Steve Holmes wrote:In 1983 the McLaren was purchased by Dan Dubrovich, who converted it back for racing, taking victory (teamed with Bob Akin) in the SVRA 2 hour enduro at Watkins Glen.
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The McLaren was bought and sold a few times during the 1990s, before finally being purchased by current owner Chad Raynal in 2000, to join his wonderful collection of historic racing cars. In 2009, Chad set about giving the McLaren a full nut and bolt restoration, in which only the paint (which was applied in the ‘90s during another restoration) was left untouched. Its condition could only be described as impeccable, and, typically of Chad’s race cars, its history has been fully researched to great detail. Its current configuration is that of its second season of competition, 1967. Its currently fitted with a period correct 331ci small block Chevy, MacKay magnesium intake manifold, quad-48 IDA Webers, backed by an LG-500 transaxle. Overall its in remarkable condition, having never been crashed, butchered or cut up as so many others did.
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Chad currently has the McLaren for sale. For anyone wishing to purchase a unique race car with a fascinating, colourful history, this is a rare opportunity. With early Group 7 sports cars being accepted into a growing number of international historic events, including the Goodwood Revival and Silverstone Classic, the Hollywood Sport Cars McLaren offers a first-class ticket to some of the world’s most exclusive events.
Doane Spencer went on to achieve great success in US road racing, in Can-Am, IMSA, and other categories, later reuniting with his old mate Jim Adams when the fast peddler returned to racing in 1970, to drive a Spencer prepped Ferrari 512P, and the pair went on to enjoy plenty of success throughout the next decade.
The Spencer fettled McLaren-Elva MkI was typical of the cars he put his hand to. Creative in design, aesthetically beautiful, and with enormous attention to detail. With the fast-pace of development in US Group 7 sports car racing during the 1960s, the HSC McLaren had its best chance at success in 1966. Given Spencer’s pedigree, had the team raced the car more often and with the benefit of further development during that 1966 season, might it have further demonstrated its potential?
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In some respects, the HSC team missed the boat, as by the time they’d further improved the McLaren for 1967, so the competition had upped the game. And so the Hollywood Sport Cars McLaren-Elva MkI remains one of those fascinating tales of the Can-Am, like the Chaparral 2J, Open Sports Ford, and numerous other wonderful creations whose potential greatness was never fully realised, and that might well have gone on to greater things had they hit the ground running at the right time, and made a more significant impact on this very significant racing series.
But the Hollywood Sport Cars McLaren-Elva MkI did go on to lead a fascinating, colourful life, winning races, becoming a road car, and later restored and returned to its most celebrated period, and thankfully survives today in the hands of a caretaker who fully appreciates how special and unique this car is.
For more info on the Hollywood Sport Cars McLaren-Elva MkI, visit:
http://www.impeccableinc.com/ Thanks to Chad Raynal for his help with compiling this story, and to Cris Vandagriff, Bob Tronolone, Dave Friedman for supplying the photos. Photos of the bare tub with red paint and alloy sheet applied, and the rear-end shot showing the Ford motor, were both taken at the HSC workshop when the car was in its first stage as a MkI. Both were supplied by Cris Vandagriff.