Mclaren headed for monterey

[Chip Smith]

Stopped by a friends shop and noticed his Mclaren having some things finished up and he says he is getting it ready for the historic races and then the auction next month. All I had handy was a cell phone for pics but I got a couple that came out ok. This is one of the 17 that were made by the person who did the chassis for Mclaren but after Mclaren's passing. Still quite an impressive car.

 

[Randy V]

Pretty darned respectable pictures for a cell !!!

Gorgeous car!!!!

Thanks for posting

 

[John Deuel]

For any inetersted parties, I will be completing an M6GT built on an Active Power ZSR chasis in August. Pics of body can be seen on Chris Arden's site, GT Reproductions: The Thrill is Real!.

 

[Chip Smith]

Hey! I got one of Chris's Chassis too. This Mclaren is what got me hooked on cars from this era. Are you posting any pics of your project yet?

 

[Leon]

Hey great cell photos of a great looking car.I am about to start my own build of this great machine and will be posting under"Kiwi M6GT" so as they say "watch this space".Cheers Leon

 

[Chris Bell]

OK, those pictures are just plain pornographic. Oh well... here's some more.

 

[Rick S.]

what an unbelievably beautiful car. How sweet that is.

 

[Chip Smith]

It will be in the auction and the race as well I think. They have several car's at pebble beach again this year, mostly Lambo Muira's. I am dying to go.....

 

[kiwi ka]

Hi there, couldn`t resist addid an other nice Mclaren.
Cheers

 

[Chip Smith]

Well the Mclaren sold for $125K and bidding stooped on the Muira that they took up at 2 million dollars, just shy of the reserve. Wish I had got to go but did not make it

 

[Mesa]

OK, those pictures are just plain pornographic. Oh well... here's some more.

Here are a few of Chuck's car I took just after he bought it back from the guy he built it for (and before he resold it). This thing is beautiful - a complete work of art, I got to sit in it and make car sounds (hey we are all kid's here, are we not?).
There was nobody making a recreation based on the M6 at the time I started looking otherwise I'd probably have one now.


BTW: I did not see one M6BGT at Laguna this year... maybe I just missed them.

 

[Ardern Cars]

What is the deal with this car? I've been marveling over it myself since it first appeared. Who built it? It is the nicest M6GT I've ever seen. Is it a real M6 tub?
Who's Chuck?

 

[Mesa]

Hi Chris,
I looked in my cell phone to jog my memory and I don't have Chuck's last name in there <a mind is a terrible thing to waste>. Chuck has a Mclaren restoration business and has spent a good part of his life as a roadracer, see some of the cars he has owned, serviced or driven on his company website at mclarencomp I doubt you remember but I contacted you about building an M6 for me back then but the logistics of getting a "Chuck" body and glass to you along with various other things made the idea too daunting.

About the car - The owner of the M6 intended it to be driven on the street as well as track and to that end he HAD to build it with a steel inner frame to keep it from folding in half on the first speed bump. At the time I visited him there were a few people overseas that were interested in the car but he was really hoping to keep it in the states. Who knows, maybe it ended up in your neck of the woods (?)

Anyway, if you plan on matching his build standard you could have not picked a better target.

All the best

 

[Ardern Cars]

Mesa,
Thanks for that link. I just spent the last 20 minutes pouring over it. I didn't know about these guys. Fantastic. I can't believe that Sunoco Blue M6 is a tube car. I was also blown away by the Lola Frisbee for sale on their page. I used to crew on that car. You made my day.
Thanks,
Chris

 

[Randy V]

Just call me snoopy but the whois on the Mclaren69.com website is;

Administrative Contact:
MCCONNELL, CHUCK [email protected]
MCLAREN RESTORATION
477 PRINTZ RD.
ARROYO GRANDE, California 93420
United States
8054812237 Fax --
-------------
A bit more digging;
EmailFlyerAds.com Flyer

Would this be the "Chuck" you are looking for?

YEP - I bet it is....

http://www.bruce-mclaren.com/the-cars/owners-register/m2

I did a couple National races with it and sold it in 1971 to Chuck McConnell.

 

[Mesa]

Happy to be of service Chris! You should drop Chuck a note about your connection with the car, he might enjoy that.

One of large foot - Yep the pic confirms it, that's the man, real nice fella and a car guy through and through ....I was remembering McConnell as the last name but could not be sure. I found the statement you tagged on but since he didnt mention past Can-am glory to me I didnt want to assume.

 

[Chris Bell]

I visited Chuck at Mclaren Restorations this past weekend and yes, he is a very nice, outgoing fellow. He knew the red M6GT that just sold at Monterey.

He has owned that Frisbee ever since John Morton last had his way with it.

He actually remembers Chris from those days and was aware of his replica business. With all of Chuck's contacts, I suspect there's not much going on he doesn't know about.