1965 McLaren M1A Sports Racer

The M1A played a significant role in McLaren's history. This M1A was also a movie star, having been driven by Elvis Presley in the movie Spinout. McLaren itself recognizes the M1A group 7 car as 'the first McLaren.' Created by Bruce McLaren and McLaren Racing while Bruce was still driving for Cooper in Formula 1, the M1A was the first car to wear the McLaren name and logo. It was powered initially by a 4.5-liter Traco Oldsmobile engine, paired with a four-speed gearbox. A chassis was reworked around that, and then a body was added. The M1A debuted at the 1964 Canadian Grand Prix on September 26 and was raced extensively throughout 1965 by Bruce McLaren himself (he won with it at Silverstone, against John Surtees in a Lola T70) as well as Chris Amon (who drove it to its first victories, in Quebec and at Silverstone).

Three works cars and 24 customer cars were built, and this is the very first McLaren customer car. After being displayed at the 1965 London Show, it was sold to John Coombs, who fielded it for Graham Hill at Silverstone, and then it passed to Jerry Entin, who raced it at Riverside that same year. In 1966, it made its movie debut in Spinout, with Elvis at the wheel.