McLaren To Debut 12C Can-Am Racing Concept At Pebble Beach

McLarens 12C Can-Am concept image: McLaren GT

The Canadian-American Challenge Cup, or Can-Am series for short, was an SCCA-sanctioned sports car racing series held in the United States from 1966 to 1974, then again from 1977 to 1986. In its prime, the series featured some of the worlds best drivers, competing in some of the worlds fastest cars, like the Lola T-70, the McLaren M8 and the Porsche 917/30KL.

Except for an attempted revival in 1998 (that ultimately led to the creation of todays Grand Am series), the name has been dormant for decades. Still, it carries a lot of emotional ties to motorsports in North America, which is probably why McLaren chose to tag its latest MP4-12C concept with the Can-Am name. The automaker has certainly earned the right to do so, as McLaren took the Can-Am championship from 1967 through 1971.

McLarens 12C Can-Am concept image: McLaren GT

For now, the McLaren 12C Can-Am Edition is a one-off concept, designed to be the ultimate track car. As it wasnt designed for a particular series, the designers werent hampered by regulations on horsepower, weight or aerodynamics, which likely means the concept is fasted than the 12C GT3 race car its based on.

McLarens 12C Can-Am concept image: McLaren GT

Output is said to be some 630 horsepower, making the 12C Can-Am concept the most powerful variant built to date. Weight is reduced to 1,200 kilograms (2,646 pounds), and a unique aero package increases downforce (and grip) by 30 percent.

McLarens 12C Can-Am concept image: McLaren GT

Sprayed in McLaren Orange as a tribute to McLarens dominant Can-Am cars of the late 1960s, the 12C concept also gets a track-ready cockpit, including racing seats with six-point harnesses, a race-spec rollcage and the same steering wheel thats fitted to the 12C GT3 racers.

While McLaren calls the car a concept, were sure its being shown to gauge interest in a track-day MP4-12C model. If enough Pebble Beach attendees say build it, chances are good that McLaren will listen.

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Cadillac bringing pair of Depression-era cars that went unsold to Pebble Beach

In the 1930s, if you had the means, you could have custom coachbuilder Fleetwood fabricate a one-of-a-kind Cadillac just the way you like it. Well-heeled customers would peruse a build book to pick and choose the accoutrements they most liked. About 15 months later, their custom-bodied Cadillac would be delivered for their enjoyment.

In Fleetwood's 1934 build book were drawings for a stunningly classy dual-cowl Phaeton and a supremely gorgeous rumble-seat roadster. Both were to be built on Cadillac's V-16 chassis but neither were ever ordered. Even during the Great Depression it's hard to imagine how these two cars could have been passed over.

But in 1984, classic car restorer Fran Roxas took a 1930s Cadillac chassis with the 185-horsepower 452-cubic-inch overhead-valve V-16 and created the Phaeton and then the roadster a few years later. In February of this year, the Phaeton sold at auction for $962,500, the roadster for $1,001,000.

Both will be on display at Pebble Beach this weekend sitting next to the Ciel Convertible the two cars inspired.

"The Cadillac Phaeton 5859 and Roadster 5802 are literally unlike any other vehicle ever built," Clay Dean, Cadillac design director, said in a press release (see below). "The Cadillac design team is still inspired by these two vehicles as we dream and conceive of future Cadillac entries."

Hemmings thinks there might have been two reasons why these cars were never built. First, Fleetwood wouldn't have built them on spec due to the enormous expense. Instead, someone would have needed to order and pay for them in advance only to wait the 15 months for delivery. That brings up the second reason they may never have been built. No one wanted to pay the exorbitant amount of money just to take delivery of a car that was at least one model year behind their neighbors' new rides.
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