It stopped by Jay Leno's Garage.
The story of McLaren's ascent in the world of motorsports is one of innovation, vision, and success, a narrative that began long before the legendary F1 supercar captured the world's attention in the 1990s. Founded by Bruce McLaren in 1963, the company initially made its mark in racing with cars from Cooper, leveraging Bruce's experience as a driver for the team. This foundation laid the groundwork for McLaren's own ventures into race car manufacturing.
The turning point came with the acquisition of the Cooper-Zerex from Roger Penske in early 1964, a vehicle that not only competed under McLaren's banner but also served as a vital learning tool for the team's future projects. Sold at auction in 2022 for approximately $1 million, this modified Cooper marked the beginning of McLaren's journey toward developing its proprietary race cars.
The culmination of lessons learned from the Cooper-Zerex led to the creation of the McLaren Mark 1, or M1, specifically designed to meet Group 7 racing regulations. Spanning three iterations - the M1A, M1B, and M1C - approximately 50 of these cars were constructed and raced not just by McLaren but also by its customer teams. Remarkably, the first M1A, known for its untainted record of never having been involved in a serious crash, was recently showcased on Jay Leno's Garage.
Owned by Austrian collector Egon Zweimüller, the first M1A holds a special place in automotive and pop culture history, having been driven by Elvis Presley in the 1966 movie "Spinout." Beyond its cinematic cameo, the M1A debuted in the competitive arena at the 1964 Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport Park, with Bruce McLaren himself at the helm. Despite facing challenges in the pit lane, the car secured a third-place finish, setting the stage for McLaren's first 12 race wins.
Originally equipped with a tuned Oldsmobile V-8 engine by Traco Engineering, modifications included an increased displacement to 4.5 liters and the addition of four Weber carburetors, boosting the output to around 310 hp. The car later received a performance upgrade with the installation of a Corvette V-8 engine in the late '60s.
The legacy of the M1A, from its groundbreaking design and racing achievements to its association with cultural icons, underscores McLaren's enduring influence in motorsports and automotive engineering.
