The history of the McLaren F1, the greatest supercar ever made (17 photos + 1 video)

Gordon Murray had been thinking about a road car for many years, but the project The McLaren F1 fully surfaced in September 1988 when directors companies Ron Dennis, Creighton Brown, Mansour Ojeh and Murray sat in Milan Linate Airport after the Italian Grand Prix (ironically the race McLaren didn't win that epic year).





It was then that designer Gordon Murray and designer Peter Stevens presented the first sketches of the "super sports" coupe to Ron Dennis, McLaren boss. The car was supposed to be the epitome of street success companies in Formula 1 (a crushing victory in the 1988 season, earlier in 84th and 85th, and then in 89-91). The first prototype was ready in mid 1991. On May 28, 1992, the first presentation, and in 1994 the car reached the first buyers. In a word, a legend was born and a long-term "bearer" of the prestigious title the fastest production car in the world - speeds over 350 km / h.







The F1 was built primarily with minimal possible weight - it was supposed to reach no more than 1000 kilograms. The body is made of durable and lightweight composites, carbon fiber and Kevlar. It was one of the first cars in the body structure of which such materials were used. When assembled, it weighed only 100 kg. The wheel suspension is made of the lightest aluminum alloys, and mufflers are made of titanium.





At McLaren we won't find power steering, brake assist or traction control systems - all this Murray considered unnecessary. In black there was room for a Kenwood audio system and air conditioning in the cabin, although if If it weren't for the pressure from the McLaren boss, they wouldn't be there at all.





The total weight is only 1140 kg. In an uncompromising coupe they can accommodate three people: the driver occupies a central position, and slightly behind on both sides are two passenger seats. By to the sides, immediately behind the upward opening doors - luggage compartments.







The pride of English motoring is powered by an engine from German BMW, developing 627 horsepower. To absorb heat shroud The inside of the engine is covered with gold foil. Each F1 unit contains about 25 grams of this highly prized metal. Centrally located the F1 heart drives the rear axle, working in tandem with 6 speed gearbox.



The F1 series reached an impressive 372 km/h, reaching 100 km/h just more than three seconds. It took only 11.1 seconds to complete the 1/4 mile (222 km / h on the road), and the first kilometer - 19.6 seconds (at the starting speed 285 km/h). March 31, 1998 at the Volkswagen Ehra-Lessien circuit (with the famous 9-kilometer straight) the car secured its position, accelerating to 386.5 km / h (later unofficially the car accelerated to 391 km/h).



The British record remained unbeaten for many years. His symbolically improved by the Swedes only on February 28, 2005 in Italian Nardo - Koenigsegg CCR accelerated there to 387.9 km / h (driving in a circular track, not like a McLaren in a straight line). In May 2005, both cars bypassed Bugatti Veyron with a result of 407 km / h. Interestingly, the creators of F1 never set out to break records - they just wanted to create uncompromising top class sports car.



F1 production, each costing a million dollars, ended in 1998 on 64 copies. Some of the first F1 owners were, among others, Jay Leno, Eric Clapton, Wyclef Jean and Rowan Atkinson, known as Mr Bean (unfortunately he crashed his F1 in 1999).







McLaren F1 will probably forever remain a real carnoah icon and one of the greatest supercars ever made, being the epitome of and a source of inspiration even for the largest manufacturers of similar cars.