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McLaren M10A

When the SCCA dreamed up Formula A back in 1965, its rules had been designed to parallel Formula 1 so, when it started to take off a few years later, it was no surprise that some manufacturers based their cars on their F1 designs. McLaren and Trojan based theirs on McLaren's then current M7A F1 design but used an "up-and-over" monocoque instead of the less rigid bathtub monocoque of the M7A. The M10A was a little larger and significantly heavier than its elder sister.

Eoin Young says Trojan sold 20 M10As but then says they only built 17. Records from a parts supplier show that coil/shock units were supplied for M10A 300-01 to 300-26 but it looks like some of these must have been kept for spares or absorbed into the M10B production. As well as the Trojan production, assumed to have started at 300-01, there was a prototype car built by McLaren that carried the number M10A/1. The highest known number for a M10A is 300-16 but as new ones were appearing as late as December, that isn't a good guide. Production could be anywhere between 16 and 23.

All and any further help would be gratefully received. Please e-mail Allen if you can add anything.

Car	History	Current owner
McLaren M10A M10A/1	Paddy Driver's ex-Gethin McLaren M10A at Kyalami June 1970. Copyright David Pearson 2007. Used with permission. The tub of Tony Roberts' McLaren M10A nearing completion in August 2012. Copyright Tony Roberts 2011. Used with permission. Peter Gethin's works car in UK series 1969. Also taken to USA for three mid-season races: US 1969 R6-R8. Sold to Doug Serrurier for Paddy Driver (SA) 1970 (4 starts plus 1 DNS) and then crashed at Roy Hesketh 5 Jul 1970 and not raced again. Retained until May 2000 when bought by Duncan Fox and Tony Roberts of Group 7 Sportscars in New Zealand. Roberts took full ownership of the car in 2009 and - as of May 2011 - was working to have it completed for racing in 2012.	Tony Roberts (NZ) 2011
McLaren M10A 300-02	Unknown in 1969 but likely to be one of the cars entered at Round 1 for Eaton, Hansen or Barker. See the 1969 mystery cars. Poul Christie's son Graham is reported to have McLaren M10A 300-02 in July 2009.	Graham Christie (NZ) 2009
McLaren M10A 300-03	Unknown in 1969 but likely to be one of the cars entered at Round 1 for Eaton, Hansen or Barker. See the 1969 mystery cars.
McLaren M10A 300-04	Unknown in 1969 but likely to be one of the cars entered at Round 1 for Eaton, Hansen or Barker. See the 1969 mystery cars.
McLaren M10A 300-05	Mechanic Jonesy Morris in Motschenbacher's M10A at the team shop at Gardena, CA in 1969. Copyright Walter 'Jonesy' Morris 2011. Used with permission. Lou Pavesi's modified McLaren M10A at Laguna Seca at the start of the 1970 season. Copyright Mark Manroe 2006. Used with permission. Lothar Motschenbacher US 1969 (6 races crewed by Jonesy Morris). Motschenbacher didn't continue to the late-1969 Sebring race and Motschenbacher Racing Enterprises advertised two M10As on 1 Nov 1969, one five races old (presumably meaning his usual car which had raced six times) and one brand new. Could he have had two cars all season? Could he have had 300-02 or 300-03 as well as 300-05? That would explain Motschenbacher's car being the first to arrive (alongside Hansen's - but note that LM went to England to help with the build of his car and only just made the first race so 300-05 would fit better). Autoweek reported on 1 Nov 1969 that Ron Grable will race a ex-Motschenbacher M10A in the 1970 Tasman. Don Williams for Ron Grable (Mountain View, CA) Tasman 1970; for Lou Pavesi (Los Altos Hills, CA) US 1970; for Jon Milledge (Mountain View, CA) US late 1970 (1 race only, St Jovite 1 Aug: crashed heavily and needed new tub which Pavesi visited Trojan to buy); rebuilt and raced by Milledge US 1971 (#91, two early-season West Coast races only). Advertised Dec 1971 still with the shovel nose and side radiators. Subsequent history unknown.	Unknown
McLaren M10A 300-06	Spent 1969 acting as a show car in Australia. Graham McRae (NZ) "new" NZ GS late 1969 (debut R3 Bay Park 16 Nov 1969), [Vercoe says he had raced it in Europe] Tasman 1970 (Levin GP Jan 1970). Frank Radisich Tasman 1971 [Vercoe]. R Francevic Tasman 1972 [Vercoe]. Duncan Fox has spoken with Gary Pederson and Pederson confirms that he had M10A 300-6 and confirmed Duncan's research that this tub ended up in a children's playground and was eventually disposed of. Tony Garmey says he has found a car bearing this number in Seattle 2004.	'disposed of'
McLaren M10A 300-07	Roger McCaig's well-taped McLaren M10A at Mosport Park in 1969. Copyright Thomas Horat 2011. Used with permission. Dispatched by Trojan on 17 May 1969 to Roger McCaig (Can). John Cordts #55 1969 R6, Roger McCaig #55 R9, R11-R12; unraced 1970, 1971 - Howie Fairbanks 1972-1975 (also raced by Dick Kantrud R6 Elkhart Lake 29 July 1973 and by Jim Sechser at Road Race of Champions Road Atlanta 3 November 1973; presumably the McLaren raced by Sechser in 1975) - donated to French-Canadian motor museum 1977 - Yves-Luc Perreault (Quebec, Canada) 1984 and extensively restored; advertised Nov 1993 - 'Berrastaquin' (Dallas, TX) 1993 - Ron Mass (Atlanta, GA) 1997 - Andrew Simpson (Houston) Dec 1999 - Jesús Pozo (Madrid, Spain) Nov 2005.	Jesús Pozo (Spain) 2005
McLaren M10A 300-08	Dispatched by Trojan on 14 Jun 1969 to Nick Williamson (UK). See separate web page. Also: Roy Lane drove Johnty Williamson's "ex-Williamson N " M10A/B at Pontypool 1972 and was sixth (Mason p240). Johnty Williamson wins Brighton Speed Trials in ex-Sir Nick car Sep 1972. Johnty recalls driving this car from early 1972 to late 1973 when he sold it to Stephen Cuff ... Martyn Griffiths had a second M10B during 1975 (see M10B 400-07 above): used in British Hill Climb Championship but exact results unknown. One car advertised Sep 1975 and Mar 1976. Advertised as "used only in hill climbs and sprints since new" AS 25 Sep 1975 p57 (0562 62876) - Richard White: British Sprint Championship 1976 and 1977 - sold to Jack le Fort (London) ... According to John Venables' history of the car, it passed from Le Fort - David Hepperson or Hipperson 1977: used in speed events and libre - Tony Hildebrand 1985: raced in F5000 events at Brands Hatch, Snetterton and Thruxton; crashed by Bill Hall (Sheffield) - John Venables (Florida, US) 1989: shipped to US and rebuilt by Jim Eccles (Lakeland, FL). Advertised for sale in 1998/1999 and sold to Giles Greenfeild (US). Restored by Tony Garmey 2002. Retained 2004.	Giles Greenfeild (US) 2004
McLaren M10A 300-09	Dispatched by Trojan on 24 Jul 1969 to Bob Esseks (New York, NY) #0 R8-R9, ARRC (spare for Posey at R13?). Used in Nationals through 1970. Finished 2nd at 1970 ARRC. (Advertised by John L. Paul of Sherwood Services (New York, NY) 6 Mar 1971.) To Will Painter (Canton Country, CA) Dec 1970: US 1971 (seen only once: at R4 Mid-Ohio Grand Prix 5 Jul 1971) - Merle Brennan (Reno, NV) Dec 1971, apparantly replacing the M10A Brennan had used in 1971: US 1972 (2 California races), SCCA Nationals 1972 (at least three races; all won); US 1973 (2 West Coast races), SCCA Nationals 1973 (at least two races; at least one win) - Glenn Brown (Kent, WA) late 1973: raced in Pacific Northwest for two years - Jan Labell (Olympia, WA) Nov 1975: raced in Pacific Northwest for three seasons, winning SCCA NorPac FA title in 1976 and 1977 and breaking the Portland FA track record - via Tom Fredericks - Chuck Haines (Manchester, Missouri) Sep 1985 - former M10A racer Lou Pavesi (Los Altos, CA) Sep 1986: used in Vintage racing - Wes McNay and Henry Alexander (Menlo Park, CA) 1988: completely restored and raced in Vintage racing. McNay 4th overall and first in class at the Brian Redman International Challenge at Road America 18-20 July 2003. Sold to Dave Isselhard (Battle Ground, WA) Dec 2005 and raced in vintage racing in the US northwest with Oregon Region SCCA. For sale in March 2012.	Dave Isselhard (US) 2012
McLaren M10A 300-10	Frank Matich (Aus) late 1969; Tasman 1970 - Don O'Sullivan (entered by Team Matich) Tasman 1971 with Repco-Holden V8 (12th at Levin, DNS at NZ GP, 7th at Wigram then crashed at Teretonga and car destroyed). Parts later used in the Gardos F5000. See the thread on Lakeside 1971.	Destroyed
McLaren M10A 300-11	Unknown in 1969. See the 1969 mystery cars.	Unknown
McLaren M10A 300-12	Unknown in 1969. See the 1969 mystery cars. A car bearing this chassis number was with Daniel Lipetz (Vancouver, BC) 2006 who reports that the chassis was used to rebuild the Esseks 300-09 after a crash in 1970.	Daniel Lipetz (Can) 2006
McLaren M10A 300-13	Unknown in 1969. See the 1969 mystery cars.	Unknown
McLaren M10A 300-14	Unknown in 1969. See the 1969 mystery cars. Reappears 1991 when owned by Bill Schley (Hartland, WI). Bill had a bare tub and had been told that it was an unused spare. Sold later that year to Tom Frederickson. It became part of a package deal with three Can-Am cars which were restored one at a time with the F5000 getting lowest priority. At some point this work moved to Dan Gallant's Gallant Racing Supplies (Oakland, CA) and the owner was then said to be "a doctor in Sacramento". From 2002 to 2004, Gallant advertised a "complete but unassembled" M10 alongside a 'sold' Can-Am M6B and M8E 80-09 on a largely unchanged web page. The M10A was bought by Tim Arnett (San Jose, CA) early 2002. It has the original white paint covered by a Gulf paint scheme which was presumably done in the 1970-1973 timeframe. Retained 2005.	Tim Arnett (US) 2005
McLaren M10A 300-15	Bob Olthoff's McLaren M10A at Kyalami October 1970. Copyright David Pearson 2007. Used with permission Bob Olthoff SA 1970, 1971. Mike Domingo SA 1972. Became the Domingo's second car after the acquisition of M10B 400-18S in 1973. Domingo Brothers 1973 and maybe 1974. At some point caught fire and not used again. Second car thereafter used tub of 400-16(A) and parts from 300-15. The fate of the 300-15 tub is unknown and may have been destroyed.	Destroyed?
McLaren M10A 300-16	Garth McGillewie (SA) 1970 for South African series (3 starts in January then DNS at Roy Hesketh in March due to engine problems and not seen again). Sold back to England to Jack Lilley, backer of Fred Saunders' Crosslé, fitted with Rover V8 engine and raced by Jake Allport and Rob Taylor in UK series 1971. Advertised by Jack Lilley (Shepperton) "Rover V8 5-litre" "McLaren M0A/B" 15 Jun 1972. Andrew Carvell UK 1973: raced by John Bowtell (Witney, Oxon) UK 1973. Later advertised by Bowtell as McLaren M10B "ready to race sprint or hill climb. 5-litre Rover engine" through 1974. Sold to Simon Riley (Chiswick, London), sponsored by 'Monsieur Houbigant' cologne: British Hill Climb 1975 (9th at Bouley Bay 24 Jul 1975) and sprints 1975 (e.g. 2nd at Longton AS 27 Mar 1975 p50). 5.0 M10B-Rover AS 3 Apr 1975 p46. Wins at Curborough early April 1975 (picture) AS 10 Apr 1975 p51. Sold to John Peskett (Leicester) 1977; retained 2001 still in Houbigant colours.	John Peskett (UK) 2001
McLaren M10A 300-17	If Eoin Young is right that 17 were built and if 300-13 was built, the last production car would have been 300-17. There is no sign of this car and it is possible it became an early M10B instead. Could this be the reported John Bosomworth car? Or the replacement tub that Lou Pavesi bought for 300-05?	Unknown
McLaren M10A 300-18	If Eoin Young is right that 17 were built and if 300-13 was not built, the last production car would have been 300-18. There is no sign of this car and it is possible it became an early M10B instead.	Unknown

The 1969 mystery cars

As well as the cars mentioned above (Motschenbacher's 300-05, McCaig's 300-07 and Esseks' 300-09), six other M10As were seen in North America in 1969. These were presumably 300-02, 300-03, 300-04 (probably Eaton, Hansen and Barker); then 300-11, 300-12 and 300-14. This is exactly (but probably coincidentally) matched by six unknown M10As racing in the US.

Car	History	Current owner
McLaren M10A 'the Eaton car'	George Eaton in his McLaren M10A at Mosport Park in 1969. Copyright Thomas Horat 2011. Used with permission. George Eaton: US and Canadian series 1969 (#98 red, won at Mont-Tremblant 25 May 1969, second at Mosport Park 18 May 1969 - both in Canadian series - and third at Seattle 6 Jul 1969 in US series). First seen 20 Apr so likely to be chassis 300-02, 300-03 or 300-04. Advertised by Gary Magwood's Race Equipe CT&T June 1970. To Ludwig Heimrath US and Canadian series 1970 (7 races and 2 DNS) - Gregg Peterson (Sunnyvale, CA) US 1971 (one race only - R2 Laguna Seca 2 May 1971; advertised 4 Dec 1971) - Lou Pavesi US 1972. Unknown in 1973 and 1974 but apparantly unused. Phil Kreuger (Sausalito, CA) advertises a M10A 'incomplete roller' Autoweek 27 Sep 1975 and sells the car to Jim Jensen (Bay area, CA) who recalls that it had been crashed at Laguna Seca. Retained for many years until sold to Ian Fitz-Simon (Northern CA) in 2005. Being restored during 2006.	Ian Fitz-Simon (US) 2006
McLaren M10A 'the Hansen car'	Jerry Hansen (#44 probably orange) 1969 R1-R6, R8-R10 (DNS). First seen 20 Apr so 300-02, 300-03 or 300-04. Wrecked? Wolfgang: Hansen DNA at Lime Rock, says Autoweek. The magazine also reports that Hansen's McLaren was "wiped out" at Road America. But then Mahler has a car at R13 Sebring 28 Dec 1969 said to be "ex-Hansen". That race and John Mahler #96 1969 ARRC. Auto Racing's story on the 1970 Riverside Continental (written by George Wintersteen) says that Fred Baker (Mounds, MN) took fourth in the ex-Hansen M10A (crashed badly at Elkhart in 1969). Subsequent history unknown.	Unknown
McLaren M10A 'the Botsford car'	Entered by Pete Botsford for John Barker (Denver, CO) #6 entered at R1 (See AS 18 Apr 1969 p4) but not seen in the Championship or in SCCA racing until R10 (Retired - radiator). Entered as early as April 1969 so probably 300-02, 300-03 or 300-04 - or maybe 300-06 if the McRae car spent 1969 in the US. Not seen again after R10. See also the 1970 Ted Hummell advert. Wrecked in testing by Sam Posey. Sold to Barry Blackmore (San Marino, CA) who repaired it and raced in US series 1971 (first three races of season only). Sold to Vanguard Racing (Len Miller) for Benny Scott US 1972 (first seen winning SCCA National at Holtville Aerodrome 12 Mar 1972; 5 races in 'Pro' series: best result 14th at R5 Brainerd 29 Jul 1972). Subsequent history unknown but see the Duncan car below.	Unknown
McLaren M10A 'the Ward car'	John Ward (Saugus, CA) #35 1969 R4 (5th). First seen 22 Jun so probably not one of those first three (300-02, 300-03 or 300-04) but maybe 300-11 or 300-12. Reappears US 1971 as 'Nova' (2 races only: R1 Riverside 25 Apr and R4 Mid-Ohio 5 Jul). Subsequent history unknown.	Unknown
McLaren M10A 'the Posey car'	Sam Posey getting tangled up in his McLaren M10A at Mosport Park in August 1969. Copyright Thomas Horat 2011. Used with permission. Sam Posey (Sharon, CT) to replace a pair of wrecked Eagles: US 1969 (first race R7 Lime Rock 2 Aug, #1, 7 races, one win). Given the timing, this would probably have been chassis 300-11 or 300-12. Subsequent history unknown.	Unknown
McLaren M10A 'the Bouverat car'	Alan Bouverat (Palos Verdes Estates, CA) US 1969 (R13 Sebring 28 Dec 1969 only) , US 1970 (3 races - last seen R5 Sears Point 28 June 1970). Bouverat Racing's 15 Aug 1970 advert calls it a new car. Maybe 300-14? It's worth noting that Motschenbacher didn't continue to the late-1969 Sebring race and Motschenbacher Racing Enterprises advertised two M10As on 1 Nov 1969, one five races old (presumably meaning his usual car which had raced six times) and one brand new. Like Bouverat, Motschenbacher wore #11. Could Bouverat have bought Motschenbacher's brand new car?	Unknown

The 1970 mystery cars

The main mysteries are in the US but there might also be one in the UK. Nine cars had run in the US in 1969 and eight can be accounted for in the known end-of-season movements. Grable took over Motschenbacher's 300-05, McCaig retained 300-07, Esseks retained 300-09, Eaton's car went to Heimrath, Hansen's to Baker and Botsford's to Blackmore while Ward and Bouverat retained their cars. So only Posey's car goes missing. The ex-Botsford car spent 1970 being rebuilt by Barry Blackmore.

Just one unexplained car appears in 1970: John Bisignano doing a full season.

Meanwhile in England, John Bosomworth is reported to have taken delivery of a McLaren M10A to replace his Rover-engined M4B. Bosomworth crashed this car badly in August 1970 and Motoring News refer to it as a M10A. However, Autosport refer to the car at the same event as a M4B-Rover and it seems more likely that Bosomworth had retained his older M4-based car for 1970.

In October 1970, Ted Hummell (Englewood, CO) advertised a M10A. This may be the Barker or Bisgnano car.

The 1971 mystery cars

For 1971, Jon Milledge retained 300-05, McCaig still had 300-07, Will Painter acquired 300-09, Gregg Peterson acquired the ex-Eaton/Heimrath car, Palumbo Lees acquired the Bisignano car, Blackmore brought out the ex-Botsford/Barker car and John Ward also retained his car. The cars of Fred Baker and Bouverat both disappear but one new M10A driver appears: Merle Brennan in his first M10A.

The 1972 mystery cars

Six M10As continue service into 1972. Of the ones already covered, Howie Fairbanks buys 300-07, Brennan buys 300-09, Pavesi buys Peterson's ex-Eaton/Heimrath car, Len Miller and Benny Scott buy Blackmore's and Palumbo's car is retained. Of the other 1971 runners, Milledge's 300-05 and Ward both disappear. Brennan's 1971 car also disappears.

Fairbanks, Brennan, Pavesi, Scott and Palumbo are joined by Tony Settember in a highly modified M10A.

Car	History	Current owner
McLaren M10/18 'the Settember car'	Tony Settember's modified Mclaren M10 at Mid-Ohio in 1973. Copyright Mark Windecker 2005. Used with permission. The ex-Settember Mclaren M10 in further evolved form at Westwood in 1975 or 1976, presumably driven by Jim Mullins. Copyright Brent Martin 2011. Used with permission. Tony Settember's M10/18 in 1972: 'a much modified M10A chassis which had been cut front and back, lengthening the wheelbase by 5"' Motoring News report on Road Atlanta 1972. The car was prepared by Bruce Burness, who had been George Follmer's mechanic in 1971. Settember US 1972 (6 races); US 1973 (7 races; best finish 4th at final race at Seattle). Raced by Jim Mullins (Gresham, OR) in SCCA Northwest Regionals in 1974, leading at the Kent Regional 19 May 1974. Advertised Mar 1975 and presumably the same car raced by Mullins at Sears Point April 1976. In 1977, Fred W Cornelius (Reno, NV) bought a M18 from a man in San Francisco. It had prevously been raced by Tony Settember and was fitted with a sports car nose. This sounds like the Settember M10/M18. Cornelius ran it in Formula A in SCCA Regionals on the west coast from 1978 until 1980 when he sold it to former M10A owner Merle Brennan (Reno, NV). The car was crashed at Laguna Seca in 1981 or 1982 and destroyed by the ensuing fire. Cornelius recalls that it was buried at the landfill east of Reno. This may indeed be the accident that left Brennan with a head injury and in a burns unit for three months. Merle died on Christmas Eve 1996 after many years in a nursing home.	Scrapped?

The later mystery cars

In 1973, only Merle Brennan (300-09), Howie Fairbanks (300-07) and Tony Settember carry on with their M10As in pro races. After the end of 1973, no M10As appear again in pro races. Brennan's car goes to Glenn Brown and then to Jan Labell in the Pacific Northwest; Fairbanks keeps his until 1975 when it goes into a museum; and Settember's goes to Jim Mullin for 1974.

These histories last updated on 13 November, 2012 .