Nostalgia hits hard, and as it turns out, those shopping for six-figure supercars are not immune
In 1995, McLaren ran, completed, and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time. The manufacturer’s race-ready McLaren F1 GTRs, which weren’t all that different from the road-going version, filled out four of the top five places. The ranks included, of course, the No. 59 car, which took first place. Now, the automaker is honoring the iconic race-winning car by bringing a special edition 750S to customers.
McLaren
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No performance changes, but plenty of aesthetic improvements
As the No. 59 car wore grey to its winning race, it seems fitting that the McLaren 750S Le Mans is also offered in matching Le Mans Grey paint. Don’t worry — iconic McLaren Orange is also available, although not unique to the special edition. A roof scoop comes standard, as does McLaren’s new HDK (High Downforce Kit), the latter of which bundles a larger front splitter, rear spoiler, and under-wing louvres all in carbon fiber. Five-spoke LM wheels mirror what the F1 raced with and are unique to the model. Gold calipers, titanium exhaust finishers, special center caps, and Le Mans badging inside and outside the car round out a very special package dedicated to an extremely special car. McLaren’s only making fifty of ’em, so better get in line.
Under the hood (well, rear clamshell), the McLaren 750S Le Mans remains decidedly “average.” At least, if you could possibly call something with such otherworldly performance average. A 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 develops 740 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, allowing the McLaren 750S Le Mans to achieve speeds up to 206 mph. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic sends power to the rear wheels, and carbon ceramic brakes handle stopping duties; six-piston calipers in the front, four-piston in the rear. Getting from a standstill to 62 mph takes under 2.8 seconds, and stopping from the same takes just 98 feet.
McLaren
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The 750S Le Mans celebrates a few special moments in the company’s history
While this special McLaren 750S is primarily honoring the No. 59 car and its 1995 Le Mans win, there are a few other details that shouldn’t be overlooked. As an optional extra, McLaren will include a plaque commemorating the brand’s Triple Crown wins: 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500, and Monaco Grand Prix. McLaren is one of only three automakers with any claim of Triple Crown success. The other two are Ford and Mercedes, but only McLaren has won all three races as a team/chassis manufacturer. McLaren also says the 750S Le Mans commemorates the running of its GT3 EVO cars this year and the manufacturer’s anticipated return to the LMH (Hypercar) class in 2027.
Final thoughts
I’m not buying one, and you probably aren’t either, but it’s hard to complain about a special edition that honors such a cool point in history for McLaren. I’m probably a little biased since the McLaren F1 is perhaps the only car regularly selling for millions of dollars that I actually want to drive. The development cycle, engine work (handled by BMW), and end result of the McLaren F1 make it one of the most historically interesting vehicles ever. Even better, apart from the FINA and Gulf-liveried longtail, No. 59 is one of the most iconic. I’ve digressed. We expect the new McLaren 750S Le Mans to drive as incredibly as the standard car; it will just look a little bit cooler and likely leave your wallet considerably lighter.
