Polish man builds replica McLaren F1 out of scraps for $33,000

"TheRallyStache" (bryce-the-hoonigan)
12/26/2013 at 07:35 • Filed to: None

Forty-Eight year old Jacek Mazur, an amateur mechanic from Zabrze, Poland spent around $33,000 building a surprisingly well done McLaren F1 replica in his garage entirely by hand. He added a feature that you'll never find on a real F1 however, a tiny seat behind the centrally located driver's seat, which he calls the "Hammond Seat".

While of course it won't have the staggering performance that the real F1 shocked the world with, I think I could live with that seeing how it cost 250 times less, along with the fact that I wouldn't be as hesitant to hoon the living daylights out of it. "Whoops, I cracked the bumper. I'll just make a new one this weekend."

DISCUSSION (77)

William Byrd > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 08:14

That's pretty amazing.

Franzouse > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 09:47

What's the engine on this thing?

A bit of web searching found an Audi V8 while another site said he used a true-to-form BMW V12.

philsphan09 > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 09:48

absolutely amazing what people can come up with / design. Wonder what engine he has in there.

Diesel > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 10:44

Now say squirrel.

phDiesel > Franzouse
12/26/2013 at 10:46

Sounds a bit too raucous to be a v12. I would side towards the V-8 side. Besides, how many BMW V-12's are just hanging around?

phDiesel > Franzouse
12/26/2013 at 10:46

Sounds a bit too raucous to be a v12. I would side towards the V-8 side. Besides, how many BMW V-12's are just hanging around?

phDiesel > Franzouse
12/26/2013 at 10:46

Sounds a bit too raucous to be a v12. I would side towards the V-8 side. Besides, how many BMW V-12's are just hanging around?

TheCraigy > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 10:48

IMHO it would have been better if he had designed and built his own car instead of a replica F1. Instead of "look at my custom car" it is "look at my fake mclaren."

F50F60 > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 10:49

It sounds like a Audi 4.2 v8 to me....

ZabiakFero > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 10:49

skilled slavic hands!

Kebin57 > Franzouse
12/26/2013 at 10:49

Sounds like the Audi V8 when takes off

AlexioFlexio > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 10:51

Good for him.. The Pole's remind me of the Kiwis with their "can do it" attitude.. The kiwis tend to innovate more (think of the Britten motorcycle) while the Poles tend to produce more of a cute pity-inducing product as in "aw, look at what this poor man was able to make"...

Bad Kev > Franzouse
12/26/2013 at 10:52

I'd be willing to bet that the true to form motor costs wayyy more than he spend on the entire car.

Who cares what the fox says? > Franzouse
12/26/2013 at 10:54

I think this is not his first build. The first one had the v12, and I believe this one has the Audi v8.

TacoTacoMMmm > Franzouse
12/26/2013 at 10:55

That's definitely a 4.2 Audi V8. You can see it at the :25 mark.

Smorgasborg > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 10:55

Did he build it in a cave? Were the scraps in a box?

Kmccauley > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 10:56

It's actually a genuine Saleen S7!

Ozzy > TheCraigy
12/26/2013 at 10:57

I'm sure he can and has built his own cars, but this is a sort of tribute, probably for the challenge and out of his respect for the car. If you build purely your own design, you can never get it wrong, or inaccurate, so you can see the challenge of recreating a legend. It's like an artist that draws Spiderman in some fan art.

Group B-raaaaaaaaaap! > TheCraigy
12/26/2013 at 10:58

I would like to counter your custom car proposal with this article:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Also, everything from IAMAUTO.

Kinja'd!!!

PaulCahill-Go2Fast > TheCraigy
12/26/2013 at 11:00

In the US, he would likely get hit with copyright lawyers.

AthomSfere > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 11:00

a tiny seat behind the centrally located driver's seat, which he calls the "Hammond Seat".

Marketing people generally suck at marketing... But I would buy two BRZs if that back seat was sold as a Hammond Bench! This guy rocks for this excellent piece of marketing alone.

hehe, Hammond.

Kinja'd!!!

CobraJoe > TheCraigy
12/26/2013 at 11:00

That is a great sentiment, but it is crazy hard to come up with your own car design. Even if you do come up with something that doesn't look like a crappy knock off of other designs, there's no guarantee that it'll still look good in real life. Practicality and the small flaws that come when building it tend to distort the proportions and details from drawings or CAD.

Beldrueger > TheCraigy
12/26/2013 at 11:02

I tend to agree, but then I see things like this and realize that car designing is best left to the pros:

Kinja'd!!!

. . > Franzouse
12/26/2013 at 11:04

He initially used an Audi V8 and later replaced it with a BMW V12.

TheCraigy > Beldrueger
12/26/2013 at 11:08

Oh man.

steevkay > . .
12/26/2013 at 11:09

That's really cool... Did the V12 come from a 7 series or something? As far as I know that's the only car the V12s are dropped into...

Orange Exige > Franzouse
12/26/2013 at 11:11

I was wondering the same.

If he used a V12 - let alone the same V12 - much respect.

I already have a ton of respect for this guy, but understandably, I wouldn't expect too much more than a crate V8 or something.
Well done either way I think.

J-DUB > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 11:21

Cool build. Major props to this dude. Very major.

Kinja'd!!!

juggaho > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 11:41

Nothing 'amateur' about his skill.

PS9 > TheCraigy
12/26/2013 at 11:44

If your fake McLaren looks anywhere near as good as this, my first thoughts would be, "AWESOME" and my second thought would be, "Can you build me one? Pweeeese?"

PS9 > Beldrueger
12/26/2013 at 11:45

Good fucking god, what the hell is going on there!?

PS9 > PaulCahill-Go2Fast
12/26/2013 at 11:45

Only if he tried to make a business out of it.

. . > steevkay
12/26/2013 at 11:47

I've no idea. Info is pretty hard to find as it is.

guidon > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 11:52

I'm not typically a fan of 'tribute' cars (any car pretending to be something that it isn't) but the creator definitely has vision and the talent to see it to fruition. Good on him!

TheCraigy > PS9
12/26/2013 at 11:56

Yeah I guess it's different if you actually like it. Personally I think it looks terrible, however it looks miles better than his Countach.

farrance > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 12:02

Kinja'd!!!

A POLISH MAN BUILT A MCLAREN F1... FROM A BOX OF SCRAPS.

jamiescale1 > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 12:05

Congrats Polish dude.....awesome build...we salute you

The world needs more makers

900turbo > J-DUB
12/26/2013 at 12:05

I see what you did there.

Orange Exige > TheCraigy
12/26/2013 at 12:12

I expected somebody to say this and there was a tiny part of me that wanted to say the same but really...

Automotive engineers and designers created the McLaren F1. These are professionals who studied for years to perfect their work. Yeah it'd be disappointing to see a McLaren F1 out in the wild then be told that it's a replica, but can you really blame a man for deciding to use a tried-and-true design instead of wasting his time trying to design something undoubtedly far inferior (and possibly just awful).

You've seen the shit out there when people try to design cars on their own. Not saying it should never be done, but just because a guy is mechanically well-off, incredibly good at fabrication and replication, does not mean he's good at designing cars.

Matt White > philsphan09
12/26/2013 at 12:22

Looks to be some sort of modern V8.

TheCraigy > Orange Exige
12/26/2013 at 12:22

I see your point if the car looked just like a real mclaren; however (to me at least) it doesn't look like a real mclaren, and I wouldn't have to be told it's a replica. I would immediately recognize it as a kit car. To me, a unique custom car would at least be interesting, whereas this just looks like a cheap knockoff.

And also, for what it's worth, the tried-and-trueness of the F1's design goes a lot further than the general outward appearance of the skin.

i am kllot duh!! > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 12:25

this guy should design his own car man!!!

Kaufmania: Mark Webber's Stunt Double > Group B-raaaaaaaaaap!
12/26/2013 at 12:28

He comes so close each time to actually pulling something awesome off.... then doh!!!

jsgreenwood > steevkay
12/26/2013 at 12:32

bmw 8series used V12, in fact the engine in the McLaren is based on the one found in the M8 prototype.

jsgreenwood > . .
12/26/2013 at 12:38

BTW he use a audi 6.0 W12.

Kaufmania: Mark Webber's Stunt Double > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 12:39

He's a Jalop.

ScreenShot > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 12:48

Did you hear the one about the Polish guy that drove into a bar with a homemade McLaren?

Bartender says " What the hell we're you thinking?? " Polish guy says " Sorry, I hit the wrong pedal... " Bartender exclaims " Not the crash you idiot, the car....the car!!! "

TheRallyStache > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 12:50

Kinja'd!!!

To all the keyboard warriors...

No, it's not a perfect replica. But he decided to do something and actually did it and he was pleased with the result. That's what matters.

designlife > TheCraigy
12/26/2013 at 13:04

not everyone should design a car, this is a awesome job.

Thisnewformatisrubbish > TheCraigy
12/26/2013 at 13:22

Show us yours.

JayHova > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 13:25

Compared to his other replicas, that's a major leap forward.

Kinja'd!!!

Source (for the image) etc.

Also I wonder whether somebody reads the mails at tips@jalopnik.com.

Tim Tom > PaulCahill-Go2Fast
12/26/2013 at 13:30

If you build it just for your own use, don't sell it, don't place McLaren stickers on it, they can't hit you with anything, the actual dimensions are surely not 100% right, the engine is different, and I know in some US states you can get registration for literally anything that moves, but Poland is probably in the last 4 or 5 countries where you are able to get license plates on such car.

55_mercury > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 13:34

really, really cool. Love what this guy did. That's all I can say.

fourvalleys > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 13:48

It costs "250 times less than the real thing"?

So 250 x $33k = $8.25m

Have F1's increased in value that much?

e: I remembered seeing the "zero mile" one for sale earlier this year, I wonder if it sold and at what price. But still, I'll be damned at some of the other prices this piece talks about:

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motorami…

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 14:20

That is amazing. It's a faithful replica that could pass for the real thing.

Incredible skillz, he haz dem.

Dennis loves you too > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 14:28

Jee Polska nie zgina.....

jimmyjet > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 14:48

I really wish I knew how to weld. I have nothing but respect for someone who says, "I can't afford to buy one. *snaps fingers* I'll just build one myself." Jacek's work looks great, but I think Basement Lamborghini guy has more adaptation skills and a keen eye for detail.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

herald > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 14:52

This fellow is a Jalop's Jalop! We Salute you!

Slighty_Less_Cooler_190e > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 14:55

I say let the stig give it a go around the airfield with Hammond in the backseat!

dismal > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 15:09

Any specs on the car? Curious what kind of engine, suspension, etc he is using

Sort of a fanboy > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 15:55

If this man is an amateur mechanic, then just imagine what an expert mechanic could do...

Cleveland N. > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 17:57

I just think it's plain awesome. I hope it gets a feature on Top Gear just because I want to see Hammond in the Hammond-seat.

KUNIO_20X6 > Beldrueger
12/26/2013 at 18:10

Oh wow... What the heck is that?...

KUNIO_20X6 > TheCraigy
12/26/2013 at 18:12

He did it because he liked the Mclaren though. Wouldn't be much of a tribute to the car if he built something else.

A. Kobza > Group B-raaaaaaaaaap!
12/26/2013 at 18:19

Or you could get one build and designed specifically for you from a company like Kobza Enterprises KobzaEnterprises.com/kca

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > steevkay
12/26/2013 at 21:12

The 8 series used a V12 as well.

d3v > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 22:23

This really needs to be tested on Top Gear with all the presenters in it. His Stigness at the wheel, Jezza and Slow on each side and Hammond in the Hammond bench.

teh_d3th_st4r > TheRallyStache
12/26/2013 at 23:44

Sweet.

donniedarko2001 > TheCraigy
12/27/2013 at 07:44

Hope you don't say the same thing to your kids after they've finished building a model. Not only did he scale up his model building skills, he made a replica he can actually take for a spin. Pretty cool in my book. Whether he would have chosen his own design or an existing design, the guy built a beautiful car.

Mr Joshua > TheRallyStache
12/27/2013 at 07:49

The best that all the haters out there can do with their hands is jacking off.

Kudos to this guy. I'll bet his F1 is far more reliable and cheaper to run than the real thing. And probably a hell of a lot less likely to end up "Mr Beaned" as well.

Fenderaddict2 > TheRallyStache
12/27/2013 at 09:20

Deep respect

iin10ded > TheRallyStache
12/27/2013 at 13:55

looks fantastic. which is the most important thing. and it's probably more reliable than a "real" one. however this is not so different from what maclaren did in their own damn shed.

welder-ed > jimmyjet
12/27/2013 at 15:25

welding is easy . i 'll show you everything i know . it'll only take a few hours...

joemcm > TheRallyStache
12/27/2013 at 16:28

He should apply for a job at Super Replicas.

jimmyjet > welder-ed
12/27/2013 at 17:03

Will you build me a house with a heated work shed? I'm a city boy living the condo life, but "Restomod an old muscle car" is on my bucket list.

Intending_Acceleration > TheCraigy
12/27/2013 at 18:25

Find me a single custom-designed car that looks better than a knock-off F1. That cost anywhere near under $50k.

*waits*

Didn't think so.

Eddie Brannan > TheRallyStache
01/03/2014 at 16:13

Centrally seated and he still doesn't seem to be able to stay in lane.