Fantasy Junction

Description

1969 McLaren M6B GT Prototype
s/n BMR M6GT-1
Red with Black Interior

The McLaren M6B GT is among the rarest and most desirable McLaren’s built. Based on the successful M6A that dominated the 1967 Can Am season, the M6B GT was borne out of Bruce McLaren’s desire to build a version of the car with a coupe body suitable for endurance racing. When an FIA rule change required the construction of 50 cars for homologation, the scope of the project became too large, and the plans for using the car as an endurance racer were abandoned. The prototype was completed for Bruce McLaren’s personal use as a street car, and he used it to evaluate the possibility of building and selling McLaren street cars. As a street car, the car was never terribly convincing, but it was an absolutely ludicrous high performance street-legal car whose 1600 pound curb weight (about that of a Mini) and racing derived Chevrolet engine made for an unforgettable experience. A December 1974 road test by Road & Track confirmed the lunacy and performance of the car. It was, in essence, a street-legal Can Am car, one which Bruce McLaren used for daily transport for more than six months until his untimely death in June of 1970. With his customary thoroughness, McLaren embarked on an exhaustive program of testing and development as he investigated what it would be like to use the car as a street car. It was a sort of pet project of his, and thus, when he died in 1970, much of the impetus behind the car’s continuing development was lost. Only one M6B GT was built by McLaren, though a further two or three copies of the car were built by Trojan.

This particular car is the first and genuine example, the only one built by McLaren. Following McLaren’s death, Phil Kerr and Denny Hulme purchased the car and had it shipped back to his native New Zealand, where it resided in the Auckland Museum of Transportation and Technology. The car was featured in a number of magazines, including Sports Car Illustrated, Autoweek, and Classic and Sports car, as well as Eion Young’s book McLaren: The Man, The Cars, The Team. Hulme sold the car in 1990, two years before his death, and the car was sold to an American owner. The car later ended up in the significant McLaren collection, the Matthews Collection.

The car remains in extremely original condition, with the only significant restorative work being the renewal of the paint. The car is remarkably preserved and has covered just 2007 miles from new. The paintwork was performed to high standards and looks great, with no blemishes of significance. The decal of the car’s original registration number OBH 500H has been recreated, as has the McLaren decal on the nose. The glazing is in good shape, as are the wheels and trim. The Sebring Mach I mirrors are in very nice shape, as is the small amount of chrome.

The interior is fully upholstered, with carpeting and even a trimmed headliner. Despite this, the feel is extremely racy. The wide sills and low reclined seating position speak to this car’s original purpose as a race car, and the frontward visibility is superlative. The car has a full complement of Jaeger instruments, and a row of switches for the various street use accessories such as lights, turn signals, and windscreen wiper. The upholstery, dashboard, instruments, switches, and carpets are all in excellent order, and it is a remarkable experience to sit in the same seat, on the same material on which Bruce McLaren sat in the first half of 1970.

The engine compartment is tidy and again speaks to the car’s racing origin. The engine is a 5.7 liter Chevrolet LT1 mated to a dogleg ZF 5-speed transaxle. The car is fitted with mufflers and the engine is quite tractable, despite making nearly 400hp. The car is fitted with mufflers, and is actually surprisingly quiet.

This is an unrepeatable opportunity to acquire a truly unique example of Bruce McLaren’s talent and vision. His company arrived on the motor racing scene in 1964, and in six years, at age 32, he was at the top of the motor racing world. This car indicates what might had been had he not tragically died so early, and remains an homage today to the man and the company. Like the more recent McLaren F1, this car incorporates the latest racing technology in a street-legal package, and is consequently the spiritual predecessor to the F1, which is already enjoying a cult following, despite being only fifteen years old. As such, this M6B GT is a genuine historic artifact, beautifully preserved and highly original with just 2000 miles from new. The car comes with copies of various letters speaking to the car’s provenance and authenticity, as well as a number of magazines and copies of period photos of the car with Bruce McLaren.

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