When car companies develop and launch sports cars, the progression typically starts with a good, well-rounded road-going version. Once it’s out, the automaker will then develop faster, more serious versions, usually culminating in some extreme variants and even race cars. That’s even the progression that McLaren followed with its original F1 supercar.
The car you see here is not a McLaren F1, but it sure looks like one. Ironically, the man most credited with that iconic car, Gordon Murray, has taken the exact opposite approach in developing his tribute, the S1. And now it’s available in the more practical “touring-focused” version.
Gordon Murray Specialty Vehicles S1 from the front three-quarter angleBrett T. Evans / CarBuzz / Valnet
You’ll Actually Enjoy Driving The S1 Regularly
Before Gordon Murray Special Vehicles (GMSV) revealed this year’s S1, it launched the S1 LM last year. It was a tribute to the racing versions of the McLaren F1 in the 1990s, with styling that looked so close to the original you could almost be forgiven for thinking it was a restomod.
However, it was based on Murray’s much more recent T.50, using a high-revving V12 and that modern supercar’s chassis. GMSV also designed it purely with track driving in mind, even if it was technically street legal, as it had prominent and functional aerodynamic additions such as the front splitter, side skirts, and rear wing, and a bare-bones cabin complete with hearing protection.
Gordon Murray Specialty Vehicles S1 from the rear three-quarter angleBrett T. Evans / CarBuzz / Valnet
It’s not exactly something people want to drive on the street, forcing folks to buy another car that’s a little softer around the edges to drive more often. That’s where this new car comes in. It loses the splitter, skirts and wing, and actually sits 0.39 inch higher than the LM. This dramatically reduces the odds of damaging body parts, and also gives the car a cleaner design. GMSV didn’t stop at removing aero aids, though.
The company claims that every body panel is changed, and that’s most evident at the front. The whole fascia looks even more like the old F1 with larger running light clusters and distinct air intakes on each side of the bumper. GMSV fitted the main beam lights in those intakes to match the 1992 F1 show car. The five-spoke wheels also derive their design from that original model.
Gordon Murray Specialty Vehicles S1 from the sideBrett T. Evans / CarBuzz / Valnet
The cabin is where GMSV made the biggest changes to livability. There is far more sound deadening, so you should be able to drive it with bare ears and not go deaf. It’s even quiet enough that GMSV installed an audio system. The seats are designed to be more relaxed and comfortable than the tight racing buckets of the LM, and you’ll find more leather and cloth inside. The doors now feature actual glass instead of Lexan, with roll-down sections that again ape the F1.
Wide shot of the Gordon Murray Special Vehicles S1 interiorGordon Murray Special Vehicles
Finally, GMSV comprehensively retuned the car’s chassis and powertrain to make it more enjoyable on the street. The suspension is much more compliant now, and the transmission features a tall sixth-gear for relaxed highway cruising. The 4.2-liter Cosworth V12 is still naturally aspirated and still hits 12,100 rpm, though power is down to only 680 horsepower. GMSV makes up for that with a broader torque curve than in the S1 LM. The S1’s peak torque is 369 pound-feet, which arrives at 7,000 rpm, but 80% of that torque is available starting as low as 2,500 rpm.
Close-up of the Gordon Murray Special Vehicles S1 steering wheel and dashboardGordon Murray Special Vehicles
GMSV Is Building More Than Ten Times As Many S1s
When GMSV revealed the S1 LM, it announced that it would only build five examples. That undoubtedly left plenty of wealthy collectors out in the cold. They’ll have a much better chance of getting a standard S1, though. GMSV will build 64 of them. No price was given, but prospective buyers probably aren’t concerned. The first S1 LM ended up selling for more than $20 million, but each of these S1s will likely go for less due to the reduced rarity. Customers will also be able to make all kinds of special customizations to their respective vehicles.
Gordon Murray Special Vehicles S1 from the front three-quarter angleGordon Murray Special Vehicles
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
This new S1 variant reveals a couple of things about the high-end car market. Clearly, buyers, and even car designers such as Murray, are still quite enamored with the 1990s and revisiting that era’s designs and driving experiences. Those with means also still highly value an involved driving experience with a charismatic combustion engine and a genuine manual transmission, and they’ll pay a big premium for it.
