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Let me introduce you to Albert—not the scientist, eco-advocate, or any kind of royalty. No, Albert stands as McLaren Special Operations’ newest Speedtail creation, a name cleverly paying tribute to the iconic McLaren F1…in a way.
As the production of the Speedtail nears its finale, buyers seek something more distinct. McLaren Beverly Hills, one of McLaren’s North American dealerships, decided to commission Albert. In true McLaren style, MSO dedicated significant effort to perfect every detail, undergoing 12 weeks of meticulous taping, painting, and reassembling to ensure every stripe was flawlessly executed.
via McLaren
I understand what you might be thinking: McLaren has done this previously. And indeed, it has—somewhat. There was a prior Speedtail bearing the name “Albert,” a pre-production model with a production-grade chassis, drivetrain, and interior, albeit with the front end borrowed from a 720S. However, let’s be clear: this is a distinct creation.
The tribute on the pre-production model was to the McLaren F1, lauded as one of the supreme road cars ever engineered. In 1992, when the original F1 prototypes were conceptualized and tested, all the magic unfolded in a facility on Albert Drive in Woking, England, hence the moniker.
And that’s where the fresh Albert derives its name. A tribute to a tribute, you could say.
Having dispensed with introductions, it’s now time to admire the exceptional artistry that the builders of Albert exhibited when culminating the final masterpiece.
McLaren reveals that one of the most time-intensive aspects of the whole project was the car’s paint application, a process that consumed a remarkable 12 weeks to finish entirely. The carbon fiber body of the Speedtail wouldn’t be touched until the team had executed meticulous painting experiments on sacrificial test panels.
The initial fortnight consisted solely of masking the car, a task that required completion with the wheels affixed to guarantee a seamless design flow around the vehicle. Two technicians undertook this process, utilizing large-scale printed renders to verify that the masking met expectations. More than a mile of tape was utilized in the process.
Following that, the vehicle underwent disassembly and the commencement of the painting process. The front section of the Speedtail was coated in Ueno Grey which smoothly transitioned into Magnesium Silver towards the rear. This stage lasted approximately six weeks, with the remaining time allocated to drying and reassembly.
This upcoming Sunday, Albert will finally unveil at Sunset GT, a prestigious Cars and Coffee gathering in Los Angeles organized by luxury car retailer, O’Gara Coach Beverly Hills. McLaren plans to assemble 106 Speedtails capable of reaching speeds up to 250 miles per hour, each one being unique and exempt from North American homologation. Although the exact number of completed vehicles remains undisclosed, Albert could potentially be one of the final bespoke hypercar orders.
If you have any tips or queries for the author, reach out directly at: rob@thedrive.com
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