As the most successful motor racing team ever, McLaren designed and built one of the world's most iconic sports cars, the F1 and those standards were transferred into the development programme for the MP4-12C.
After a public debut at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed production commenced in January 2011. The first 100 or so production examples were hand-built in the adjacent McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) under the same roof as McLaren Racing and the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team as the new mass-production MPC facility (McLaren Production Centre) was still under construction.
Created by the fifty-strong McLaren Automotive team of world-class engineers and test drivers the result was a revolutionary, high-performance, lightweight sports car that delivered new standards in driving dynamics, comfort, safety, economy, and performance.
As pioneers in carbon fibre McLaren produced an innovative monocoque tub or ‘MonoCell’ which weighed just 75Kg. Powered by the M838T 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine which produced some 600 BHP, a flat-plane crankshaft and dry-sump lubrication allowed it to sit deep in the chassis giving a low centre of gravity.
The seven-speed SSG gearbox had a dual-clutch with several modes available via the Active Dynamics Panel including Normal, Sport, Track, Automatic, Launch Control and Winter. The transmission also featured a ‘Pre-Cog’ function that pre-loaded the clutch allowing virtually instantaneous gearchanges.
Add in other innovations such as airbrake, brake steer and ProActive Chassis Control the 12C was truly a technical tour de force.
The MP4-12C went on to win several awards with a second place in the ‘EVO Car of the year’ 2011 and was ‘Middle East Car of the Year in 2012’. Vehicle Dynamics International also awarded its ‘Car of the Year’ accolade to the 12C as well as its ‘Dynamics Team of the Year Award’ for the McLaren Automotive team.
Chassis #30 was delivered new to McLaren Birmingham in Supernova Silver with black leather and was registered BX11 UUS on the 28th July 2011. A significant number as several early UK cars including chassis #1 (which was also Supernova Silver) had BX11 or RX11 registration numbers.
A McLaren document in the accompanying history file confirms chassis #30 received the following Model Year 2013 upgrades:
• McLaren M838T engine uprated to 625 PS (+25PS)
• McLaren 7-Speed SSG Transmission improved with new calibration
• Programmable intake sound generator (ISG)
• Radio and antenna updates to improve reception
• Bluetooth telephone and contacts
• Auto activation of headlights improved to include rain detection
• General software updates throughout the vehicle systems
• Easy-exit electric seat function expanded to provide seat return via menu stalk
• New audio equaliser settings (part of Meridian upgrade) – Pure, Expanded & Extreme
• IRIS satellite navigation
The current owner purchased the car in October 2018 and is the fourth keeper. He continued to service it correctly at McLaren service centres and consequently the 12C is in excellent order showing just over 17,000 miles. Soft-close doors and new tyres were fitted in November 2019 at around 16,500 miles and the passenger seat bolt airbag sensor with upgrade mat was changed under warranty by McLaren.
The owner’s manual and pouch, service and warranty book, quick user and IRIS user guides are all present along with spare key and history file with copy invoices and MOT certificates.
In summary, collectors and purists now prize these 'first 100', ‘swipe door’ cars from a time when Ron Dennis ruled McLaren, and chassis #30 is now firmly in collectible territory.
Recorded history:
27/07/2011 McLaren Birmingham, 00,012 miles
14/11/2012 McLaren Birmingham, 1st service, 01,637 miles
20/02/2014 McLaren Birmingham, 2nd service, 02,343 miles
16/09/2014 MOT, 02,640 miles
04/03/2015 McLaren Birmingham, 3rd service, 04,639 miles
08/09/2015 MOT, 09,016 miles
17/03/2016 McLaren Birmingham, 4th service, 10,814 miles
26/09/2016 MOT, 12,414 miles
19/05/2017 McLaren Bristol, 5th service, 12,732 miles
30/10/2017 MOT, 13,032 miles
19/04/2018 McLaren Bristol, 6th service, 13,309 miles
03/05/2018 McLaren Bristol, 13,313 miles
02/10/2018 MOT, 13,385 miles
10/12/2019 McLaren Ascot, 7th service, 16,218 miles
05/10/2021 McLaren Guildford, 10th service, 17,077 miles
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