VIN: McLaren F1 LM Prototype chassis XP LM
History of chassis XP LM
McLaren’s reason for creating the F1 LM was twofold. Firstly (and most importantly), the LM would be used to homologate an uprated GTR variant for the 1996 season. Secondly, a racey looking special edition to notionally celebrate the firm’s 1995 Le Mans 24 Hours victory would hopefully stimulate a few extra sales.
McLaren ultimately produced six F1 LMs. The prototype (chassis XP LM) was followed by five customer examples that were sold at £680,000 apiece (£40,000 more than a standard F1).
Chassis XP LM was unveiled at the McLaren factory in Woking during the second week of December 1995. Designer Gordon Murray was on hand and described it thus: “as close to a GTR for the road as you could get”.
The five F1 LM customer cars were produced over the spring and summer of 1996, immediately after the nine ‘96-spec. GTRs. They were sold to VIP customers like the Sultan of Brunei (chassis LM1, LM4 and LM5), ZENT CEO, Yoshio Tsuzuki (LM2) and British economist, David Morrison (LM3).
As per chassis LM2, LM3 and LM5, chassis XP LM was painted Historic Orange. It served in many of the F1 LM’s original publicity photos and has been extensively featured in the press.
XP LM was retained by the factory and is today on display at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking.
An interesting footnote to the car’s history was that Ron Dennis had an agreement with Lewis Hamilton that, should Hamilton win three F1 Driver titles for McLaren, he would be gifted XP LM as a bonus. As Hamilton only secured the one title for McLaren (in 2008), he ultimately had to buy his own F1 (chassis 044, acquired in 2017).
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: McLaren - https://www.mclaren.com
