VIN: the prototype McLaren F1 GT chassis 56 XP GT
History of chassis 56 XP GT
Chassis 56 XP GT was the first of three McLaren F1 GTs built by McLaren, all of which were completed in 1997.
As denoted by the XP moniker in its chassis number, 56 XP GT was an experimental prototype and pre-dated the two copies subsequently built and sold to VIP customers (chassis 54 F1 GT for the Sultan of Brunei and 58 F1 GT for Yoshio Tsuzuki).
McLaren uniquely configured their new prototype in Silverstone Green, a colour not used on any other F1. The interior was a mix of cream leather, beige carpet and black alcantara. It featured the hitherto unseen options of GT-style ribbed seat centres with perforated inserts and leather covered instead of exposed carbonfibre safety cell sidewalls.
As the F1 GT was a properly engineered and sellable road car (unlike the GT1 cars from Porsche and Mercedes), Gordon Murray insisted on having a brochure produced so, a week after it had been completed (in early 1997) 56 XP GT was driven up to RAF Leeming in Yorkshire where it was photographed alongside a BAE Systems Hawk. This was followed by two days in Scotland and the Isle of Sky.
The car was subsequently seen in the paddock at the Silverstone FIA GT Championship race in May 1997, at which time it was still riding on the same OZ split rim alloy wheels depicted in the F1 GT brochure. These were later changed to the production-spec. five-spoke wheels fitted to the two production cars that followed.
McLaren have retained chassis 56 XP GT from new as part of the company’s heritage collection.
At the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015 chassis 56 XP GT was displayed alongside the new P1 GTR and 675 LT.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: McLaren - https://www.mclaren.com
