The McLaren P1 was launched in 2015 as part of the Holy Trinity alongside the Ferrari LaFerrari and Porsche 918 Spyder. After nearly seven years, British service and restoration firm Lanzante decided to create an open-top version of the supercar. The announcement for the McLaren P1 Spider was made in summer 2022, and now it is ready to be delivered to its new owner. Before that happens, Hagerty had the opportunity to test the car.

At first glance, the P1 Spider looks like a regular P1 without a roof. This was the goal, and it has been achieved. However, many components had to be refabricated, redesigned, or built from scratch under the skin. These include carbon fiber buttresses with newly developed air intakes and a removable roof cover. The modifications to the front fenders, doors, and engine cover were discreetly done to maintain the original design. The result is that it looks like it came directly from the factory, which is a big win.

But that’s not all. Many other smaller components had to be redesigned or repositioned, such as the charging port with its new location. The interior has undergone a complete reupholstering using a material called SuperFabric, which is more weather and UV resistant. Lanzante wanted the P1 Spider to be a true convertible, and it is intended to be driven with the top off most of the time. Dean Lanzante, the son of Lanzante’s founder Paul Lanzante, explains in the video that there will be a roof, but it will only be a temporary solution.

In order to create a car that truly feels like a McLaren, Lanzante enlisted the help of Paul Howse, the original designer of the P1, and Chris Goodwin, who tested the supercar during its development. With their expertise, it’s no surprise that the P1 Spider looks like it came straight from McLaren and not from an aftermarket company.