We always knew that Joe Grippo was the like Bruce Wayne of BS contributors. After all, who goes searching on eBay for vintage Can-Am race cars. Sure, he’ll try to tell us he was searching for a go-kart but we know what the story is. He managed to find one of the coolest things we have ever seen, a literal hand-crafted half scale running, driving, McLaren Can-Am car. Why isn’t there already a racing series for these cars? Can you see a half scale Lola T-70 or a freakin’ Porsche 917 or something along those lines. How would you race them? From the driver’s seat, dummy. This car will fit a “slender” man slightly over six feet tall. It is like a custom racing kart with the coolest hand made body of all time. We don’t know why anyone would build a half scale Can-Am car but we’re sure glad that they did. This thing is literally genius level.
This car is a mini version of the most dominant Can-Am car of all time, the McLaren M8B. In 1968 the McLaren M8 was a great car that often ran in the front of the pack but the McLaren team knew that changes to their powertrain and body would benefit them greatly. The ditched the spoiler that used to be on the back of the car for a big tall wing on the rear deck. They al redesigned the front wheel arches, and most importantly told their engine man George Bolthoff to knock some stroke out of their big block Chevy combo to free it up for higher revs. Bolthoff answered with a 422ci aluminum bow tie ass kicker, two actually. There were a pair of these cars on the race trail in 1969. Between the two of them (the second car was driven by New Zealander Denny Hulme) the M8Bs won every freaking race. All 11 of them. It was a sweep that no one could have predicted…n o one other than Bruce McLaren who won six of the races and Hulme five. Sadly, a year later Bruce McLaren would be dead as the result of hard racing crash while testing a car in England.
Ok, so enough history! Here’s what the seller has to say about the little car -
Hello, This is 1/2 scale McLaren M8 high-wing Can-Am car. It was built by Putsch Racing (a vintage race preparation shop) utilizing modern racing kart components. The body work was molded in house from fiberglass as the original cars were and is not available anywhere else. This car is ideal fun for any age as it fits up to a 6′ 1″ slender man. The car features a cro-moly tubular frame, hydraulic disc braking system, suede steering wheel, aluminum racing wheels, slick road racing tires, and a 4 stroke overhead valve racing kart engine. Maintenance is very simple and is low cost. Parts are available and anything custom made for this vehicle can be ordered through Putsch Racing. A perfect gift for a young racer or a fun pit vehicle indulgence. Would be at home on a kart racing track too. Kart is running and ready to drive.
We have nothing more to say other than $12,500 worth of our organs will be showing up on eBay today. Oh, we should also mention that the seller has addition bodies if you want to bild your own!
Scroll down to see the photos and eBay link which has TONS more photos!
eBay ad link: A half scale McLaren M8B Can-Am car