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“It is really a blend of New Zealand’s McLaren and American hot-rodding.” 

No, this isn’t news of an experimental upgrade package for the MCL35M that’s set to make its debut at the upcoming United States Grand Prix. These are, in fact, the words of our founder, Bruce McLaren, when he provided a rundown of his Can-Am conquering M6A for Sports Illustrated, following the latest instalment of ‘The Bruce and Denny Show’ at Canada’s Mosport Park. In this particular episode, compatriot Denny Hulme recorded McLaren’s third Can-Am win of 1967 – despite crossing the line, for all intents and purposes, on three wheels. Two more wins followed that year on the way to the first of five consecutive titles and, in what is remembered as one of the motorsport’s most dominant displays, the team won 37 of the 43 races that took place from 1967 to 1971. But just why was Bruce so keen to crack America, rather than focus his efforts on racing in Europe?

The rules are meant to be broken

With a rulebook thinner than a slice of Lando Norris’ favourite pizza, it was a case of pretty much anything goes when Can-Am launched in 1966. The only real boundaries were those of your imagination and that was music to the ears of a bright, young engineer like Bruce. The series gave birth to some of the most spectacular racing machines ever seen and, in some cases, they were faster than their Formula 1 counterparts. Inspired by the sheer freedom to innovate, and the creative brilliance of Jim Hall (esteemed American racing driver, race car constructor and fellow Can-Am competitor) and his race-winning Chaparrals, Bruce developed his ’67 challenger, the M6A, with the help of a design dream team that included Robin Herd, Gordon Coppuck, Tyler Alexander and Don Beresford.

With its carefully sculpted bodywork to increase downforce, monocoque chassis – the first to be built by McLaren – and papaya orange livery, the M6A certainly looked the part. But what about the engine? Bruce had that covered too, sourcing a thunderous Chevy V8 from Detroit – the beating heart of America’s automotive industry.

“The engine heads and castings are Chevrolet; everything else is adapted, all from American hot-rod parts,” Bruce went on to explain to Bob Ottum for the 2 October 1967 copy of Sports Illustrated. “We even have Mickey Thompson (renowned hot-rodder and first American to break the 400-mph barrier on land) manifolds on these engines.” Suitably impressed, Ottum postulated: ‘The monster…is perhaps the fastest sports car in the world,’ – Bruce putting the M6A on pole at Road America for the opening round of the 1967 season and breaking the existing track record by 10 seconds only added further credence to this claim.

This time next year, we’ll be millionaires

The desire to compete in Can-Am was not solely born of the opportunity to innovate and inspiration provided by rivals, money was a motivator too. Bruce plundered what was dubbed ‘the richest road racing series in the world’ to fund the team’s racing exploits, chiefly its participation in Formula 1.

‘In 1966 the [Can-Am] prize money came to $358,000,’ wrote Kim Chapin in Sports Illustrated (26 October 1968). ‘Last year the figure was $472,720 and this year it should reach $518,470 – all in all, a situation ripe for exploitation by old, reputable and durable racing teams like those of Ferrari, or Lotus, or even the newer American ones of Dan Gurney and Roger Penske. But, in fact, the plucking has been done not by them but by a New Zealander named Bruce McLaren. In 1967 McLaren won two races, Hulme won three, and they split $165,000 in prize money, over one-third of the entire jackpot.’

Prize money wasn’t the only reason why racing in America proved so lucrative; an enterprising Bruce capitalised on the chance to sell production versions of his winning racer. At the end of the 1967 campaign, he announced the M6A would go into production as the M6B. ‘Fourteen were built for sale, priced at $15,000 each and all 14 were sold practically before production started,’ noted Chapin. ‘His coffers are afilling. His shop, located near Heathrow, London's international airport and other assets make him worth close to $1 million.’

Talk about making a fast buck…

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