closer to final production.

Suffice to say, the yellow car is the Clinic car repainted and with refitted Low Mirrors. By the careful study of the picture, I see the sign that is written in English and may be in a museum somewhere in the U.S. or even England. It is hard to say. Unless there is someone that knows more information about the picture, I expect that is the extent of what we will ever know.

Very good observations Peloton.

As for Orange cars...
Without referring to my foldout McLaren production poster, I neglected to include the Historic Orange #071. I am not able to confirm whether Dawes did buy this very car, but it does hold with what I have heard as well.
There was #075 (very last car made) Yquem.

There is also #016 called Aubergine (I have no idea what color this is).

#017 was Clypso Red Pearl (I have no idea what this color looked like).

Other original orange cars were the LMs, but as you I see that two cars were listed as Black with graphics. I am uncertain as to the meaning of this and cannot confirm whether all 5 were orange or not. I would expect they are not all orange as we have been led to believe. Also, with the advent of many owners returning their cars to the factory to be retrofitted as "LM's", it is even harder to tell without a cross check with the serial number listing. I have seen a black, a charcoal, a silver, an electric blue, and other orange LM look-alikes.
As mentioned, there is the repainted Orange car (previously silver) in the Arizona area (I have been asked not to disclose the Chassis # on this car. I can say that is not #001, or #009).
There was a GTR that was white and repainted orange and converted to European road use (LM look-alike).
And finally, I also found a longtail GTR that was repainted orange and converted for European road use.

Once again a overly large post, but hopefully worth the effort. I have definitely spent some time reviewing what I knew and checking all the details for certain. Thank you Peloton for pointing out some details I had forgotten and I hope I was able to bring a few others to light.

Undoubtedly, there will be items of mystery about the McLaren that will never be solved. Such is the intrigue that we have come to love about the car.

[faisalkhan]

this is a dark burgundy or purple colour. the brits refer to eggplants as aubergines.

[drewwtms]

Greetings McLaren fans!

I have been reading this thread all day with great interest. Chassis #007 sits here in our showroom with some other BMW-related parts. My personal McLaren interest has quadrupled since its new owner purchased it two years ago.

Here are is a link to pictures of Chassis #007: http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html..._mclaren.shtml

In addition I will include this interesting link on this particular car and the owner (a magazine article done in the BMW Car Club's Roundel magazine): http://www.bmwcca.org/Roundel/2002/11/Article_1.shtml

Thanks to everyone who posted. I am now a smarter McLaren caretaker. Also, if anyone is in the Boston area feel free to stop by.

[Porsche]

I thought that particular car was just in for serivce? Is Turner Motorsport the exclusive serivce provider for the car (you) or do they actually own it?

BTW, do you work for Turner? It's an awesome place, I was looking at some BMW stuff on your site a LONG time ago, and I came across #007.

[drewwtms]

TMS does more than the service. The owner of this car is a customer of TMS (we built an M3 racecar for him) and also a driver on our World Challenge Touring Car team (BMW 325i). The car is used quite regularly by TMS and its owner - often taken to our races and SCCA and BMW CCA events in the Northeast.

Currently, the car is in winter storage in our showroom (along with a very low mileage 1990 M3).

We have done quite a bit of the smaller maintenace on the car. The major work is handled by a McLaren Service Center in New Jersey.

More pictures:

[drewwtms]

Shifter/Build Plaque/Gordon Murray signature.

I have a question for XOTech. Do you know how many of the cars came signed by Gordon Murray? I had heard that the first 13 cars or so were signed inside by the car's creator.

[drewwtms]

And one more of the front (with Will Turner behind the wheel).