F1 tub at McLaren Technology Centre

[prescription7]

I don't normally post, but I thought this might be of interest.



(I'm not sure if Flickr allows you to post linked images so here is the url just in case it doesn't work.)

I didn't take this shot, it came from this Flickr photostream from the McLaren Technology Centre. It was uploaded in February 2007 but it was taken in June 2005. And I'm now almost certain of that date because the pictures of the transporter show the old logo and are free of Vodaphone graphics. Anyway, let the speculation begin.

[hurstg01]

I was just checking out Flickr for new shots

Good find - June 2005? I am struggling to wonder what chassis # it is, why it's upside down or what stage of refit / rebuild that is.....

[Peloton25]

He sent this to me via PM prior to posting to make certain it would not be a repost. Here were my comments he said I should add to the thread:

I have no idea why the car is laying on it's roof - that is certainly rather odd. The only clue that jumps out immediately is the small vent on the luggage compartment door that makes this an F1 road car.

My initial suspicion was that this would be chassis #014 which was being refitted by McLaren around the time that image was posted to Flickr. The car was ultimately painted white from it's original color of yellow, but often times primer is white so that may not be a clue anyway.

My initial suspicion could be all wrong though, as the advanced properties on that image state that it was take on June 2nd 2005 at 5:17pm. Usually that data is fairly reliable, but there is always a chance that the person's camera did not have the proper date and time set.

I'm trying to look through the other images in his set to see if there's anything that might provide proof the image was taken more recently than its properties identify.

Just what we need - another mystery.

Can anyone recall what car might have been in for a complete refit back in mid-2005? I'm drawing a blank at the moment.

Another strange thing if it is refit related is that McLaren were certainly still using the original Factory/Customer Care facility for that work back then, so what would this car have been doing there at the Technology Center? Hmmm...

Wondering out loud if this could be the spare chassis - maybe the white paint is simply a primer?

Anyway, it's kind of cool to see the underside of the car like that.

>8^)
ER

[pimp349]

Or, maybe, since GM isn't with them anymore, McLaren is dissecting an F1 in preparation of their new car? ...I know a little far fetched, but who knows...

[andybee]

hi all

This car is actually pictured inside McLaren Grand Prix Team's old base, not the new Technology Centre. I even know what bay it is in

McLaren Cars, were never based in the GP building (Known as Unit 22), so its a bit odd really. Maybe its storage now?

Five of the last six pics are from Unit 22. The cars hanging are the old reception, which I helped design (a little)

[Le Man]

Originally Posted by andybee

hi all

This car is actually pictured inside McLaren Grand Prix Team's old base, not the new Technology Centre. I even know what bay it is in

McLaren Cars, were never based in the GP building (Known as Unit 22), so its a bit odd really. Maybe its storage now?

Five of the last six pics are from Unit 22. The cars hanging are the old reception, which I helped design (a little)

Hi Andy,

Many thanks for the info, So this could be the spare tub?

[andybee]

i suppose thats possible. hard to say really

[hurstg01]

I initially thought it could be the seating buck, but I am having doubts about that now, especially as the front of the image posted by prescription7 has an extra part of the forward structure added to it

[Sauc3]

Originally Posted by hurstg01

I initially thought it could be the seating buck, but I am having doubts about that now, especially as the front of the image posted by prescription7 has an extra part of the forward structure added to it

Furthermore there are no side details on the seating buck, whereas there clearly are on the tub posted in the first post.

I'm kinda wondering what function the chicken wire has in the original picture. Perhaps that could help in defining whether it's a car in for a refit or the spare tub?

[rr_ww]

Originally Posted by Sauc3

Furthermore there are no side details on the seating buck, whereas there clearly are on the tub posted in the first post.

I'm kinda wondering what function the chicken wire has in the original picture. Perhaps that could help in defining whether it's a car in for a refit or the spare tub?

If you mean the stuff the tub is resting on, I dont think thats Wire. I think its Bubble Wrap.

[Peloton25]

Originally Posted by Peloton25

Wondering out loud if this could be the spare chassis - maybe the white paint is simply a primer?

Exciting news here - that piece of speculation of mine apparently has proven to be true. I finally got in contact with the photographer of the original image that sparked this thread and sure enough, he stated that he was told this was the spare chassis. He also commented that so far as he knows, it has been used to rebuild an F1 since his photo was taken. Hmmm...

He also happened to have one other image of it, though not significantly different than the first one - still cool to have:



Additionally he shared these shots of a silver car that appears to be in a state of repair - possibly just a respray, but I noticed that the passenger side door mirror is missing, so maybe an accident? I don't see anything particularly unique about this car other than the wheels and certainly am not familiar with any standard road car that wears the GTR-spec wheel, so I am left to suspect these may just have been fitted to the car temporarily.



Last but not least, he shared an image of our favorite mystery GTR parked outside:



I asked him if he knew anything about this one and added my speculation that it could belong to someone like Ron or Mansour and here was his reply:

All I remember of the Orange car was that they couldn’t get it through its MOT as it kept failing on emissions. They had to de-tune it until it barely ran before it would pass & then as soon as it had the documents, tune it up again. I would have said it’s not Ron’s as I would have remembered being told that. I think they said it belonged to someone who had another, which may back up what you said about it being seen with a silver one.

Someday the mystery will be solved...

>8^)
ER

[hurstg01]

I like the 2nd pic of the tub you posted Erik

I've had that orange M66MCL pic [or something very close to it] for a while now but was asked not to share. I doubt it came from the same source....

ETA - actually it probably did come from the same source, as I have the same pics of the silver F1 in a state of repair (?) loaded at the same time