McLaren will celebrate its founder’s original road-car ambition at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed by unveiling a M6GT, recreated by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) using original body moulds, archive drawings and period-correct mechanical components.
The one-off project revives Bruce McLaren’s vision of a road-going sports car derived directly from his Can-Am racers. Developed in the late 1960s from the dominant M6A, the M6GT served as Bruce McLaren’s personal transport and laid the foundations for the company’s road-car philosophy long before the arrival of the McLaren F1.
MSO describes the restoration as the starting point for a new heritage programme, with the car rebuilt from the ground up using an original M6A chassis, authentic suspension components and a period-correct small-block Chevrolet V8 fitted with the correct ‘camel hump’ cylinder heads. The bodywork has been recreated from original moulds discovered in the UK, while many hidden structural elements, including the roll hoop and rear support structure, were fabricated by hand.
The attention to detail extends throughout the cabin, which features a hand-turned walnut gear knob, bespoke vinyl upholstery and a recreated windscreen manufactured to match the original profile. Finished in a bespoke shade called Colnbrook White – named after the Buckinghamshire base where Bruce McLaren developed the concept – the colour scheme references the white-and-green livery of his 1966 M2B Formula 1 car.
‘M6GT: Restored by MSO has been a labour of craft and care for the team,’ said MSO director Jon Simms. ‘This car occupies a unique place in our collection – a tribute to the very beginnings of the company.’
The M6GT will form the centrepiece of McLaren House at Goodwood, where it will be displayed alongside historic competition machinery including the Can-Am-winning M8A, Bruce McLaren’s Austin 7 Ulster and the McLaren F1 GTR. Modern road cars, including the Artura and 750S, will also feature, while McLaren Racing will present its forthcoming MCL-HY Le Mans Hypercar alongside another new supercar set to make its public debut during the festival.
