by Recreation of the Historic Ultima Car with McLaren F1 Engine
In the early 1990s, car development took significantly more time than it does today. McLaren and their F1 model are a prime example of this. Before Gordon Murray’s masterpiece became the world’s fastest production car—a title it held until the Bugatti Veyron appeared a decade later—the company turned to a humble British kit car to shape its destiny. That car was the Ultima Mk3, and two heavily modified examples, nicknamed Albert and Edward, served as test beds for everything from transmissions to brakes. Now, one person has recreated one of these test cars, and it looks incredibly wild.
History of McLaren’s Test Mules
Two years before McLaren completed the carbon body for the F1, things needed to be tested that could only be verified behind the wheel. This included the planned V12 engine, brakes, other components, and even the planned central driving position for the F1. To do this, they purchased two Ultima Mk3s from Noble Motorsport and got to work. Chassis 12, named Albert, was fitted with a Chevy V8 engine. Its brother, chassis 13, called Edward, used the genuine 6.1-liter V12 developed by BMW. When McLaren finished testing, both prototypes were destroyed.
Gordon Murray Nails Modern McLaren F1 So Hard, Someone Bought All Five
Modern Recreation of Edward
This is where this new iteration of Edward comes in. Built by Lanzante with a V12 that Paul Lanzante purchased directly from BMW, it is a true labor of love. Commissioned by John Stafford of Mouse Motors, the final product is as close to the original car as possible. Lanzante used photographs of the original car, classic documents, and details obtained directly from Gordon Murray to achieve this.
Complexities of the Recreation
Paul says the team worked on it for two years, and it was a nightmare. Not only did the company have to rework the Ultima chassis to install the engine, but even then, it proved extremely difficult to make the exhaust system and front engine mounts functional. In the end, this car, costing about $120,000, is a masterpiece whose engine is worth ten times more.
Credit: Top Gear
This story highlights how important the early test mules were in creating legendary cars like the McLaren F1. The recreation of Edward not only honors the past but also demonstrates how the technologies and engineering solutions of that time continue to inspire enthusiasts today. It also serves as a reminder of the transient nature of prototypes in the automotive industry, where many unique designs never see the light of day, but their impact remains significant.
