1966 McLaren M1B Sports Roadster

Bruce McLaren was a successful team owner, designer, engineer, and racing driver. His team, started in 1963 when he was in his mid-20s, became one of the most successful in motorsports history, with a total of 20 Formula 1 championships. Between 1967 and 1972, the team was a dominant force in Can-Am competition, with 56 victories in the series.

The McLaren M1A was designed and built and in 1964. It was built to compete in the FIA Group 7 class for two-seat sports racers. It was given a lightweight tubular space frame and initially powered by Oldsmobile engines, though Ford and Chevrolet engines were later made available.

The M1B followed for the 1965 season and featured revised bodywork designed by Michael Turner and increased rigidity. Twenty-eight examples of the M1B were sold in the US, all of them built for McLaren by Trojan (Elva).

This particular example, chassis number 30-12, was powered by a Ford engine and originally delivered to William Kay. It was one of two cars that were to be run by himself and Peter Revson. Unfortunately, Kay passed away before the GP at Brands Hatch. George Drummond took over the cars for the remainder of the season. Chassis 30-12 was driven in five Can-Am events that year by Revson, plus two additional races at the Nassau Speed Weeks.

After the 1996 season, the McLaren was sold to Skip Barber, who updated it with a Chevrolet engine. It was raced by Barber in the 1967 USRRC and then the first three races of the Can-Am Series, with a best finish of 3rd at the GP of Watkins Glen.

Harry Mathews acquired the car in 2000. At the time, it was in good, original condition. Mr. Mathews brought the car back to race-ready specification before selling it to the current owner in 2003. Since then, it has been regularly raced in vintage Can-Am competition, at one point winning 13 class victories in a row at Sonoma Raceway.

It is currently powered by a 358 cubic-inch Chevrolet overhead valve V8 engine fitted with four Weber 2-Barrel Downdraft carburetors. It produces an estimated 585 horsepower at 6500 RPM. There is a 4-speed Hewland manual transaxle and four-wheel ventilated disc brakes.