PH Blog: McLaren's past glories
Alex is at McLaren to see the new F1 car - but first some old ones!
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
Not as good as the Williams museum though, where you see a car from every year....
blimey i should be a journo
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.
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..!
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