VIN: the David Prophet McLaren M6 GT chassis M6GT-2 R
History of chassis M6GT-2 R
Chassis M6GT-1, which would become Bruce McLaren’s personal street car, was completed in early 1970.
By this time, Trojan (who had the contract to build McLaren’s customer cars) had already delivered the first competition example: chassis M6GT-2 R.
The M6 GT was based on M12 underpinnings and M6GT-2 R was built up from chassis M12-60-15.
The buyer of M6GT-2 R was British privateer, David Prophet. Prophet was a successful motor trader from Birmingham. He began racing in 1959 and initially ran machinery from Austin-Healey, Elva and Kieft.
In 1963, Prophet moved up to a Brabham BT6 single seater and a Lotus 23. He purchased his first McLaren in 1965 (a McLaren Elva Mk1) which was followed by a Mk2 in 1966. These were superseded by a Ferrari 250 LM for 1967.
Prophet’s M6 GT would replace a Lola T70 Mk3 GT and Ford GT40 Mk1 that he had raced in 1968.
Along with several other individuals that placed orders with McLaren, David Prophet had hoped to run his new M6 GT at the Silverstone International Trophy Meeting in March 1969. However, delays at the factory meant the Silverstone event was missed. When it became clear the M6 GT would not be homologated into Group 4 for 1969, all the other potential customers cancelled their orders.
M6GT-2 R was delivered to David Prophet in late April of 1969. As an un-homologated Prototype with five-litre Chevrolet engine, it could not compete in the World Sportscar Championship or any other FIA-sanctioned event. This left Prophet with just a handful of stand-alone Group 7-type races to pursue along with the Special GT Championship in Britain where practically anything was permitted.
Prophet campaigned M6GT-2 R in half a dozen races in 1969. However, aside from a Special GT win at Crystal Palace, he encountered little success.
After a race at Wunstorf in August 1969, Prophet had M6GT-2 R converted to full Group 7 M12 specification.
In this configuration he ran it three more times in 1969 (posting three DNFs).
Prophet continued to race the car in 1970 when he had a little more success and picked up a couple of podium finishes.
Prophet also acquired a McLaren M10B Formula 5000 car for 1970 which he raced a couple of times. For the 1971 season, he exclusively ran the M10B and chassis M6GT-2 R was retired from active duty.
Prophet subsequently converted the car back to a Coupe and sold it to his friend, Bill Bradley. Bradley in turn sold M6GT-2 R to Andre Fournier in Canada.
Notable History
Sold to David Prophet, Birmingham (David Prophet Ltd.)
01/05/1969 IND Magny-Cours (D. Prophet) DNF (#82)
04/05/1969 IND Dijon (D. Prophet) DNF (#3)
29/06/1969 IND Norisring 200 mile (D. Prophet) DNF (#9)
13/07/1969 IND Hockenheim Solituderennen (D. Prophet) ran (#4)
02/08/1969 SGT Crystal Palace (D. Prophet) 1st oa (#29)
17/08/1969 IND Wunstorf (D. Prophet) DNF (#51)
Converted to M12 specification
13/09/1969 IND Crystal Palace (D. Prophet) DNF (#??)
27/09/1969 IND Zandvoort Dunes Trophy (D. Prophet) DNF (#1)
12/10/1969 MGT Thruxton (D. Prophet) DNF (#??)
19/10/1969 IND Hockenheim Hessenpreis (D. Prophet) 18th oa (#42)
28/06/1970 INT Norisring (D. Prophet) 14th oa (#15)
05/07/1970 INT Hockenheim (D. Prophet) 16th oa (#3)
11/07/1970 INT Croft (B. Bradley) 4th oa (#4)
14/07/1970 IND Magny-Cours (D. Prophet) 2nd oa (#??)
19/07/1970 IND Diepholz (D. Prophet) 2nd oa (#188)
16/08/1970 IND Wunstorf (D. Prophet) 8th oa (#11)
20/09/1970 INT Thruxton (D. Prophet) 8th oa (#12)
11/10/1970 INT Hockenheim (D. Prophet) DNF (#74)
18/10/1970 IND Nurburgring (D. Prophet) DNF (#6)
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: McLaren - https://www.mclaren.com
