RE: Polish Man Builds McLaren F1

[skwdenyer]

thunderbelmont said:

All this talk about glass - why not use a polycarbonate, or something like Makralon (used in motorsport for screens, and on ship's wheel-house) which is available with an scratch resistant surface treatment which resists wipers.

I've used it, and it's easy to get to shape too.

In the UK, at least, it would be legal under Construction & Use regulations - glass or nothing if the driver has to be able to see through it.

Custom glass isn't that expensive - a few hundred to cut one down, a few thousand for a completely custom one.

[1st_petrolhead]

Jesus, could have taken some better photos

[Caddyshack]

1st_petrolhead said:

Jesus, could have taken some better photos

I think Jesus is a little busy just after Easter?

[Skid Marks]

Sorry about the thumbnails, links did not work correctly

Try these links for a better look at real McLaren F1 replica.

Very profesional, does everyone agree that its a much better attempt than the Polish guys?. Its running a BMW V12 with an Audi box.

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/attachment.php?attachme...

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/attachment.php?attachme...

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/attachment.php?attachme...

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/attachment.php?attachme...

[dom9]

Skid Marks said:

Sorry about the thumbnails, links did not work correctly

Try these links for a better look at real McLaren F1 replica.

Very profesional, does everyone agree that its a much better attempt than the Polish guys?. Its running a BMW V12 with an Audi box.

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/attachment.php?attachme...

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/attachment.php?attachme...

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/attachment.php?attachme...

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/attachment.php?attachme...

WOW!!!!!!!!!!

That is awesome! Is there a build thread on the GT40s forum? I am a member over there. There are some amazing projects on there, like the carbon chassis GT40 etc.

[andygtt]

hmmm not sure SS would like pics of his car online!

wonder if the polish guy made a buck or if he got a pull from an existing body!

[Skid Marks]

More pics here on this link, plus body form profiles to make your own Mclaren F1 body shell.

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/paddock/15680-mclaren-f...

The engineering is very good on this replica F1, Shame the builder has changed all the shut lines on the F1 body, its the only detail that lets it down.

[andygtt]

those are pics before the body has been started... it is just the early stages of making the buck.

[Skid Marks]

andygtt said:

hmmm not sure SS would like pics of his car online!

Why does SS, not wish, to see pics of his creation online?

He ought to be really proud of what he has made. In fact, if he had his own body form, He could then produce it as a kit.

[deadscoob]

Why not ask him yourself if you've been there and taken photos?

[Housey]

Justayellowbadge said:

Has been explained, Housey.

:facepalm:

Edited by Justayellowbadge on Thursday 23 April 20:54

Meh.

[dom9]

Skid Marks said:

andygtt said:

hmmm not sure SS would like pics of his car online!

Why does SS, not wish, to see pics of his creation online?

He ought to be really proud of what he has made. In fact, if he had his own body form, He could then produce it as a kit.

Legal issues? Worried about copyright etc? If McLaren went after him, maybe he is worried that it would get crushed and all that time, effort and money would be wasted? However, i think it is long enough since the McLaren F1 went out of production now, but perhaps there are patents etc that still stand for shape of bodywork or something!?

Pity we may never know much more about it though!

[Sam_68]

dom9 said:

perhaps there are patents etc that still stand for shape of bodywork or something!?

Like it or not, there is still at least one insurmountable patent in place that would prevent the construction of a accurate F1 replica, for the seating arrangement.

[dom9]

Sam_68 said:

dom9 said:

perhaps there are patents etc that still stand for shape of bodywork or something!?

Like it or not, there is still at least one insurmountable patent in place that would prevent the construction of a accurate F1 replica, for the seating arrangement.

I have seen that quoted before... But since Aeon build three seat cars with a central driving position and there is another kit manufacturer (at least one) who does an Atom-esque 3 seat car, I can't see that stopping him, especially since teh chassis is a space frame and therefore the seating position, due to the chasis construction, is very likely to be slightly different than the patent...

Hmmm... Please SS, whoever you might be, please build one for the world to see!

[Sam_68]

dom9 said:

But since Aeon build three seat cars with a central driving position and there is another kit manufacturer (at least one) who does an Atom-esque 3 seat car, I can't see that stopping him

Read the patent. The unique feature is that the flanking seats are staggered so that 3 seats can be fitted in a relatively narrow space without a clash of shoulders. Any accurate F1 replica would either have to breach the patent or be an ergonomic nightmare (or be a 2-seater, in which case it wouldn't be an accurate replica).

I don't know whether any other cars breach the patent, but that's slightly academic. McLaren probably wouldn't be interested in enforcing it for a kit car; for a close visual replica of the F1, it would give them a clear easily enforceable breach of the law to make sure it went straight to the crusher.

Whatever you think of the ethics of copying someone else's design without permission (and you'll probably guess where my sympathies lie if I tell you I'm an Architect...), posting pictures of the car on a public forum is akin to posting a video of yourself on youtube pulling a wheely at 120mph down Matlock Bath high street on your motorbike...

[dom9]

Sam_68 said:

Whatever you think of the ethics of copying someone else's design without permission (and you'll probably guess where my sympathies lie if I tell you I'm an Architect...), posting pictures of the car on a public forum is akin to posting a video of yourself on youtube pulling a wheely at 120mph down Matlock Bath high street on your motorbike...

I can't agree with the analogy to be honest, but yes, I take your point about copies... However, I know for a fact that a former vice president of the RIBA and president of the Architects Council of Europe would absolutely love it

[Skid Marks]

deadscoob said:

Why not ask him yourself if you've been there and taken photos?

But I have not been there, wherever there is. Which means that I did not take the pics. only linked people from this forum to the GT40,S forum.

[Skid Marks]

Sam_68 said:

Read the patent.

I think YOU, should read the patent again. its not a patent for the McLaren F1 three seat layout.

Which profession did you say you work in?

[Sam_68]

Skid Marks said:

I think YOU, should read the patent again. its not a patent for the McLaren F1 three seat layout.

Sorry - quite right. I'd quoted a derivative patent, not the original, in error.

Try this one instead.

Never the less, the principles in both patents are the same - flanking seats overlapping the central seat slightly, to reduce width, but set to the rear to avoid clash of shoulders - and my original statement holds true; any accurate F1 replica will necessarily require breach of patent to work properly and hence is quite clearly illegal, even without entering the muddy waters of design copyright.

Edited by Sam_68 on Sunday 3rd May 09:59

[Wilder]

Copyrights patents and trade marks require certain conditions to be granted.
The only one which seemingly applies here is a patent.
You cant have a shape or design patented unless it has some unique feature or specific innovation that has not been registered previously.
If the 3 seat layout has some specific technical design innovation (which Im sure the Maclaren does),it would depend on how closely the original design was followed.
As a footnote, this protection is based on a commercial basis, and an individuals efforts to copy this system is not likely to cause any concern unless it was to be done commercially. A patent is first and foremost designed to protect intellectual property rights from other businesses who may seek to prosper from the applicants design.

Edited by Wilder on Sunday 3rd May 23:31