1968 McLaren M6B McLeagle

History

Designed by Robin Herd and Gordon Coppuck and built by McLaren, the McLaren M7A and its B, C, and D variants are Formula One racing vehicles.

The M6B weighed in around 1,700 lbs and had in the neighborhood of 600hp. An aluminum monocoque, the M6B was quite different from modern racecars, basically as sheet aluminum origami secured with rivets. Secured with removable pins, the only 'safety cage' to mention is a not very confidence-inspiring main hoop, braced only with a stringer from the center top of the hood back to the head of the engine.

An excellent design, the M6B was the first monocoque chassis McLaren. Strong, simple and an aerodynamically efficient package, the factory attempted to sell a number of replicas to eager customers hoping to duplicate its success. This, of course, never happened as the customers were always based on last year's model while the factory team raced the latest and newest improved hardware.

Can-Am vehicles clearly occupy the ground where adrenaline and testosterone are at their maximum. At the same time, these vehicles are both absolutely terrifying yet wildly exciting.

In 1966 the basic concept of Can-Am's debut was 'professional, minimum rules, closed-wheel sports cars, who can go fastest'. A quantum leap in tire technology soon made it a contest to get the most horsepower to the ground, and horsepower quickly became the mantra of the series.

McLaren's M6B was designed to take the GM small-block V8 and mate it to a Hewland LG five-speed transaxle.

Only 28 models of the M6B were ever produced in 1968. They were sold for approximately $14,000.

By Jessica Donaldson