McLaren’s newest car could have been its oldest
The car which almost started it all for McLaren has finally been brought to life nearly 60 years on from when it was meant to enter production.
McLaren has become one of the most well-known names in motorsports and, in the past decade-and-a-half, in the automotive world with its range of supercars.
While McLaren has ramped up its production car presence since the 2010s, you have to go back to the F1 of the 1990s to find the last time it made road cars – but its lineage could’ve been traced even further back if founder Bruce McLaren had his way.
In the late 1960s, the McLaren M6A debuted as the team’s Can-Am challenger for the 1967 season, and took a handful of wins before it was finally usurped by the M8A, however in preparation for a crack at Le Mans, a few closed-roof M6GTs were made.
At least that was in prototype form, as none formally entered production. With the death of Bruce McLaren in 1970, any hopes of the M6GT becoming a series production model disappeared.
Now, more than 50 years on, McLaren’s Special Operations team has restored its first M6GT, utilising the original body moulds and authentic reference materials from its archives to bring Bruce’s vision to life.
Built from the ground up, the new McLaren M6GT features both restored components and freshly engineered one-off parts to be consistent with what Bruce McLaren had hoped his road car would become.
Powered by a ‘period-correct engine and gearbox’, the V8 sits behind the driver and is paired with a five-speed Hewland transaxle, driving the rear wheels.
Certain parts made by MSO include the roll hoop, rear frame support structure, internal clam reinforcement and wiring harness, while the body panel mouldings reportedly showed signs of modification, suggesting McLaren had evolved their form over time.
The car is finished in a bespoke cream-based white colour named Colnbrook, the factory where McLaren was once based, and also pays tribute to the M2B Formula One car which Bruce McLaren made his first start in.
In the cabin, the gear knob is made from walnut, while the seats are upholstered in vinyl with green contrast fabric.
The McLaren M6GT will be on display at this week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.
