Things You Might Not Know About the McLaren F1
Well you know that it is fast right? And you know that the drivers are pretty handy behind the wheel, but what do you actually know about the car itself? There are a few facts let slip by designer Gordon Murray that you may never have heard before about this iconic four wheeled speed demon.
Quite Interesting Facts
From the design elements that make the car so iconic through to the people that have owned one, the McLaren F1 is widely regarded as one of the best cars ever made.- George Harrison of Beatles fame owned one and during its construction is said by Murray to have practically lived in the McLaren factory. Harrison watched the entire construction of the car and got to know the entire build team in the process. Unique to Harrison’s care were the fourteen special Indian characters and symbols that he had included during the build, including on the main chassis. He also kept an extra set of wheels in matt black.
- With weight saving ever important the designer’s choice of metal washers came into question, with Murray having to argue his case for the thicker kind rather than the lighter and thinner ones.
- The leather in the cockpit of the F1 was shaved until it was half of its original thickness as part of a weight saving exercise, it managed to shave a full 5kg off the overall weight.
- One of the main engineering stumbling blocks revolved around the car’s central air intake. A specialist system had to be designed to stop the engine filling with water when driving in the rain behind large vehicles.
- McLaren F1 owners can complement their vehicle with a luggage set, golf bag and Tag Heuer watch that are all engraved with their cars unique chassis number.
- There is an F1 out there with Murray’s signature on the car’s rear flank, as once he had been asked to sign the car for the owner then lacquer sprayed the car to preserve the signature.