Thanks largely to the McLaren Trust and the NZ Lottery Grants Board, Bruce McLaren’s M8A-2 has been restored to its former glory, and took centre stage at the Formula One exhibition at the national museum.
In 1959, aged just 22, Bruce McLaren became the first New Zealander, and the youngest driver, to win a Formula One Grand Prix in the United States. He carried on driving and designing cars until his untimely death in a car accident in 1970, aged 33.
Following several mishaps over the years, and even going missing a couple of times, the M8A-2 was finally discovered again and bought by the McLaren Trust – albeit slightly worse for wear according to Trust co-founder Jan McLaren (sister of Bruce).
Ironically, if it hadn’t been in such a derelict condition, and full of macrocarpa bits, Jan admits the Trust probably wouldn’t have been able to afford it!
Engineer and trustee Duncan Fox headed a team of volunteers in restoring the car – with support from three major sponsors: the NZ Lottery Grants Board, Sky City, and Trillion Trust.
