Scratchbuilt McLaren Can-AM racecar

[Wrecked944]

Yet another DIY project that is simply waaaay off the charts.

http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4020

Too many insane picture to post. But here is a teaser...

[jluetjen]

I fear that there's a Fiero underneath that. But if that's aluminum bodywork, it appears to be nicely done from that view.

BTW, there used to be a guy in Allston MA (Jeff Jones?) who had a McLaren that he used to race in the SCCA's ASR class. He once showed me the roll hoop for the car and to be honest it was no heavier then a metal vacuum-cleaner tube. In fact that is what the tubing reminded me of.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally posted by jluetjen
I fear that there's a Fiero underneath that. But if that's aluminum bodywork, it appears to be nicely done from that view.

BTW, there used to be a guy in Allston MA (Jeff Jones?) who had a McLaren that he used to race in the SCCA's ASR class. He once showed me the roll hoop for the car and to be honest it was no heavier then a metal vacuum-cleaner tube. In fact that is what the tubing reminded me of.

Check the link.

He built the whole thing from scratch.

Amazing determination and work.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by jluetjen
I fear that there's a Fiero underneath that. But if that's aluminum bodywork, it appears to be nicely done from that view.

BTW, there used to be a guy in Allston MA (Jeff Jones?) who had a McLaren that he used to race in the SCCA's ASR class. He once showed me the roll hoop for the car and to be honest it was no heavier then a metal vacuum-cleaner tube. In fact that is what the tubing reminded me of.

Almost as bad, he used a Honda engine and gearbox.

Car is really tiny but a lot of good handwork there.

[Steve PH]

Now that is a real labour of love even in comparison to most home projects, the amount of hours working the alloy sheet is mind boggling! That will be pretty damned when its completely finished.

[Aerkuld]

That is mighty impressive, but it's a shame to put all that work into the car and not have a V8 in the back.
Wish I could do sheetmetal work like that!

[the]

Great project, that guy is living my dream.

But I do agree, putting a hampster mill in for an engine was a real shame.

I'd have a 600 cubic inch supercharged V8 in it.

[URY914]

Unreal, but I think it is somewhat overdesigned and heavier than it needs to be.

But great work.

[VincentVega]

Agreed, interesting choice for the drivetrain. But, like he mentioned , short of a SBC it's hard to be the price/hp and after market support for a Honda engine. Considering the cost and complexity of a transaxle for a v8, it's hard to argue with his choice.

Thanks for posting this

[FastCarFan]

I agree it needs a big honkin' V8. Can-Am was all about massive engines with huge HP.

And I am not a McLaren expert, but I am almost sure the bodies on the orginals were fiberglass.

A Honda-powered McLaren is about as wrong as a Chevy V8 in a Cobra replica.

However, I do admire his fabrication skills.

I guess I just don't care much for replicas, especially ones that are not true to the originals. The only replicas I like are Caterham 7s, because I think of them as "continuation" cars, not replicas. In fact, I recently read about a sort of "continuation" McLaren that was built.

But it doesn't matter what I think. That's what's great about the car hobby -- everyone can do what they want. What is important is that HE is happy.

Having said all of that, I would still like to drive the McHonda.

[Aerkuld]

On the other hand, Honda engines have proven to be excellent in McLarens in the past...

[FastCarFan]

I remember the F1 McLaren-Hondas...but that is not the same thing!

Senna was incredible.

[Aerkuld]

I agree that it isn't the same thing, but it was primarily in response to...

"A Honda-powered McLaren is about as wrong as a Chevy V8 in a Cobra replica."

...but I would agree that a Chevy engine in a cobra replica is a crime.

[FastCarFan]

Fair enough. I was thinking Can-Am, like the replica.

Thanks for keeping me honest!

[Don Plumley]

I just walked through the link. OMG - a hand formed metal body, on top of a custom made frame. He used a picture of a McLaren to form jigs. Yowza!

[trekkor]

I looked at some of the progress. What I saw was fantastic.

KT

[GDSOB]

This guy built exactly what HE wanted to build, a street legal McLaren influenced car. The craftsmanship is incredible, and I'm sure he looks at it like a proud papa whenever he steps into the garage.

The original McLarens were not much larger- The Big Block Aluminum Chevy was shoehorned into the engine bay, the firewall was relieved to fit the drive pulleys at the front of the engine.

This version was much overbuilt with a space frame. Good idea for a road car. Originals were Alum monocoque costruction and had a minimum of safety structures.