You think you’ve seen every car until you’ve seen the ones that go up for auction. Only two 1968 McLaren M6Bs exist, and one just sold for $365,000 due to its incredible racing history, which includes Carroll Shelby himself.
After back-to-back victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and multiple United States Road Racing Championship attempts, the Shelby Racing Company turned to the Canadian-American Challenge Cup (Can-Am) in 1968. Ford funded the purchase of two McLaren M6Bs to be driven by Peter Revson.
The Can-Am notoriously had no real regulations, including no caps on engine displacement or restrictions on aerodynamic devices (for a while). This opened up Ford to try some really crazy race cars out, which included the Shelby King Cobra before the Mclaren M6B. This vehicle was the next evolution of McLaren’s M6A, which had dominated in 1967, winning five of six events. It featured an aluminum alloy chassis with steel bulkheads and a fiberglass-reinforced plastic body. The engine? A 427 cu. in. V8 with 540 horsepower.
Shelby Racing Company had mixed results that season, including a win at the 1968 Fuji Can-Am 200 at the Fuji International Raceway, with Revson behind the wheel. Ford gave up road racing soon after — NASCAR was the new It Girl. As a result, Shelby sold the two McLaren M6Bs.
The McLaren M6B’s incredible and emotional history
This particular McLaren M6B had a pretty extensive journey soon after it was sold by Shelby. Its next owner switched it to a Chevrolet powered engine and ran a few races. Until the engine caught fire. The M6B was purchased once again, this time by a former Shelby crew member and fabricator who refurbished the vehicle in the 1980s. Purchased once more in 2000, this owner kept it for 19 years. It was purchased by someone else in 2020, when it was fitted with a 526ci Ford FE V8 with Hilborn fuel injection and dual oil coolers.
Looks-wise, the M6B sports blue 52 Shelby Racing Company, rocking aluminum rocker panels, fender-mounted side mirrors, a wra-around windscreen, mesh fender vents, a roll bar, center-lock wheels, and an adjustable rear spoiler. Inside, there’s a right-hand-drive cockpit and signatures from Carroll Shelby and Phil Remington.
The other McLaren M6B sold to Ford had gone to auction in 2019. Nearly identical, it sold for $445,000. The one that just sold this year reached $365,000. But isn’t it worth the same? Well, it’s all about circumstances sometimes. The 2019 auction was at the Quail Lodge Auction during Car Week in Monterey, which probably brought a lot more big spenders together from all around the world. The economy was also better back then. It also didn’t have a reserve — like this 1968 Corvette L88 did. Plus, some cars just look their value as time goes on, especially as collectors get older and lose interest.
However, most car enthusiasts in the comments felt it could have easily gone for more due to its prestigious racing history and Ford connections. Many recalled seeing various historical footage — sometimes in documentaries — that featured this exact car. Others had even more personal experiences related to the M6B.
Said one auction viewer: “I still have the Peter Revson autographed poster that used to hang in my room as a kid. He signed it at the Watkins Glen Can-Am race in the early 70’s.”
Another added: “Still remember attending a race day with my parents at Levin (NZ) in the late 60’s I think, and seeing these Can-Am cars, and a selection of F5000s as well. Denny Hulme, Chris Amon and Bruce McClaren all in attendance. Left an indelible memory to this day. Greatest race cars and bravest drivers ever produced. Can only but dream of owning one.”
It just shows the emotional impact that special cars can have on people. They tell stories and hold memories for decades. While the incredible looks and prestige would be enough to make the McLaren M6B worth even more than it sold for, the special memories the car has created makes it priceless for some.
