McLaren 650S Can-Am limited edition honors 50th anniversary

But the Can-Am also gets a carbon-fiber retractable hardtop, which McLaren says is a first for the company, and there’s lots of carbon everywhere else – including the unpainted hood. Additionally, a set of custom forged wheels have been developed by McLaren Special Operations with a gloss black finish and a five-spoke design. More distinctive still is the Can-Am inspired quad-exit exhaust system, formed from polished stainless steel – created to evoke the throttle trumpets sprouting from the engine cover of the race cars. These wheels measure 19 inches across up front and 20 inches at the rear, and inside these are carbon-ceramic discs. Other colors available are Papaya Spark and Onyx Black. So to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Can-Am race, McLaren is launching a limited-edition 650S Can-Am based on the 650S Spider, and built by its McLaren Special Operations (MSO) division.

Deliveries will start next spring, exactly 50 years on from the first Can-Am race at Mont Tremblant, Canada and prices will start at £255,850 (Roughly US$392,000). It attracted the best drivers of the time including Graham Hill, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart and, of course, Bruce McLaren.

Can-Am – abbreviated from its full title of the Canadian-American Challenge Cup – began in 1966, attracting stars from across the motor racing world – names such as Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Dan Gurney and Keke Rosberg all competed in the series over the years. This principle is carried through to today’s 650S Can-Am. Harking back to the wheels on Bruce McLaren’s 1960s Can Am racers, they’re held on with titanium bolts and look absolutely fantastic when combined with the car’s Mars Red paintwork.

It’s the usual story for the the 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, which delivers 650PS (641bhp) and 500lb/ft (680Nm) of torque. Despite the carbon-fiber effects, performance is unaffected, with 0-60 miles per hour coming in at three seconds flat, with a top speed of 204 miles per hour.

The 650S Can-Am is offered in three colors, each inspired by a historic Can-Am livery. Its color scheme pays homage to the M1B raced by Bruce McLaren and teammate Chris Amon in the debut season.

Inside, the standard sports seats are upholstered with leather and Alcantara® which complement the exterior.