McLaren Rebuilds Its Original Road-Going SupercarCar and DriverMcLaren Special Operations has built a new example of the M6GT, the road-going supercar that Bruce McLaren had aimed to build before his death.The car was constructed using the chassis from an M6A race car and original body molds that had been modified in period for a more refined look.The reconstructed M6GT will be shown this weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.The Goodwood Festival of Speed is the place to be if you want to see the latest and greatest performance cars driven at speed, but the automotive mecca also hosts plenty of historical machines. This year brings two intriguing reconstructions. Audi has recreated a 1935 Auto Union speed-record car powered by a V-16 engine, while McLaren announced that it has faithfully rebuilt an M6GT, the brand's original road car from the 1960s, which will be displayed at Goodwood.Car and DriverMcLaren didn't progress from a racing team to a road-car manufacturer until the launch of the F1 in 1992, but the company's founder, Bruce McLaren, had wanted to break into the road-car market decades prior. In the late '60s, McLaren aimed to turn the M6A prototype racer into a Group 4 race car, leading to the M6GT. Although the race car program never went through, McLaren loved driving the M6GT so much that he teamed up with British automaker Trojan to build the M6GT. But McLaren's premature death while testing a race car in England halted the project, and only a handful of prototypes were built.AdvertisementAdvertisementMcLaren describes this M6GT as "authentic," with the one-off coupe built from the ground up by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) by utilizing original body molds and reference materials from the company archives. The car combines restored parts and newly built components to remain as true as possible to the details of Bruce McLaren's original vision.The build started with a chassis from an M6A race car, and then MSO constructed the new bodywork after discovering original molds in the U.K. McLaren found that these molds had been modified back in the day, suggesting that the car's design had evolved during the period before the program was canceled. This new bodywork provides an idea of how the M6GT might've looked if McLaren had followed through.The car uses a period-accurate engine and gearbox, packing a small-block Chevy V-8 and a five-speed manual. The specialists at MSO hand-fabricated the roll hoop, rear frame-support structure, internal clam reinforcement, and wiring harness. They also restored and rebuilt the original M6GT suspension.The attention to detail continues inside, where the seats are shod in custom green vinyl, and the gear knob is fashioned from hand-turned walnut wood. McLaren painted the car in a custom hue called Colnbrook White, paying tribute to the factory where Bruce McLaren honed his proposal for a McLaren road car. The white-over-green look references the livery of the first McLaren F1 car, the 1966 M2B, which McLaren also honored with a special livery for its F1 cars at last weekend's British Grand Prix.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe M6GT will be shown at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, which kicks off on July 9. McLaren will also present a collection of other historical models, including an M8A Can-Am race car, and the company's latest wares, including the new W1 halo car and the MCL-HY race car that aims to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029