Todays leading F1 team McLaren can trace its roots back to
the McLaren Elva M1. The Elva-built McLarens were called the MK 1 and powered
by a variety of powerplants.
They had a simple and straightforward design with
a frame based on three main tubes incorporating a multi-tubular space frame
structured. At all four corners were an independent suspension with widely
spaced pickups for the front upper wishbones. The rear had reversed lower
wishbones, single upper links and parallel radius rods. Springing was by coil
springs and tubular shocks. The gearbox was a Hewland transaxle. The body
design was courtesy of Tony Hilder.
This Car M1 20-15 was originally built in 1965 and delivered
to the US where it was raced in group 7 USSCR and SCCA race series. Famously
winning one of it’s first races at Daytona in the hands of Joe Starkey. The car
was later converted to a narrow bodied F5000 single seater FA racer.
The car had a final shake down at Blyton Park on Monday 7th
January prior to be shipped two days later to Melbourne in Australia where it
will be raced at Phillip Island on 9/10th March 2013. Just one week
later the McLaren will be competing in the Australian Grand Prix, International
Sports Car Challenge support race at Albert Park.
