Here's the first McLaren road-legal sportscar

THe FIRST If you are a true automotive enthusiast, surely know the following premium car brand, McLaren. Well, the Woking-based company continues to produce exotic super cars until now. And on this occasion will be discussed the first car made by this manufacturer, the McLaren M6GT.

The McLaren M6GT is the first McLaren road-legal car built on the chassis of M6B racing car. (Picture from: RoadAndTrack)

And of course you also know the person whose name is pinned on that marque. He is Bruce McLaren, a very special man in the modern automotive world, who was originally known as a reliable racer, he is also a brilliant designer and has many talented engineers around him, so that makes him always ready for any career challenges in his life.

The McLaren M6GT has some quirky features, like manually operated lights that were raised and lowered using finger holes in the leading edge of the pods. (Picture from: RoadAndTrack)

So it is not surprising that in 1964 he began designing, building and selling the McLaren racing cars, both the Formula Grand Prix and other sports racing cars ranging from various Can-Am under his own name. In 1967 the McLaren M6 Can-Am model was almost invincible, as the "Bruce & Denny [Hulme]" show dominated this lucrative North American series through 1971. Then he began to draft his main project concept to build an iconic road machine based on his racing cars. 

In early 1970, he prepared a prototype merging one of the empty M6GT bodies with a stock M6B chassis and a Bartz-tuned Chevrolet engine. Registered OBH 500H, Bruce's personal ride had an estimated top speed of 165 mph, and some quirky features, like manually operated lights that were raised and lowered using finger holes in the leading edge of the pods. It was also rather loud, based on this footage shot in Canada in 1971 of another M6GT.

The McLaren M6GT used a rear-mounted standard Chevrolet V8 five-liter engine. (Picture from: RoadAndTrack)

For the car's building process, he got an assistance from one of the most reliable chassis builders, John Collins (known for his work with John Wyer and the Ford GT40 project). Literally, the McLaren M6BGT is a semi-civilized Can-Am car that is not at all easy to drive but it was fun to make speed once you are behind the wheel.

The McLaren M6GT able to accelerate from 0 to 100 mph in about eight seconds, and of course with fantastic handling. (Picture from: RoadAndTrack)

This car has a wheelbase of 93.5" and uses a rear-mounted standard Chevrolet V8 five-liter engine, that will accelerate from 0 to 100 mph in about eight seconds, and of course with fantastic handling. Besides that the car also featured with four Weber carburetors, forged crankshafts, roller bearing camshafts, Carello rods, aluminum pistons, five-speed Hewland DG 300 transaxle, independent front and rear suspension with fabricated A-arms and coil-over shocks, front and rear anti-sway bars, monocoque chassis with fiberglass panels attached to aluminum bulkheads, Girling ventilated four wheels disc brakes.

Bruce McLaren (1937 - 1970) sits on the wheel of his McLaren-Ford M14A before the start of the Race of Champions at Brands Hatch in Kent on March 1970. (Picture from: RoadAndTrack)

After that two further GTS were built by Trojan Cars, which has been franchised by McLaren to build their custom racing cars. While Trojan released a statement that they might market a road-going version of the M6GT. 

Bruce McLaren passed away after hitting a bunker that was used as a flag station at the Goodwood Circuit while testing one of these McLaren M8D Can Am. (Picture from: Pinterest)

Unfortunately the project got shelved forever on June 2, 1970, when Bruce McLaren passed away after hitting a bunker that was used as a flag station at the Goodwood Circuit while testing his M8D Can Am prototype.😢 As we all know, the late Bruce McLaren only managed to drive as far as 1,900 miles of his personal M6GT, and Trojan Cars never got to build the remaining 249 units.

Today, there's came another bad news from the Woking-based manufacturer are experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it had to mortgage offices, factories and historic car collections. But despite all of that, the world's automotive enthusiasts only able to hope that the company able to keep run well and continues to make happened the Bruce McLaren's vision and ideas. *** [EKA [31052020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ROAD AND TRACK] | THIS IS MONEY ]

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