1969 McLaren M-12

The McLaren M12 was a customer car created in 1969 for the Can-Am series. Initially, they were intended to wear the M6GT Coupe bodywork and help satisfy FIA homologation requirements, which stated a minimum of 50 examples were required to race at Le Mans. When the FIA did not accept the M12, McLaren abandoned the project. With the monocoque chassis already constructed, the M12 became a roadster and was sold to privateers to race in the CanAm series.

The McLaren M12's monocoque chassis was based on the M6 series of 1967, which many components sourced from the M8As (including the aerodynamic bodywork) which the team had used to the 1968 Can-Am series. Most examples received Chevrolet V8 engines, but since these were customer's cars, specifications varied. Construction of the M12 was tasked to Trojan.

The McLaren M12 was raced in the Can-Am Series and the new European Interserie championship into the 1970s. One example was imported by LeMans Co. into Japan and used by Toyota (who installed one of their 5.0-liter V8 engines) to race in Japanese Group 7 races. Unable to match Nissan's pace, and following several tragic accidents (some deadly) during testing, Toyota withdrew from motorsports. Kurosawa Racing also imported an M12 to race in Japan, and it used the standard Chevrolet powerplant.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2023