Long before McLaren began making road cars, the company built some of the world’s greatest racing cars and continues to do so until this day. One of their most identifiable is the McLaren M8F which was designed by G. Coppuck and was exceptionally advanced for its time.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq6MwGttQZ8[/youtube]
The car competed in Can-Am racing and was powered by a massive 8.0-litre Chevrolet V8 engines modified significantly by McLaren Engines with one of the most vital changes being the all alloy cylinder block. This potent powertrain delivered in excess of 740 hp. When combined with an estimated dry weight of just 704 kg, the McLaren M8F was understandably brutally fast.
Because so few examples were produced, seeing one on the track nowadays is a very rare sight. However, a video has emerged of a McLaren M8F formally driven by Denny Hulme during the 1971 Can-Am season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The sound of speed of this racer really has to be seen to be believed!