Photo: RM Sotheby's
When McLaren teamed up with BMW and Gordon Murray to create the F1 and coin the “hypercar” label, the automotive world wasn’t ready for the sheer savagery and the go-faster attributes of this machine. To this day, the McLaren F1 is a rare and desirable breed, with the LM-specification model heralded as the ultimate F1 built by the outfit from Woking.
As far as road-legal F1s go, the McLaren F1 LM is the icing on the cake. For enthusiasts, chassis number 073 at hand needs no introduction. It’s not an original LM, but a normal F1 of only two units that were upgraded by McLaren Special Operations with an LM-specification engine. Not many know about its existence. As such, let us dwell into the fine details.
Compared to the normal 6.1-liter BMW V12 engine, the LM-spec 6,064 cc motor churns out 680 horsepower. Slated to be offered at “a fraction of an LM’s price” by the peeps form RM Sotheby’s, this 1998 model is also enhanced with the Special Operations-grade Extra High Downforce Package, hence that massive wing dominating the rear of the car.
Retaining its original road-going specification interior with the addition of sat nav and the whole nine yards, the LM here doesn’t top at the same speed as its wing-less F1 counterpart, but the additional aero wizardry helps with cornering. Oh, and adds some drama to the visual front.
Other than the aforementioned, custom 18-inch wheels, and orange metallic paint job, the current owner of this McLaren will offer the winning bidder with the F1’s original exhaust, an original gold-plated titanium Facom tool roll and roll-around tool chest with a torque wrench, as well as the car’s original owner’s and service manuals. Guesstimate? God knows how much it will sell for, but it’s worth at least $3 million.
Compared to the normal 6.1-liter BMW V12 engine, the LM-spec 6,064 cc motor churns out 680 horsepower. Slated to be offered at “a fraction of an LM’s price” by the peeps form RM Sotheby’s, this 1998 model is also enhanced with the Special Operations-grade Extra High Downforce Package, hence that massive wing dominating the rear of the car.
Retaining its original road-going specification interior with the addition of sat nav and the whole nine yards, the LM here doesn’t top at the same speed as its wing-less F1 counterpart, but the additional aero wizardry helps with cornering. Oh, and adds some drama to the visual front.
Other than the aforementioned, custom 18-inch wheels, and orange metallic paint job, the current owner of this McLaren will offer the winning bidder with the F1’s original exhaust, an original gold-plated titanium Facom tool roll and roll-around tool chest with a torque wrench, as well as the car’s original owner’s and service manuals. Guesstimate? God knows how much it will sell for, but it’s worth at least $3 million.
Google News