en.Wedoany.com Reported - McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has recreated an M6GT prototype based on the original plans proposed by brand founder Bruce McLaren in 1969, using the chassis of the M6A race car. The project strictly adhered to the specifications envisioned by the founder, rather than a modern interpretation, taking approximately 3,000 hours. It utilized documents preserved in the brand's archives and the original body molds of the car. McLaren officially stated that production of the M6GT at MSO will be limited to this single unit due to the limited availability of original chassis.

The original M6GT project was born from Bruce McLaren's vision to transform the Group 7 race car M6A into a road-legal version. The M6A-Chevrolet dominated the 1967 Can-Am Challenge Cup, surpassing rivals such as the Lola T70, Chaparral 2G, and Ferrari 330 P4. Bruce also planned to create a hardtop GT version to compete in the old World Sportscar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans against the Ford GT40, Ferrari 512, and Porsche 917. However, on June 2, 1970, Bruce tragically died at the age of 32 while testing the M8D Can-Am car at Goodwood Circuit in the UK. Subsequently, the M6GT project was halted after only three prototypes were built, with Bruce's personal car (license plate OBH 500H) still surviving to this day.

The recreation work began with an original chassis from an M6A race car, with all work completed by hand at the MSO headquarters in Surrey, 30 kilometers from London. The windshield was recreated by experts after scanning the original part; the suspension was restored piece by piece using original components, with some parts requiring imperial bearings, and aluminum round-head rivets also matching the original type. Consistent with the prototype, the M6GT is powered by a Chevrolet small-block 5.7-liter V8 engine, equipped with "camel hump" or "double hump" cylinder heads, producing 370 horsepower, paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The car can accelerate from 0 to 160 km/h in 8 seconds, with a top speed of 265 km/h. Inside, the gearshift knob is hand-turned from solid walnut, and the seats are upholstered in custom vinyl. The body is finished in a "Cream White" paint called Colnbrook, named after the location of McLaren's early base near Heathrow Airport; the interior is dark green, echoing the F1 car M2B that debuted in the 1966 season.

This recreation M6GT will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, held from July 9 to 12. Concurrently, McLaren will also showcase a series of classic models, from the Austin 7 Ulster to the M8, which were respectively the first and last race cars driven by Bruce McLaren. Current F1 World Champion Lando Norris will join the public in celebrating last year's championship win, while a curated selection of McLaren's historic F1 cars will take to Goodwood's famous hillclimb course. Additionally, this year's event will also mark the public debut of the MCL-HY, a new race car developed by McLaren Racing for the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship. MSO Director Jon Simms stated that the car holds a unique place in the brand's collection, serving as a tribute to the company's early days and an interpretation of its future spirit.