The 1998 McLaren F1 chassis 073 was a road-going F1 later upgraded to LM specification—not one of the five original F1 LM cars. RM Sotheby’s 2015 catalogue lists its LM-specification engine at 680 hp at 7,800 rpm and documents an Extra High Downforce Package, along with cooling, exhaust, lighting, and wheel changes. Here is what is known about this specific car, and how it differs from the original F1 LM.
Was the 1998 McLaren F1 an actual F1 LM?
No. Chassis 073 began as a standard road-specification McLaren F1. RM Sotheby’s identifies it as the second-to-last standard road F1 built, completed in 1998 and delivered on September 4 that year. Its owner kept it with McLaren in Woking, where the car was serviced and upgraded. The catalogue says it later received an LM-specification engine and the Extra High Downforce Package; it describes the car as one of only two road-going F1s fitted with an LM engine. RM Sotheby’s chassis 073 catalogue
That history makes “LM-Specification” the precise description: it identifies upgrades to a road F1, not membership in the original five-car F1 LM production series.
Chassis 073: documented specification
Engine and output
RM Sotheby’s reports 680 horsepower at 7,800 rpm for chassis 073’s LM-specification engine. The catalogue attributes the output to increased compression, different camshafts and pistons, and pressure sensors in place of airflow meters. It says the engine used parts derived from GTR race cars. The car also received larger radiators and a sports exhaust. These are the auction catalogue’s chassis-specific claims, not a result from a modern dynamometer test.
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- Double-Pack LEGO Set - Features 2 buildable replica toy car models: McLaren Solus GT and McLaren F1 LM for kids and adults to build and display
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- High-Speed Racing Fun - This model car building kit comes with 2 driver minifigures for setting up thrilling races with the car toys for boys and girls
- Realistic Solus GT - The Solus GT toy car model includes authentic details: white, black, and orange color scheme, prominent wheel arches, and cockpit
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Aerodynamics and equipment
The Extra High Downforce Package included a revised nose with additional front-wing vents and a more aggressive rear wing than the traditional High Downforce Package. A 4 mm Gurney flap is also listed. The catalogue additionally records gas-discharge headlights and custom 18-inch multi-spoke wheels.
How the original five F1 LM cars came about
The F1 LM was a limited road-car series created in response to McLaren’s 1995 Le Mans victory. The Automobile Club de l’Ouest says an F1 GTR won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in its first participation, driven by Yannick Dalmas, J.J. Lehto, and Masanori Sekiya. Five other F1 GTRs finished, three in third, fourth, and fifth place. McLaren’s five-unit F1 LM series, made at the end of 1995, commemorated the five ranked GTRs. Automobile Club de l’Ouest history of the F1 GTR at Le Mans
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McLaren says the F1 was conceived in 1988 and realized in 1992; those dates describe different stages, not a single production date. Its heritage page says 106 examples were made overall. The Le Mans history likewise reports 106 units, including competition cars, made from 1993 to 1998. McLaren F1 heritage
Original F1 LM reference specifications
The following figures describe the original F1 LM in a comparison table published by the independent F1 Road Car reference site. They are useful variant-level reference data, not a complete measurement sheet for chassis 073. The site’s table lists 6,064 cc and 680 bhp for the LM; McLaren’s partner article instead gives the original LM as 500 kW (671 hp) and approximately 1,062 kg. The reported power figures differ by source and unit convention, so they should not be silently treated as identical. For chassis 073, RM Sotheby’s specific figure is 680 horsepower at 7,800 rpm. F1 Road Car technical comparison table McLaren Racing article about the LEGO F1 LM model
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| Original F1 LM reference item | Published specification |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 6,064 cc |
| Power | 680 bhp in the F1 Road Car comparison table; McLaren Racing gives 500 kW (671 hp) |
| Transmission | Transverse six-speed racing unit with limited-slip differential |
| Monocoque and body panels | Carbon-fiber-reinforced composite |
| Suspension | Double-wishbone |
| Wheels | 18 × 10.85 inches front; 18 × 13 inches rear |
| Wheelbase | 107 inches (2,718 mm) |
| Weight | 2,341 lb (1,062 kg); McLaren Racing describes the mass as around 1,062 kg |
| Length | 171.8 inches (4,365 mm) |
| Width | 71.6 inches (1,820 mm) |
| Height | 44.1 inches (1,120 mm) |
| Brakes | 13-inch front and 12-inch rear ventilated discs |
The same secondary table lists 627 bhp for the standard road F1 and 600 bhp for the 1995 F1 GTR. The latter is a racing specification, not a description of road-car equipment. Its GTR column also lists larger carbon discs; those should not be confused with the F1 LM’s ventilated-disc figures.
What the “LM-Specification” label does—and does not—tell you
- It identifies an upgrade history: chassis 073 started life as a road F1 and was later fitted with the LM-specification engine and additional downforce package.
- It does not make the car one of the five original F1 LMs: those were a separate limited series created after the 1995 Le Mans win.
- Not every published LM figure is chassis 073 data: dimensions, weight, brakes, and other figures in the comparison table are original F1 LM reference specifications. The auction catalogue supplies the strongest chassis-specific detail here.
Do not confuse chassis 073 with XP5’s speed record
RM Sotheby’s catalogue notes that F1 prototype XP5 reached 240.14 mph in 1998. That record belongs to XP5, not chassis 073, and is not a performance specification for this LM-upgraded road car.
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A model-kit note
LEGO Speed Champions set 76918 depicts the McLaren F1 LM alongside the Solus GT. McLaren’s partner page lists 581 pieces, while LEGO describes the F1 LM model’s papaya-orange finish, central driving seat, and cooling ducts. It represents the original LM concept, not a precise replica of chassis 073. LEGO set 76918 product page
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