McLaren is a British carmaker that is most known for their in-house produced ridiculously fast and daring supercars. The company was founded in 1985 as McLaren Cars but changed its name to McLaren Automotive in 2010. Now, as of 2017, the company is fully owned by McLaren Automotive.
One of the most famous vehicles is the McLaren F1. This ride was manufactured from 1992 until 1998 and is now considered to be one of the most important supercars in history. In fact, many consider it to be the greatest automobile ever created. This car has been owned by the likes of Elon Musk, Jay Leno, and Ralph Lauren.
In 1995, a special edition of this iconic car was created. It was called the McLaren F1 LM, and it was built to honor the five McLaren F1 GTRs that both competed in and finished the 1995 24 hours of Le Mans. Their positions were first, third, fourth, fifth, and thirteenth overall.
This ride is based on the McLaren F1 GTR, but there were changes to ensure it would be street legal. Also, this car does not have some of the engine restrictions that came from the racing rules of the time that plagued the GTR.
It is also different because the McLaren F1 was originally built to serve as the perfect road car. This meant that it had undeniable speeds but that it was also comfortable to drive. For this tribute to the GTR, they made it lower to the ground, and it featured a more stripped-down interior. This meant that the five McLaren F1 LMs that were produced were not for everyday driving.
There is a great deal to love about the McLaren F1 LM. It’s a super-fast and uber-rare ride that is incredibly stylish. Here are just a few of the things we love about this sporty beast from one of the most world-renowned makers of supercars of all time.
The McLaren F1 LM Is Known For Beng Fast
One of the first things that comes to mind when considering a ride like the McLaren F1 LM is that it’s super-fast. This makes sense because this is a vehicle that was created to pay tribute to the racing world. According to ultimatespecs.com, this car is powered by a naturally-aspired V 12 engine. This powerful machine is capable of producing an impressive 670 hp at 7,800 rpm. For torque, it offers 519 lb-ft at 7,800 rpm. The transmission is a 6-speed manual that happens to be incredibly fun to shift through.
When it comes to performance, which is what people really care about, this souped-up version of the already brisk McLaren F1 goes from 0 to 60 mph in only 2.9 seconds. This is an awesomely fast car, and it becomes even more so when you consider the fact that it was released in 1995. This is just one of the many reasons why this car is so well-regarded.
It Seats Three People
While this may not be a deciding factor for determining how cool a car is, the McLaren F1 LM can seat three people. This is pretty awesome because the vast majority of supercars are two-seaters. The layout used creates a bit of a triangle shape. The driver sits in the center with their seat slightly forward, and there is a passenger seat on both sides of the car.
Not only does this allow more people to ride along in this iconic car, but it also simply makes it look more futuristic. We are always excited to see different iterations of an interior of a vehicle, and this one is pretty exciting. Also, this design makes the McLaren F1 LM look more like a race car than it would if it had only two seats. This is another way to tribute the five winners from the 24 hours of the Le Mans.
The McLaren F1 LM Is Super Rare
We’ve said it before, but we have a soft spot in our hearts for rare cars. There is something special about a car or even a version of a car like this one that was only produced a few times. This is the case with the spectacular McLaren F1 LM. Including the prototype, there were only six of these rides produced.
Because demand was so high, McLaren began offering a High Downforce Kit that almost completely replicated the aero kit used on the LM. This also allowed people to tune the engine of the regular F1 to the specs of the LM. Of course, many owners of the McLaren F1 opted to do this.
These upgrades are not quite the same as owning one of the handful of McLaren F1 LMs that were produced, but it’s close enough for most.
The McLaren F1 LM Is Truly Special
There are a few cars in history that have occupied the title of the fastest production car, but the F1 LM by McLaren is by far one of the most iconic. This is a company that truly understands the importance of style, speed, and, most of all, a unique approach to building cars.
People all over the world hope for their chance to see this car in person and to perhaps one day even drive one. The same is even true for the original F1 as it is also super special and served as a hallmark in car history.