Prior to the sale of the first McLaren F1s, five prototypes were built, carrying the numbers XP1 through XP5.
These cars carried minor subtle differences between each other as well as between the production road cars.
Contrary to common misunderstanding, XP1, the first ever running prototype, was never publicly unveiled.
The XP1 was never painted (with bare carbon fibre exterior) and later destroyed in an accident in Namibia.
The car unveiled at the Monaco 1992 event was actually a "Clinic Model", aesthetically convincing but without a powertrain.
XP2 was used for crash testing (sporting a blue colour during the test) and also destroyed.
As it was a crash test car, it didn't have full interior equipment or a powertrain.
XP3 did durability testing, XP4 stress tested the gearbox system and XP5 was a publicity car.
The XP3 used to be owned by Gordon Murray before being sold to a private buyer.
XP4 was seen by viewers of Top Gear when reviewed by Tiff Needell in the mid-1990s and later on sold to a private owner, while XP5 went on to be used in McLaren's famous top speed run and is still owned by McLaren.
Prior to the sale of the first McLaren F1s, five prototypes were built, carrying the numbers XP1 through XP5. These cars carried minor subtle differences between each other as well as between the production road cars. Contrary to common misunderstanding, XP1, the first ever running prototype, was never publicly unveiled. The XP1 was never painted (with bare carbon fibre exterior) and later destroyed in an accident in Namibia. The car unveiled at the Monaco 1992 event was actually a "Clinic Model", aesthetically convincing but without a powertrain. XP2 was used for crash testing (sporting a blue colour during the test) and also destroyed. As it was a crash test car, it didn't have full interior equipment or a powertrain. XP3 did durability testing, XP4 stress tested the gearbox system and XP5 was a publicity car. The XP3 used to be owned by Gordon Murray before being sold to a private buyer. XP4 was seen by viewers of Top Gear when reviewed by Tiff Needell in the mid-1990s and later on sold to a private owner, while XP5 went on to be used in McLaren's famous top speed run and is still owned by McLaren.
McLaren F1