McLaren celebrates 50 years of historic racing series with 650S Can-Am

McLaren celebrates one of the greatest periods in its history with a limited run of 650S spiders that salute the formative years of Can-Am racing.

In honour of the 50^th anniversary of the 1966 inaugural season, McLaren Special Operations has created the 650S Can-Am, recapturing the spirit of the era with a choice of red, orange, and onyx black paint schemes reminiscent of past liveries. Carbon fibre is used for the hood, front wings, retractable hard-top, tonneau cover, and air brake, and there is also a quad stainless steel exhaust system. 

Like the 650S Spider, this limited run model features the twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 making 641 hp. Inside the cabin, the 650S Can-Am features sport seats with Alcantara leather, carbon fibre accents, and a plaque on the driver's door. The forged alloy wheel design also harks back to 60s racing, while the wheels are finished in a thoroughly modern gloss-black shade and secured with titanium bolts.

Commenting on the 650S Can-Am, Paul Mackenzie, Executive Director of McLaren Special Operations explained, "Can-Am racing is a major part of McLaren heritage, and this latest model from MSO pays homage to the cars and the racers who played a key role in making the championship such a spectacle during the 1960s and 70s. The 650S Can-Am is a modern day interpretation with a mixture of functional design features taken from the all-conquering models, combined with the lightest and most pioneering materials available, as was the case with the race cars. The extensive use of lightweight visual carbon fibre, including for the retractable hard-top, adds to the car's dramatic appearance and with the roof down, drivers are treated to a stirring V8 soundtrack just as Bruce and his teammates enjoyed."

Production of the McLaren 650S Can-Am is limited to just 50 examples globally.