Vehicle exhibits

This is a fully functioning replica of the legendary McLaren M8B Can-Am race car, built by Russell Keach in New Zealand. The M8B was developed for the 1969 Can-Am season, where the McLaren team, led by Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme, achieved complete dominance. They won all 11 races that season, often finishing first and second, with Dan Gurney also stepping in to drive a third M8B at Michigan, leading to a 1st2nd & 3rd  McLaren finish.

The M8B was an evolution of the earlier M8A, with a number of major aerodynamic and mechanical upgrades. Most notably, it featured a high-mounted rear wing, supported by pylons that passed through the bodywork and mounted directly to the suspension uprights. This innovative design allowed the wing to generate significant downforce while keeping the bodywork stress low, enabling the use of softer suspension springs. The bodywork was also widened to accommodate larger wheels, 15 x 11 inches at the front and 15 x 16 at the rear.

The engine used in the original M8B race cars was a 7.0-litre (7,046 cc) Chevrolet V8, developed by George Bolthoff, producing approximately 630 bhp. Only two full M8Bs and a spare chassis tub were built using components from the previous year’s M8A cars.

Tragically, Bruce McLaren lost his life on June 2, 1970, while testing the M8D, a later evolution of the M8 series. The accident occurred at Goodwood Circuit in England, when the rear bodywork detached at high speed, causing the car to spin off the track. The crash highlighted the risks of the era’s extreme performance and innovation in race car design.

This replica pays tribute to Bruce McLaren’s legacy and New Zealand’s proud motorsport heritage. It captures the engineering brilliance and raw power of the M8B, a car that helped define the golden era of the Can-Am series.