The car also gains the coveted McLaren certificate of authenticity
McLaren’s Special Operations department launched its F1 Certification Program last year; with an in-house team dedicated to restoring, preserving and documenting Woking’s most iconic game-changing supercars.
The first car to receive the extensive and comprehensive factory restoration was a 1997 McLaren F1 GTR that raced in the 1997 Le Mans 24hr.
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After 18 months, and over 3000 man hours – MSO have just announced the completion of their second car – a “standard” 1997 McLaren F1 road car.
Accompanying the exacting restoration, the car’s completion sees it receive McLaren’s coveted certificate of authenticity (similar to Ferrari’s Classiche certification, and Lamborghini’s Polo Storico Certification); and allows McLaren to document and verify the originality of its most significant road cars.
The entire restoration saw this McLaren F1, chassis 063, completely stripped at the Woking factory down to its chassis.
The unique Semi-Aniline leather interior was reupholstered in Woking Grey with red Alcanatara accents.
Following the interior, MSO spent 900 hours repainting the F1’s body in its original Magnesium Silver hue.
On the mechanical side of things, MSO completely rebuilt the F1’s 6.1lt V12 engine, with extensive dyno testing ensuring the car made bang on its original 618hp (454kW) output.
The car’s shocks, hubs and driveshafts were all sent back to their original manufacturers for recommissioning; with the entire program spanning 18 months and coming to a close this past June.
Its owner took delivery of the car at the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK, and the car make its public debut at the Hampton Court Concours d’Elegance from September 6 to September 8.
With every McLaren F1 that passes through MSO’s exacting certification program, the owner receives a bespoke illustrated book documenting the history of their car, further authenticating its provenance, originality, service history, road/race history and condition.
The owner also receives a 3D-laser scanned scale model of their car.
The certification program is open to all 106 McLaren F1s, including 64 road cars, 28 GTRs and the few longtails and prototypes in existence.
McLaren is tight-lipped about the cost of the program, but given the Big Mac’s ever-surging popularity, we’re guessing it’s one of those cases of: ‘if you have to ask…’
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