conceptcarz.com

1968 McLaren M6B

The McLaren M1 achieved several podium finishes during the 1966 Canadian-American Challenge, or Can-Am, season, but no victories. The M1 was the creation of Bruce McLaren, one of the most successful Formula 1 drivers and an accomplished race car designer and builder. During their racing careers, the McLarens would win 20 World Championships and were a dominant force in the Can-Am series between 1967 and 1972, with 56 victories. McLaren vehicles would capture three Indy 500 victories and won the 24 Hours of LeMans and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

1968 McLaren M6B photo
CanAm Sports-Racing Spider
Chassis #: 50.30
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
The mid-engine M1 was developed in the 1960s and was the company's first sports car. By the time of the Can-Am season, it was clearly outmatched compared to the Lola T70. Although it had no victories in CanAm competition, it was a commercial success for McLaren.

For the 1967 season, Bruce McLaren focused on both Formula 1 and Can-Am. This left precious little time to design and build cars to comply with racing regulations for both of these series, and to thoroughly test and refine them to ensure competitiveness. The task of designing McLaren's first monocoque sports racer for CanAm competition was assigned to Robin Herd and Gordon Coppuck.

Aluminum and magnesium were used for the monocoque chassis. Girling disc brakes provided the stopping power. The suspension was comprised of top links with radius arms and lower wishbones in the front. The rear setup used top links, lower wishbones, and trailing links. A Chevrolet small-block V8 rested behind the driver. It displaced just under six liters and was fitted with a Lucas Fuel injection system, which helped produce over 500 horsepower. McLaren built the engines and tuned each example to meet their standards. These engines were backed by a five-speed Hewland gearbox and sent power to the very large 13.5-inch rear wheels with Goodyear racing tires.

1968 McLaren M6B photo
CanAm Sports-Racing Spider
Chassis #: 50-12
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
McLaren's new Group 7 racer was called the M6A, and it wore a lightweight fiberglass body, constructed by Specialized Mouldings.

Wearing the papaya-orange paint scheme, McLarens lost just one race in 1967, and Bruce was crowned the champion. The name of the 'J-Wax Canadian-American Challenge' was quickly and popularly renamed the 'Bruce and Denny Show.' A wonderful tribute to Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme who had absolutely dominated the Can-Am series.

For the 1968 season, McLaren developed a new car that could accommodate an even more powerful big-block version of the Chevrolet V8. British specialist Trojan was commissioned to construct the M6B production versions for privateers. A total of 26 customer examples were built. The three examples of M6As built by McLaren were also sold to customers.

1968 McLaren M6B photo
CanAm Sports-Racing Spider
Chassis #: M6B-50-07
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
For the 1968 season, McLaren once again dominated the season with the big-block engined M8A. For 1969, McLaren won every single race with the M8B.


by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2019

Related Reading : McLaren M6B 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....
Continue Reading >>

1968 McLaren M6B Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Related Automotive News

Pure Vintage Racing Returns to Road America July 18-21 for The WeatherTech International Challenge with Brian Redman presented by HAWK

- Vintage Racers Recapture Thrills of Eras Past - ELKHART LAKE, Wis., July 9, 2019 - Summer is finally here in the upper Midwest and this year hundreds of vintage racers will make the journey to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin to celebrate the...
Can-Am History Roars Back to Life at Spring Classic May 19-21

Can-Am History Roars Back to Life at Spring Classic May 19-21

The Can-Am Series made its last appearance at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca at the 1973 Monterey Grand Prix. Vic Elford (10) in the UOP Shadow was chased through the Corkscrew by winner Mark Donohue (6) in the dominant Sunoco Porsche 91730. MONTEREY,...

Vintage Racers Decend on Road America for The WeatherTech International Challenge With Brian Redman Presented by HAWK

- Mid-Summer Vintage Event Recalls a Sensational Era of Racing - ELKHART LAKE, Wis., July 12, 2016 - Summer is in full swing and this year hundreds of vintage racers will make the journey to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin to celebrate the beauty...

RRDC VOTES IN 37 NEW MEMBERS FOR 2013

HILLIARD, Ohio (Nov. 7, 2013) - Thirty-seven race-car drivers and motorsports professionals have been voted into the Road Racing Drivers Club in 2013. The group includes 13 Regular Members from the open-wheel and sports-car racing ranks, 20 Associate...
1967 Can-Am Road America: The Beginning of the 'Bruce and Denny Show'

1967 Can-Am Road America: The Beginning of the 'Bruce and Denny Show'

While Formula One will be forever considered the pinnacle of motorsport, from a period between 1966 and 1986 there existed a series that would likely be the closest to anything goes as any motor racing series could truly get. Based upon the FIA Group...