One of the most iconic supercars of the ’90s, the McLaren F1, is blowing 24 candles and the British manufacturer celebrates by reissuing the original press release and photo gallery.
Developed using Formula 1 technology and following eight ultra successful racing seasons, the exotic still remains one of the most sought after supercars of all time. With just 106 units rolling off the assembly line, it’s no wonder that some of them change hands for more than $10 million.
Sporting a carbon-composite tub to keep its weight down, the F1 was equipped with bespoke dampers by Bilstein, Brembo four-piston front calipers and Goodyear tires capable of withstanding top speeds beyond the 200 mph (322 km/h) barrier. Another novelty for the world of supercars was the three-seat layout, with the driver sitting in the middle flanked by the two passengers.
However, nothing can quite compare to the naturally aspirated mid-mounted 6.1-liter V12 developed by BMW Motorsport that put out 627 PS (618 HP) and was mated to a six-speed manual transaxle. The engine bay alone is a work of art, with real gold being used for heat insulation, and the whole car owes a lot to McLaren’s then head of engineering, Gordon Murray, who was obsessed with keeping weight as low as possible.
You can check out the original press release from 1992 here.
ORIGINAL PHOTO GALLERY
RESTORED MCLAREN F1
