McLaren M6GT restoration to make first appearance at Goodwood
McLaren fans are in for a treat at Goodwood this week, with a one-off MSO-built restoration of Bruce McLaren’s original road car vision set to make its first public appearance at the 2026 Festival of Speed.
McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has constructed the M6GT from the ground up using original body moulds and materials referenced in McLaren’s archives. The combination of restored components and newly engineered pieces, as Bruce McLaren originally intended, helped make the M6GT as authentic as the original. Many details, including paint and finishes, were guided by original materials and photographs.
Another step to ensure authenticity is its engine, with McLaren choosing a period-correct engine and gearbox, all restored by MSO. The small-block V8 is fitted with ‘camel hump’ cylinder heads in line with the original specification.
Jon Simms, Director of MSO, said: “The M6GT: Restored by MSO has been a labour of craft and care for the team and served as both a technical education and a living reminder of Bruce’s ambition to take McLaren beyond the racetrack. This car occupies a unique place in our collection – a tribute to the very beginnings of the company and a spiritual education for its future.”
A vision unrealised
The M6GT was Bruce McLaren’s original vision for a first McLaren production car and drew from an M6A racer that Bruce and Denny Hulme drove during the 1967 Can-Am season. The first prototype car was used by Bruce as his own personal transport to attend meetings and racing events, but ultimately, his vision for a production version was not realised.
However, 25 years later the dream of the first ever production McLaren was realised with the release of the McLaren F1, still one of the greatest supercars of all time. The F1 borrowed some characteristics from the M6GT, like the highly tuned engine, butterfly doors and aerodynamic silhouette.
The old and the new
So what’s original and what is new on the M6GT?
The chassis is from a period-built M6A racer to keep it with the original vision, all of which has been verified by McLaren, while the bodywork was recreated using original moulds found in the UK.
The original 1970s M6GT race car-derived cockpit sits at the centre of the car, with hidden structural elements including the roll hoop, rear frame support structure, internal clam reinforcement and wiring harness all hand-fabricated by MSO specialists.
The suspension is original M6GT hardware, meticulously restored and rebuilt. As some of its components are no longer in regular production, many had to be specially sourced, while scans of the unique windscreen shape of the M6GT were sent to a specialist supplier for recreation.
Finally, the M6GT has been finished in a bespoke cream-based white colour called Colnbrook, a name that pays homage to the factory where Bruce McLaren developed his road car ideas. The factory was located near what is now Heathrow Airport, as Bruce wanted to get straight back to work after jetting back from races around the world. The Colnbrook white exterior, along with the green interior, is inspired by the 1966 M2B livery, Bruce’s first McLaren Formula One car.
The 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed runs from July 9 to July 12.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: McLaren Automotive