We bet you've never seen one of these out for a drive before.
London is known for having one of the most extravagant supercar scenes in the world. And while we might be used to seeing Aventadors and 911 Turbos running through The Smoke with regularity, it’s not everyday we get to watch a piece of British automotive history stroll through town. Thanks to TheTFJJ over on YouTube, we now have a chance to watch a road-registered McLaren F1 GTR Longtail out for a drive in the real world.
For those who are unfamiliar with the intricacies of the McLaren F1 family, only 106 examples of the supercar were built between 1992 and 1998. Of those 106 cars, 28 examples would be built to GTR specification, dedicated for competition in FIA GT among other series. Ten of those F1 GTRs would be outfitted with the Longtail bodywork, with a larger nose, tail, and rear wing to improve high-speed stability. This particular car appears to be Chassis #19R, which was the first F1 GTR delivered for 1997 and the first of the Longtails. Chassis #19R initially served as a development vehicle for McLaren, and is one of only two such cars to live outside of the factory. The car would be sold and race in Japan on and off until 2002, when it retired from motorsport service. It would then go on to become the first F1 GTR Longtail to be converted for road use by the folks over at Lanzante, which further adds to its desirability.
While this car is perhaps most famous for wearing a bright squiggly livery, the McLaren does appear to have just been detailed in the video. Perhaps the current owner prefers their $20 million cars to have a more demure appearance about them. The owner can tone down the paintwork on this car all they want, but it is hard to be subtle in any McLaren F1. That BMW-supplied 6.1-liter V-12 grabs the attention of anyone in range of its shout, which we can only assume is quite a large chunk of London. It is always a treat to see vehicles like this F1 GTR being used by their owners, especially considering the value at play. That said, taking your F1 GTR for a stroll down the high streets has to be less nerve-wracking than a trip to the local track.
Keyword: Watch A McLaren F1 GTR Longtail Hit The Street