Fantasy Junction

Description

1969 McLaren M12 Can Am Sports Racer
s/n 60-03
Red with Black Interior

The Canadian American Challenge Cup series was a unique experiment in almost complete freedom of design, the likes of which will never be seen again. Virtually without fail, sports strict limitations are imposed in motorsports, but in the case of Can Am, just about anything went. Engines could be any displacement or design, with forced induction, outlandish aerodynamic aids, and even four wheel drive permitted. The resulting cars were very wild and very fast, faster than even the contemporary Formula One cars, in fact.

McLaren’s own efforts were very successful in the series, amassing more victories than any other manufacturer (43) by the time the series ended in 1974. Their tremendous success began with their first monocoque car, which was also their first car built specifically for Can-Am, the M6A of 1967. For 1968, this car evolved into the M8A with the addition of the all aluminum 7 liter “big block” motor, which comprised a stressed member of the chassis. The bodywork was also revised. The McLaren team cars were virtually unbeatable, and privateers anxiously snapped up the customer cars that were made available, manufactured by Trojan Limited to McLaren’s exact specifications.

In 1969, the works raced M8Bs and offered the largely similar M12 to customers. The M8B featured a high mounted rear spoiler mounted directly to the suspension, while the M12 was essentially an M6B chassis with M8A bodywork. The M12 was less complex, which suited it better to privateer efforts and in 1969, the works cars won every round, while the customer M12s were capable of beating anything else, including the works cars from Ferrari, Porsche, and Lola.

This particular car was dispatched on the 21st of May 1969 to the talented American privateer Lothar Motschenbacher in Southern California, who raced it in the 1969 season and for part of the 1970 season. In 1970, Motschenbacher finished second in the Can-Am Cup, in part driving this car, giving its history some significance, particularly because only one other privateer ever finished second in a Can Am Cup during the original period, the other of whom was Mark Donahue in a car run by Penske! The car comes with Verification Statement from Trojan Limited signed by Chairman Peter Agg, confirming the car’s authenticity. Its 1969 and 1970 event history is as follows:

1969 (driven by Lothar Motschenbacher):
6/1 Mosport DNF Clutch
6/15 St. Jovite 4th
7/13 Watkins Glen DNF Timing
7/27 Edmonton DNF Engine
8/17 Mid-Ohio DNF Wheel brgs
8/31 Elkhart Lake 6th
9/14 Bridgehampton 4th
9/28 Michigan DNF Head gasket
10/12 Laguna Seca 8th
10/26 Riverside 16th
11/9 Texas 6th
7th in seasonal points

1970:
9/13 Atlanta, 3rd (Motschenbacher)
9/27 Donnybrook, 6th (Motschenbacher)
10/18 Laguna Seca, 7th (Tony Adamowicz)
11/1 Riverside, 7th (Tony Adamowicz)

In January of 1971, the car was sold Siefried Rieger, a German driver who raced the car in the Interseries Championship, the European equivalent of Can-Am. He also raced the car in the Internationaler ADAC Bergpreis. The car was featured in Sport Auto magazine in 1971, as well as the David Hodges “Cars in Profile” series of books in 1973. Rieger kept the car until 1990, selling the car on to a few other owners in Germany before the car was exported back to the United States in 2000, where it has remained with the same long term owner since. It was restored in 1991, and again from 2005 to 2009.

The car has FIA papers which were issued in 1998, as well as an HMSA log book dating back to 2001, showing regular outings on the West Coast at CSRG events and the Historics until the restoration was started at the end of the 2005 season. An exhaustive restoration was undertaken by Tony Nicholson, which included new bodywork, reskinning the chassis, rebuilt motor, new exhaust, new fuel tanks, new radiator, crack tested and cosmetically restored suspension components, redone brakes, rebuilt steering rack, gearbox service, and redone fuel system. The car has 4 weekends since the restoration and Mr. Nicholson estimates there are between 3 and 4 hours on the motor.

The car remains extremely fresh cosmetically, with excellent paintwork and a beautifully prepared chassis. The suspension and brakes are also detailed and the engine compartment was obviously prepared to high standards and has all requisite safety equipment. The interior seat is excellent with Willans harnesses, and restored dash and tub.

This is an excellent opportunity to acquire an extremely successful privateer M12 with superb history. Unlike many Can Am cars, there are no alternative claims to this car’s serial number, and it enjoys clear, unarguable history from new. The car is beautifully restored and track-ready, and there are a host of events suitable for these cars, including the Monterey Historics, which is featuring Can Am cars this year. The car is thoroughly documented with period magazine articles and photos, documents relating to the car’s 1971 purchase and export to Germany, receipts from the 1991 restoration, log book, FIA papers, and miscellaneous spares.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608