Winged Winner

1972 McLaren M16 Donohue Indy 500 Winner/Revson Indy 500

1:18 | $200 ea.

When you think of a modern Indycar, you can thank Gordon Coppuck and McLaren Racing for the car you picture in your head. Heavily influenced by the Lotus 72 that dominated Formula 1 at the time, the M16 featured a similar sleek-wedge profile with sidemounted radiators, but rather than nimble handling, the McLaren was optimized for high speeds around the famed Brickyard. Mechanical innovations included a revolutionary Hewland 3-speed gearbox that gave the big 2.6-liter Offenhouser (Offy) engine better acceleration out of the pits. The suspension was moved inward to reduce aerodynamic drag. Wide front-mounted wings increased front downforce, balanced by the large high-mounted rear wing that sat behind the rear tires—a design that is universal now, but in 1971, it was radical stuff. The 1971 Indy 500 showed proof of concept, and the M16 left many of the other racing teams aghast at the speed and agility the new design had. In the hands of Penske drivers Mark Donohue and Peter Revson, the car dominated qualifying, but mechanical issues denied them the win. Penske and McLaren knew their design was sound, and with a year to refine reliability, they proved it, with Donohue winning the 1972 Indy 500. Replicarz has replicated the two M16s in 1:18 as part of its growing Indycar series. The removable top hatch allows you to see the detail in the engine bay, and the faithfully replicated body and chassis allows you to study in detail just how revolutionary the design was. The scale version is a winner every bit as much as Donohue’s original was.—