McLaren 650S Can-Am Commemorates 50th Anniversary of Group 7

The Can-Am (Canadian-American) racing series was about as close to an unrestricted race series as there has ever been. The rules were simple: the cars had to have enclosed wheels, two seats, and meet basic safety standards. There were no limitations on engine size, no power cap, and no weight minimum. Manufactures like Porsche and McLaren concocted insane 1,000 horsepower monsters that thundered around storied race circuits in a ferocious manner. McLaren found particular success in this no-holds-barred Can-Am racing, and has released a new special edition McLaren 650S Spider to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Can-Am season.

To set the special edition apart from the rest of the McLaren lineup, McLaren fitted the Can-Am with their first retractable hardtop made completely out of carbon fiber. The hood, airbrake, rear center bumper, door blades, and the front splitter are also carbon fiber.

Mclaren 650s Can Am Profile With Racer

New diamond-cut wheels inspired by the design found on McLaren’s Can-Am racers come fitted to each special edition. A new quad exhaust system and carbon fiber front wings are a call back to the days of thunder with Group 7 Can-Am, alongside a trio of historical colors with corresponding liveries. The buyer can choose between Papaya Spark, Onyx Black, and Mars Red, which has been color-matched to the famed McLaren M1B piloted by Bruce McLaren himself. Each color is available with optional historic livery to match the Can-Am prototypes.

Power still comes from McLaren’s ubiquitous 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, with 641 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque sent to the rear wheels through a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox. Despite the carbon-fiber effects, performance is unaffected, with 0-60 mph coming in at three seconds flat, with a top speed of 204 mph.

The McLaren 650S Can-Am is limited to just 50 units, and will set you back $334,500, not including destination.

Take a look at the newest McLaren special edition in the photo gallery below.

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