Ford Mustang McLaren M81: a powerful duo of two great manufacturers

Selling rare cars at auction attracts the richest people on the planet. Everything is fine with them, successful ones; chickens scatter money like dust. For happiness, a trifle is missing - some old typewriter. They are picky, however: they won’t take just anything.


In fact, it turns out that the rich and wealthy are well versed in old brands. And the purchased exhibits are protected and cared for, thus providing a service to humanity.

Event at Mecum auction in May 2023

The case is from last year, but resonant: the circles are still spreading across the water. Not all collectors found peace of mind. Although there was no intrigue, much less crime. But the automotive community, in that part of it that jumps up at the mere word “Mustang,” is still worried about the model under the M81 symbol.


It would be an irreparable loss for the global auto industry if the Ford Mustang McLaren M81 coupe had sunk into oblivion. But the car was put up for auction at Mecum, Indianapolis, and it left a connoisseur in good hands. For the caretaker, rub the Bittersweet Orange body until it shines golden.

Most likely, the Mustang McLaren will appear somewhere at auto shows, exhibitions, and fairs. The public will still admire the fruit of cooperation between two powerful players in the engineering business. The likelihood of a mere mortal seeing a car with his own eyes is negligible. And no one bothers us to remember the iconic thing of the second half of the 20th century. Let us add that the buyer of the rare lot was lucky: the odometer showed 895 km.

How the model came to be: the base Mustang

Let's start from afar, following the principle of “look to the root.” First there was Ford's Mustang. It is unlikely that the manufacturer himself imagined that the 1964 model would be an incredible, transcendental success.


But initially it was a pony car - a separate, purely American class of cars with a sporty design. Often, however, the appearance was simply stylized to look like sports.

But not in the case of the Mustang. Outstanding stylists worked here: David Ash and John Orosz. Their creation later earned the titles “cult” and “legendary”. And it was awarded a separate nameplate on the radiator grille in the form of a wild horse. A rare privilege for cars.

Actually, the phenomenon of the first Mustang is not entirely clear. A sensation occurred already at the first show in New York. Perhaps a well-structured promotion strategy played a role, but the car became desirable to millions.


The advertising campaign unfolded creatively and frantically, like that horse on the grid. Example: During one of the university football games in 1964, Ford rented a huge parking lot near the stadium. At the entrance there was a poster: “Mustang Corral.”

Due to the unification of the model with its predecessors Ford Falcon and Ford Fairlane, the price in the basic version was $2. A well-featured second-generation Mustang cost $368 thousand in 1979. Normal, by American standards.

The birth of the Ford Mustang McLaren M81

So, the years passed, the fame did not fade. Sales amounted to 400 thousand per year. The number is amazing. But the elegant and swift basic Mustang grew in size and became heavier. Lee Iacocca, president of the Blue Oval, once called the cars of the 70s "behemoths."

But it was not this disparaging nickname that became the impetus for the creation of the Mustang McLaren. In the same 70s, the company went through difficult times due to the oil crisis of 1973, which smoothly flowed into 1979. The entire world economy was in a fever.


At that time, it was 10 years since Ford had not participated in auto racing at a high level. It was necessary to get out of stagnation beautifully, loudly, effectively. A new model was needed.

Co-authorship

It was during this period, in the late 70s, that air emissions standards and fuel efficiency standards changed. Moreover, on a planetary scale. Multi-liter V8s did not fit the changed criteria.

Advanced engine technologies were needed. Who should you turn to for engine questions if not McLaren Engines? The organization, founded by the famous racing driver Bruce McLaren in 1969 in Detroit, was rightfully known as the best manufacturer of power units for racing cars.


To develop a new model and collaborate with McLaren Engines, the Blue Oval created the Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division. This is how a duet of great manufacturers emerged. The result of the collaboration was the Ford Mustang McLaren M81.

Review of the 1980 model

The car, in fact, falls under the tuning category. It was built on the Fox platform. The “trolley” has previously demonstrated reliability on the Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr models.


The car was supposed to be released on the tracks to participate in the IMSA championships, and it was not for nothing that they teamed up with the Formula 1 team. Next they planned to sell 250 M81 units for private use.

The body of the 3-door coupe was made load-bearing, and the wheelbase was stretched by 2550 mm. The body design gave the car advantages in light weight (1171 kg) and compact dimensions:

✅ Length - 4549 mm
✅ Width - 1854 mm
✅ Height - 1270 mm

At the same time, the interior remained spacious. The crew sat on Recaro car seats, and the racing steering wheel was from Racemark. The instruments for the prize were provided by the American company Stuart-Warner. In short, the interior was expensive, which affected the price tag and, subsequently, the fate of the model.


The car looked unusually muscular. The hood had a complex shape with a raised middle part and large air intakes.

Ford hired Creative Car Craft to create massive aerodynamic bumpers, a rear wing and wheel arch extensions. The listed parts are made of fiberglass. Connection to the road was provided by Firestone HPR 225/55R15 tires with BBS alloy wheels. Air conditioning was optional.

Technical part

The engine was the main task facing the tandem of manufacturers. The decision was brilliant. Since the V8 was considered undesirable, a 2,4-liter inline-4 engine was used. They added a Garrett T3 turbine, which could produce 0,3-0,7 bar. The pressure was regulated by the pilot from the cabin.

The characteristics turned out to be as follows:

✅ Volume - 2302 cm³
✅ Output power - 175 liters. With. at 5,4 thousand rpm
✅ Moment of force - 196 N * m at 3,0 thousand rpm

It turned out that the Ford Mustang McLaren M81 “did not notice” the loss in the number of cylinders and displacement. For its time, the car was a monster. Moreover, the performance indicators were also pleasing: speed – 210 km/h, acceleration to “9,8 km/h” – XNUMX seconds.


The engine was located longitudinally in front. Torque was transmitted to the rear drive wheels through an improved mechanical 4-speed transmission. The front suspension was independent on springs, and at the rear there was a dependent mechanism on springs. The equipment included reinforced anti-roll bars and Koni shock absorbers. The deceleration system consisted of front disc brakes and hydraulic rear drum brakes.

Technically, structurally and externally, the Mustang turned out to be a beauty. Manufacturers have already sent a prototype to IMSA auto racing. Unfortunately, the sports car had an accident at the beginning of the journey and came 21st. Failure would not break the spirit of the Ford people. But the model, as was evident from the lack of pre-orders, did not go through. The fault is the price of $25 thousand. No wonder: Bruce McLaren did not work for pennies.

Blue Oval's ambitions for a circulation of 250 pieces. faded away. The plant assembled only 10 M81 units. With the status of “rarest”, these things now cost incredible amounts of money.