McLaren to Present the M6GT at Goodwood FOS

Design Inspiration

McLaren will unveil the M6GT: Restored by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, reviving founder Bruce McLaren‘s original road-car vision. Built using original body molds, archive reference materials and a period-correct V8 engine with matching gearbox, the restoration faithfully recreates the pioneering road car that inspired McLaren’s future production models.

Produced from the ground up by MSO, the project combines restored original components with newly engineered parts, while recreating paint, finishes and details from period photographs and materials. Bruce McLaren used the first M6GT prototype as his personal transport, and its lightweight construction, aerodynamic shape and race-derived engineering laid the foundation for later road cars, including the McLaren F1.

“The M6GT: Restored by MSO has been a labor 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.”
Jon Simms, Director of MSO

Craft and construction

The restoration centers on a period-built M6A racing chassis verified against historic McLaren reference vehicles. Original body molds discovered in the UK were used to recreate the bodywork, preserving subtle design changes embedded in the molds during the original development program.

MSO restored the original suspension, fabricated structural components by hand, sourced period-correct imperial bearings and used authentic aluminum dome rivets installed by an aerospace craftsman. Inside, the cabin features a hand-turned walnut gear knob, custom green vinyl upholstery inspired by McLaren’s racing heritage and a bespoke windscreen recreated from digital scans of the original.

‘Colnbrook’ White

The one-off restoration is finished in a bespoke cream-based white called Colnbrook, named after the factory where Bruce McLaren developed his road-car concept. The white exterior and green interior reference the livery of McLaren’s 1966 M2B Formula 1 car, reflecting the founder’s original vision.

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McLaren Automotive at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026

The restored M6GT headlines McLaren’s Goodwood Festival of Speed display, which traces the brand’s evolution from Bruce McLaren’s early race cars to today’s supercars. Historic models including the M8A, Austin 7 Ulster and McLaren F1 will be displayed alongside the Artura and 750S, highlighting how racing heritage and MSO craftsmanship continue to shape the company’s modern performance cars.