Thursday 31st January 2013

PH Blog: McLaren's past glories

Alex is at McLaren to see the new F1 car - but first some old ones!

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A visit to McLaren's Technology Centre in Woking this morning has given us the chance to revel in the presence of these fantastic oldies. The pop-riveted flanks of Bruce McLaren's M7C and Denny Hulme's M12C are a world away from the glassy modernity of the building that today houses them, and the stark, upright spoilers and exposed engines tell of a different era.

We're here for the reveal of McLaren's MP4-28 - the team's Formula 1 car for the 2013 season - of which more anon. And set against that new car, with its fluid lines honed by decades of wind tunnel work, the older cars seem remarkably primitive - the M7C with its ungainly front wing especially so.

Of course, in their day they were anything but - and even today, the raw speed and grip they offer is beyond anything us mere mortals can hope to experience. But what we can enjoy is the healthy dose of nostalgia they imbue; the memories they conjure of times past and, as some would have it, the glory days of Formula 1. And while celebrating its heritage has obvious commercial benefits for McLaren, it's still gratifying to see that the company is happy to keep and maintain these older cars. Doing so allows those of us who never got the chance to see them back in the day to enjoy their old-school charm first hand, and to bring to life the vast and rich heritage that Formula 1 can boast. Good show, McLaren.

Alex

[jumare]

I visited the old McLaren factory years ago (Hakkinen era) and the display of previous cars and current cars, and the wall of trophies, was a highlight. The contrast when you see 3 or 4 cars from different decades in close proximity is startling.

Not as good as the Williams museum though, where you see a car from every year....

[jl34]

i that the best artcle you could write ?. i was hoping you were going to describe the cars they have got, when they get used, what maintenance work is done, who owns them ?

blimey i should be a journo

[steveb8189]

jl34 said:

i that the best artcle you could write ?. i was hoping you were going to describe the cars they have got, when they get used, what maintenance work is done, who owns them ?

blimey i should be a journo

Welcome to the world of blogging rather than article writing...

[pagani1]

Well Done Steve great photos and work.

[Cyder]

steveb8189 said:

jl34 said:

i that the best artcle you could write ?. i was hoping you were going to describe the cars they have got, when they get used, what maintenance work is done, who owns them ?

blimey i should be a journo

Welcome to the world of blogging rather than article writing...

It does seem rather half arsed!

[delays]

McLaren do a much better job of trading on their history than Lotus do. Maybe the boys from Hethel could take some tips.

[PompeyM3]

Any news on a Sunday Service at McLaren ?

[marksmith59]

Ah those days of gowned reflects and After Shave!

[Oddball RS]

This isn't an article its a photograph (One) i think you need to try a lot harder than this.

[artdealer]

PompeyM3 said:

Any news on a Sunday Service at McLaren ?

where you take your new slippers with you.

[SWH]

Think this needs a few more photos...
Fittipaldi's '74 M23


Senna's '88 MP4/4


...and a rather epic CanAm racer from the 70s

[j_s14a]

SWH said:

Senna's '88 MP4/4

I'm not a massive F1 fan, but even to me this is a hugely iconic car. Stunning.

[sideways man]

The noise from those old can am racers is something else, they reallly
do make the ground shake as they drive by! One for my lottery win garage.

[rohrl]

j_s14a said:

SWH said:

Senna's '88 MP4/4

I'm not a massive F1 fan, but even to me this is a hugely iconic car. Stunning.

I couldn't agree more. The lines are so clean and unadorned with all the fussy twiddly bits you see on a 2000+ F1 car.

[F1GTRUeno]

Still all about the Ueno Clinic F1 GTR, hence the username I created when I was 13.

Still, wasn't sure what I liked the most, all those wonderful past racers, or Natalie Pinkham.

[nick_mcuk]

I vote for a PH Sunday Service there!!!

[belleair302]

An epic collection of hardware and dreadful launch.....including Natalie Pinkham who is dreadful. Is that the best McLaren could do when you look at all of the drives they have had and people they know!

[dinkel]

Roger Wills 5 litre M1C. This final M1 incarnation was a customer car for the 1967 season, which sported more aggressive wings. Owner Roger Wills asked Brendon Hartley to join him at the Masters Sports Cars race. They won.


M1B sports the 5.7 litre but is slower compared to the C, hence different tires.


Let's not forget this blast of a roadcar - If there's only one car to choose, I'll skip consensus and fly away with the M6 GT.

(Copyright) from the McLarenwebsite:

"In early 1970 Bruce organised for a GT to be built so he could use it on the road.

Together with chief designer Gordon Coppuck, Bruce planned to refine the prototype, eventually aiming to produce up to 250 cars per year.

In fact only two M6GTs were ever built, Bruce’s original prototype and a second built by Trojan. The original prototype, OBH 500H, became Bruce's personal transportation, and remained so until his untimely death at Goodwood on June 2, 1970 when the road car project died with him.

The M6GT stands as testament to his passion and vision to enter the world of super sports cars."

The '74 owner drove the original racing 535 hp / 304 CID to bits and replaced it with a small block 400. Used the racers heads but replaced the original Webers with a big Holley and put in a milder cam. With a smack of torque and 470 horsies on tap it did 10 to 11 s on the QM, on profile Firestones. 100 Db on da highway though . . .

HF, some exciting roadcar. Massive want.

[digger the goat]

My Uncle is(was) Jo Marquart.....aka 'The Swiss pencil'...
Designer of the M8A amongst others....
Also of many other firms including Lotus,Modus etc until he founded ARGO..Anglia Racing Cars..
If anyone has any stories or memories of him or his endeavors, please can you contact me, as his wife (my auntie Jackie) has little or no recollection of Jos' business....( she really wasn't interested in cars !!!)
Sorry to crash this thread but it's very hard to find anyone with recollections of Jo Marquart...
Would love to see some M8A photos and any Can Am..!

[DJRC]

Can Am love. Bring it on chaps Sod Sennas 88 MP4 when there are proper Can Ams about.