FOLLOW-UP: McLaren F1 all fired up for return to England [w/VIDEO]
We hate the sight of a destroyed exotic, especially one so rare and exceptional as the McLaren F1. So we're glad to bring you this follow-up report from Santa Rosa, California, where one such supercar went up in smoke last week. And though it hasn't been fixed yet, journos on the scene report that the McLaren in question is being flown back to the factory in England to be repaired.
Ordinarily an engine bay catching on fire would be cause enough for a write off, but this is no ordinary vehicle. With a reported value in excess of $2 million (and being insured for $3 million), even if the repairs cost over a million by themselves, it'd still be well worth the effort and expense, especially if there hasn't been any real damage to the chassis. Check out the video after the jump, and follow the link to check out the full report at the Press Democrat where they quote the most authoritative source in the land. (Hey, one good turn deserves another.)
[Source: Press Democrat]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
N 11:37AM (6/08/2009)
I thought this kind of damage was 'unfixable' unless you had the original moulds... does this mean that McLaren actually have the original moulds?
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Chris O 11:53AM (6/08/2009)
N:
I'm not sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if the EU had similar laws for auto manufacturers that the US has in place. If a manufacturer wants to offer a car for sale, they not only need to crash test and emissions certify the vehicle, they also need to keep a certain amount of service/repair parts available for some amount of time (at least 10 years, I think).
I know the F1s have been out longer than that, but I don't think parts for them are being consumed at a significant rate.
Without my childhood love of cars like the F1 and XJ220, I don't think I'd own the cars I do now - nor would I even be reading anything like AutoBlog :p
tankd0g 12:06PM (6/08/2009)
Since they have a factory that does nothing but recondition these cars for resale, I guess they must. It's not like you can body fill that stuff.
mitchw 1:30PM (6/08/2009)
Methinks the insurance company will want to know precisely why that fire occurred in this economy. Hmmmmm.
HotRodzNKustoms 1:38PM (6/08/2009)
McLaren is actually able to build entirely new F1's if they wanted to. Last time I talked to someone from McLaren they still offered a program where F1 owners could send their car back to the factory and have it personalized or converted to a base F1, LM, or GTR. I don't know if they do that since the introduction of the SLR but I always thought it was a really neat service to offer.
BoxerFanatic 11:39AM (6/08/2009)
this just begs for someone to yell "STAT!" like an emergency room.
Get this car back to the factory, and try to save it!!!
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dukeisduke 11:40AM (6/08/2009)
When I saw these pictures (of the aftermath) the other day, I thought, "That doesn't look so bad. At least the whole car didn't burn down." Given the value of the car, and the insurance value, it was a no-brainer that this would be repaired.
One thing I wondered about, though, was how the car was stored for the six months, and what part it might have played in the fire.
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13enS 11:51AM (6/08/2009)
Though this is sad (and funny at the same time) I still wonder how this played out....
"Whats that smell!?"
[sees flames in review mirror]
"OH MY GOD!"
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Bobmarley 12:00PM (6/08/2009)
"Salvage Tile"
...wouldnt epect to see that when shopping for an F1
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Alex 12:27PM (6/08/2009)
But think of the savings when you go to buy!
kzak 12:05PM (6/08/2009)
God bless the rich.
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tankd0g 12:09PM (6/08/2009)
Guess who's getting the most expensive fire suppression system McClaren can provide?
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Franz 12:35PM (6/08/2009)
All's well that ends well...
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Boogyman 12:48PM (6/08/2009)
Keep that fireman with the ax away from the car. What the hell is he doing with an ax for a car fire anyway. He should have a bucket of AFFF.
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paul34 2:24PM (6/08/2009)
Being in England, I'm surprised that at least even firemen can carry an axe. Seems like they should be arresting him while letting that juvenile gangbanger walk free with his "illegal" weaponry.
Joe K. 12:57PM (6/08/2009)
We can rebuild it, we have the technology...
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Davin Black 1:07PM (6/08/2009)
I'm not the least bit embarrassed to admit that I would bawl like a baby if that were my car.
(Granted, I wouldn't have let it set in a garage for SIX MONTHS without driving it, but still...)
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That One Person 4:34PM (6/08/2009)
Heck, I had my 94 Regal sitting in my back yard for five months and I started it up once a week and let it run for a few minutes. And every couple weeks, I would take it for a spin around town and take it on the freeway...and a few times just open her up.
Davin Black 9:08AM (6/09/2009)
Not to hate on your '94 Regal, but you mean to tell me, honestly, that if YOU had a McLaren F1 in your possession, you would just let it gather dust for half a year?
Really?
theazureunicorn 1:17PM (6/08/2009)
You could buy the entire Viper franchise from Chrysler for the price of fixing this 1 vehicle.
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