That’s a McLaren Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 car!

I was driving home today and I noticed the new liquor store that has been going up for the last months is having its grand opening. I’m driving by at about 50 mph and notice they have an open wheel racecar sitting out front. So I’m thinking it an IRL car or a Champ car on display. So I debated with myself weather I should turn around and have a look at it. I haven’t been up-close and personal to a car like that in awhile. I do a u-turn and pull into the parking lot, grab my digital camera and walk over to it. As I walking up to it I see the silver and black colors and the treaded tires and I say to myself, Holy ****! That’s a McLaren Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 car!

This is Juan Pablo Montoya’s car from last year. It is the only F-1 car currently on tour in the US according to the flunky taking care of it. It is sponsored by Johnny Walker so that is the tie in to the liquor store opening. This IS the actual car minus the engine and a few other pieces. It has a few battle scares on it. The guy said the value of it is $13 million!!!

I posted the pictures on another site I belong to and here is the link....

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=3134647#post3134647

 

Nice find! Its not everyday you see one of those.

 

Excellent shots, thank you for posting them.

 

Looks like they fixed the damage from when he ran into the back of his teammate at Indy...

 

Umm, holy ****!!! That is awesome! Its nice to see them up close.

 

Great pics, thanks for sharing. Will be curious to see if debate begins regarding the realness of this car.

I saw a replica Schumacher car at a Bridgestone dealer a couple of years ago; really helps appreciate the scale and complexity of F1 cars.

 

To tell you the truth, I have about a 10-15% doubt factor in my mind on if it is REAL-real.

 

Freaking awesome spotting, even if it isn't the actual car that was on the track. Will it be touring with the Johnny Walker mobile, if so hope I hope it stops somewhere near me. Any info you got would be great.

 

It looks like the same car I saw on Broadway at the time of the latin grammys. Same transporter too.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127490&highlight=mclaren+NYC

 

Its not Montoya's 2006 US gp car.. The 06 car had the "thin" style nose cone, and the Front suspension arms are of a diffirent profile to the 06 car too!
At 1st view i thought i was a an 05 car in 06 sponsorship and color scheme's.. I'am rather confused about he Front wing, in these pics it does not seem to have the same physical curvature points as the 06 or 05 wings! I have just had a look at some off pics i took at the Monza Gp in 06. McLaren had a car on the Merc stand, it appear's to me, apart from the sponsorship and color scheme's, to be identical to pics on this forum.....
(i cant post pics on here, if someone whats to post for me, send me a PM)

 

The one thing that really put doubt in my mind was that when he removed the nose, there were no pedals at all. No brackets, bulkhead, supports, nothing. The inside of the tub was empty. And the suspension struts that tie back to the tub were attched with 1/2" bolts. They seemed too small. Also, there was no reinforcements to the tub in these areas. Not only no pedals but no lines, wires, cable or wire supports, mounting tabs, etc. Even the high tech steering wheel had no wires running to it.

 

Any idea where the car is headed next?

 

He spent the night in Tampa then today he is headed to Myrtle Beach S.C. The driver said as he rolled his eyes, "The heart of NASCAR..."

 

Here is the picture of the inside of the tub shot from the front looking to the seat. See what I mean about it being kinda bare...
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thats a really cool pic!

 

See what it does is in the down under place (Melbourne). Then we can talk.



12 cyliners or walk

 

This a Show car! For a start, do u really think that there would be bolts sticking out of the tub for the driver to impale himself on in an accident !!

 

$13 million? ha!

If it was the real deal (and not a show car), the real value would be closer to $ 2 mil for a 1 year old car.

 

Of course it's a show car. It's is on show, ya know. BUT it is a former race car using used parts. It's a mock up, OK?

So the guy tells me one thing, but after review he was wrong. Big deal. It is still a F1 car sitting in a parking lot of a package store.

 

yep, appears to be a replicar...for show purposes...but still cool to see..