Old McLaren newspaper ad

Dillon · Post by **Dillon** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 8:23 am

Hey guys, I haven't posted here in a long time, but I recently came across this ad for my dad's old car, and I thought you guys would like to see it. Sorry it's so small; I have a bigger version of it if you're interested.

Here's an enlarged picture of just the car.

The ad is from a Greenville, TX newspaper in 1982. I'm pretty sure that this is not a real McLaren, but rather a conversion done at a dealership. My dad bought one of the few they had. (That's NOT him standing next to the car.) Unfortunately, he sold it in the early 90s. I'm still looking for more information on the car, and eventually I'd like to locate it, if it's still out there. But I have no idea how I'd go about doing that, because I don't have the VIN. I do have the old license plate number though. Think there's a way to find it? I would definitely buy it if I could. I'm going to ask him tomorrow if he has any pictures left of it.

Edit: I remember now that it definitely is a conversion. It started out as a Mustang LX with a 4-cylinder in it. Then they added the McLaren body kit and a 5.0. Apparently it had Capri tail lights as well. The thing is, I wasn't aware that they made McLaren Mustangs with this body style in '82.

ASCMCLRN · Post by **ASCMCLRN** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 12:24 pm

In '82 it was called the Enduro GT and looked identical to the M81.

-Nick

Dillon · Post by **Dillon** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 6:04 pm

Oh really? I can't seem to find much information on the GT Enduros...most of the stuff that turned up was related to watches, dirt bikes, or gokarts. The M81s were the race prepped McLarens, right? In which case, his car definitely was not. It's good to know that they existed back then, though. So any ideas on how I'd go about finding the car?

Edit: Nevermind, I see now that you said it "looked" identical to the M81.

ASCMCLRN · Post by **ASCMCLRN** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:39 am

Dillon wrote:Oh really? I can't seem to find much information on the GT Enduros...most of the stuff that turned up was related to watches, dirt bikes, or gokarts. The M81s were the race prepped McLarens, right? In which case, his car definitely was not. It's good to know that they existed back then, though. So any ideas on how I'd go about finding the car?

Edit: Nevermind, I see now that you said it "looked" identical to the M81.

If you like to learn a little more goto the website below. It might clear some things up for you and discusses the M81.

Nick

www.gt-enduro.com

Kendal Coker · Post by **Kendal Coker** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:45 am

A guy at a car show told me he had seen a white McLaren in Texas, since I have the only white M81 and know where it had been all of its life I thought he was crazy. Due to the add you have posted there could have been a look alike. Thats very interesting. By the way what color was your Fathers. later Kendal

RARE-ASC · Post by **RARE-ASC** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 2:54 am

I would bet the car in ad started out as an 82 5.0 GT or GLX 5.0 I would find it hard to believe they would swap engs rear ends and trannys to put this pkg out "not cost effective"

Dillon · Post by **Dillon** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:39 am

It was black with a gold bottom. It also had different rims on it, instead of what's pictured there. Kind of like this:

It didn't have that wing, though. And as I was saying earlier, it had Capri tail lights. That I'm positive about. I can't say that I know for a fact that it started out as an LX, becauase I wasn't even born when he got it, but that's what he's always told me. Did they make a 5.0 LX back then? I'll ask him tomorrow if he can dig up some pictures for me, and if he knows anything else about the origins of the car.

Kendal Coker · Post by **Kendal Coker** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:13 pm

RARE-ASC wrote: I would bet the car in ad started out as an 82 5.0 GT would find it hard to believe they would swap engs rear ends and trannys to put this pkg out "not cost effective"

My M81 Started out as a regular 4cy car and had the turbo 4 installed. Not sure about the trans and rear end. All of the vin numbers of the M81 Mclarens have a "A" for the engine code which is a regular 4cy.

RARE-ASC · Post by **RARE-ASC** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 5:12 pm

Correct as i know on the M-81

But this car we are discussing was advertized as a 5.0 see the factory wheel hop bars and 5.0 emblem on hood. And 5.0 in ad and most likely has the SROD 4-Speed. Most def a GT or GLX 5.0.

Post by **negusm** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 6:18 pm

Maybe it was purchased with the "DSO McLaren" kit? I am not sure but what I have heard is that the DSO McLaren program never materialized.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:55 pm

The sum of the total of a complete COMPLETE kit + assembly + paint & finishing was way over the top of the typical "interested party" ~ a couple or three dealers bought the most obvious peices (exterior) and had their body shop make them up, but even they chilled at the total finished product, and only took the most visable major parts.