McLaren to Present MSO-Restored M6GT at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026
McLaren Special Operations has restored a one-off M6GT, Bruce McLaren's original road car vision, for its first public appearance at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
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What Happened
McLaren Automotive will unveil a one-off M6GT, meticulously restored by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The car is a tribute to founder Bruce McLaren's original vision of a road-going sports car, built using original body moulds and historic drawings from McLaren's archives. MSO combined restored components with freshly engineered parts to remain faithful to Bruce's intent, with paint, finishes, and details revisited from original materials and photographs.
The restoration uses a period-correct engine and gearbox, with a small-block V8 featuring 'camel hump' cylinder heads per the original specification. The chassis is from a period-built M6A racer, and the bodywork was recreated using original moulds discovered in the UK. Hidden structural elements, including the roll hoop and wiring harness, were hand-fabricated by MSO specialists. The suspension is original M6GT hardware, rejuvenated with imperial-era bearings sourced from rare suppliers.
“The M6GT: Restored by MSO has been a labour 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.”
- M8A: 1968 Can Am race car that started McLaren's North American dominance
- Austin 7 Ulster: Bruce McLaren's early racing car
- McLaren F1 GTR: Iconic roadgoing legend
- W1: Latest in McLaren's '1' lineage, a contemporary supercar
- Artura, 750S, Artura Spider: Modern models in MSO specification
The one-off M6GT is finished in 'Colnbrook' white, a bespoke cream-based color named after the factory where Bruce developed his road car thinking, located near Heathrow Airport. The exterior white and green interior scheme is inspired by the livery of Bruce's first Formula 1 car, the 1966 M2B, which featured a white body with a green stripe as a personal signature.
Previously from McLaren Automotive Ltd.
Earlier this year, McLaren unveiled the MCL-HY hybrid hypercar for the 2027 World Endurance Championship; it will make its public debut alongside the M6GT at Goodwood.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of McLaren Automotive Ltd.'s official releases.
Why this matters
The M6GT restoration highlights McLaren's commitment to preserving its founder's legacy, linking its racing heritage to modern road cars. For fans and collectors, this one-off car represents a rare piece of automotive history, and it serves as the foundation for McLaren's new heritage collection at MSO.
Terms in This Story
- MSO
- McLaren Special Operations, the division responsible for bespoke customization and restoration projects.
- Goodwood Festival of Speed
- An annual motorsport and automotive event held in West Sussex, England, featuring hill climbs and exhibits.
- Can Am
- The Canadian-American Challenge Cup, a sports car racing series popular in the 1960s and 1970s.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.