McLaren create Elva theme cars
Following the introduction of its ‘Elva’ open-top sports car, McLaren have presented two special versions of their upcoming rival to Aston Martin’s V12 Speedster and Ferrari’s Monza SP1 and SP2, with colours and details inspired by Bruce McLaren’s racing achievements in the 1960s.
The Elva ‘M1A Theme’ and ‘M6A Theme’ were both produced as one-offs by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), showing the possibilities available through McLaren’s in-house division for customisation, bespoke builds and special projects.
Elva M1A Theme
With its black and silver livery, the M1A Theme may be thought to be inspired by the GT40 in which McLaren and Chris Amon won the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. While yes, that car was finished in black with silver striping like the M1A Theme, the McLaren/Amon car wore #2.
The #4 on the M1A Theme – and its name - identify that this car is actually inspired by the M1A, a car designed and built by Bruce McLaren in the early 1960s.
A superlight (just 551kg) competition sports car, the M1A was powered by a mid-mounted Oldsmobile V8 engine and featured fully-independent suspension.
In September, 1964, McLaren entered his new creation, M1A entry #4, in the Canadian Sports Car Grand Prix (one of the forerunner events of Can-Am). Although he finished third overall that day, McLaren was the fastest car on the track, equalling the circuit lap record four times and breaking it seven more over the course of the race.
Customer response to that performance overwhelmed McLaren’s small resources at the time, so production of the M1A was farmed out to Elva Cars Ltd., a specialist sports car manufacturer in the UK, hence the ‘McLaren-Elva’ name these cars subsequently wore that also identifies the modern Elva’s origins.
With its full carbon fibre body finished in black, the M1A Theme’s Magnesium Silver striping, edged in Accent Red, echoes the livery of the original M1A. Red accents on the seats pick up on that livery, too, with unique wheels being one of many MSO touches on this build.
Elva M6A Theme
If the M1A Theme is obscure, the M6A Theme is a little more familiar, inspired by McLaren’s M6A sports car that dominated the Can-Am Challenge Cup in 1967.
Orange became an identifiable feature of McLaren thanks to this car, which was an evolution of the M1A and M1B.
Powered by a mid-mounted V8 like the M1A (a 5.9-litre Chevrolet unit this time), the M6A had a much greater focus on aerodynamics than the previous cars, with McLaren using wind tunnel testing to perfect the shape. That focus paid off, as from the opening round of the ’67 Can-Am Challenge Cup season, M6As dominated, setting lap records, race records and winning five of the six races that made up the season. McLaren himself was the outright championship winner, with team mate Denny Hulme second.
Proof of the M6A’s dominance was shown at the Laguna Seca round, where McLaren lapped every single car in the field, some on multiple occasions.
The bright orange livery of the M6As McLaren and Hulme raced that season is reflected in the ‘Anniversary Orange’ paint of the M6A Theme, with details like the Dove Grey striping and McLaren’s race #4 also honouring the original.
With a different wheel design to the M1A Theme, the M6A Theme also features a different interior treatment, with the sports seats trimmed in white leather.
Open Performance
Both Elva MSO theme cars run the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that will power the rest of the limited-edition Elva production run. Tweaked to produced just under 600kW and 800Nm, this engine combines with a seven-speed automatic transmission to propel the Elva to 100km/h from standstill in under three seconds and hit 200kmh faster than the McLaren Senna.
Extensive use of carbon fibre – chassis, body and even the seats – keeps weight down to further enhance performance, and while McLaren haven’t revealed the Elva’s total weight yet, they say it’s the lightest road car they’ve ever produced.
The Elva is a true roadster, too – an open-cockpit two-seater with no roof, no windscreen and no side windows - but McLaren say they will offer a windscreen as a factory option.
Other features include carbon-ceramic brakes, advanced active aerodynamics, active suspension, electro-hydraulic steering and a Central Infotainment System with an 8-inch touchscreen to control all the vehicle’s functions, from on-track telemetry to the climate control air conditioning. Yes, this open roadster has climate control!
Production Cut
When the Elva was originally announced, McLaren stated they’d build 399 examples, but In April, McLaren revealed that production will be cut to 249 units, perhaps acknowledging that the market for a £1.4 million (AU$2.8 million approx.) supercar isn’t as large as first thought.
Customer deliveries of the Elva were originally scheduled to begin later this year, but with McLaren joining many other carmakers in shuttering operations during the coronavirus outbreak, those first deliveries are now more likely to be in 2021.
