New special-edition McLaren 650S marks 50 years since the first Can-Am race

Next year will mark 50 years since the first Can-Am race and, to celebrate the occasion, McLaren has revealed a special-edition 650S Spider, inspired by the various McLarens that raced in the legendary series…

A golden era

Thanks to its lack of restrictions and lavish prize money, Can-Am enjoyed immense success in the 1960s and 1970s, attracting the biggest names and manufacturers in motorsport, none of which was more successful than Bruce McLaren and his eponymous team. Designed by McLaren Special Operations to pay tribute to the Kiwi’s efforts in the famous race series, the 650S ‘Can-Am’ has been subjected to a crash diet thanks to the extensive use of carbonfibre, including, for the first time, for the retractable hardtop. Other Can-Am-inspired features include special forged-alloy wheels, louvres atop the front wings, and a new quad exhaust set-up, designed to mimic the evocative intake trumpets found on the big Chevrolet-powered bangers.

  

Just 50 McLaren 650S ‘Can-Ams’ will be sold, priced at £255,850 and offered in Mars Red (the same as the M1B in which Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon raced in the debut Can-Am season), Papaya Spark, or Onyx Black. Deliveries will commence in Spring 2016.

Photos: McLaren

You can find several McLaren 650Ss for sale in the Classic Driver Market.