McLaren MP4/1
The first car with a carbon fibre monocoque to start a Formula One race, designed by John Barnard for McLaren.
- Power
- 510 bhp
About the McLaren MP4/1
Designed by John Barnard with Steve Nichols and Alan Jenkins, and backed by Marlboro, the MP4/1 arrived in 1981 with a monocoque made entirely of carbon fibre composite, using material from Hercules Aerospace in the United States. The structure was lighter and stiffer than the aluminium chassis of the day, and within a few years McLaren's rivals had all adopted carbon fibre. John Watson and Niki Lauda raced the developed MP4B and MP4/1C with Nicholson-McLaren tuned Cosworth DFV engines of around 510 bhp, and late in 1983 the MP4/1E served as the race test bed for the TAG-Porsche turbo V6. In all, the MP4/1 family scored six wins and 131 points for McLaren.
McLaren MP4/1 specs
The McLaren MP4/1 produces 510 bhp (380 kW).
| Make | McLaren |
|---|---|
| Model | MP4/1 |
| Years | 1981–1983 |
| Type | Race car |
| Body style | Open-wheel single-seater |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Engine | 3.0L naturally aspirated V8 (Cosworth DFV) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 2,993 cc (3.0 litres) |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated |
| Power | 510 bhp (380 kW) at 11,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
Typical figures for the standard car; options, markets and model years vary. Where our specs come from
McLaren MP4/1 rarity in CarSpot
The McLaren MP4/1 is a Unicorn card in CarSpot, with a rarity score of 42 out of 100. The rarest tier: hypercars, one-offs and cars built in tiny numbers, typically fewer than about 500. A Unicorn card is worth 320 XP.
Each model's tier starts from a 0–100 score based on its value plus its power or production numbers. Once enough players have spotted a model, how often it is spotted can move it up or down one tier. How CarSpot rarity works
Rarity is a collectible game mechanic, not an assessment of real-world scarcity or value.
McLaren MP4/1 fun facts
- John Watson won the 1983 Long Beach race from 22nd on the grid, the furthest back any Formula One winner has started, with team-mate Niki Lauda second from 23rd.
- The name MP4 stood for Marlboro Project Four or McLaren Project Four, depending on who was asked.
- Hercules Aerospace kept the car John Watson wrecked at the 1981 Italian Grand Prix and shows it to visitors to explain how the carbon chassis let him survive.
