In 1969, Bruce McLaren transformed his Can-Am racing car into the McLaren M6GT, a small and unconventional road-going supercar. The M6GT’s legacy continues to challenge the idea of what makes a car "daily usable." On the popular show Jay Leno's Garage, the scene of the American host attempting to enter a cream-colored M6GT under hot conditions is both amusing and revealing. Leno, known for his tall stature, had to bend over significantly to get into the car and then move it crab-like to avoid even minor road imperfections. According to AutoEvolution, the steering wheel was described as "terrible, terrible," and the steering was as light as a weightlifting bar. The M6GT represents a pivotal moment in McLaren's history. Before the iconic F1 model of the 1990s, Bruce McLaren had already aimed to convert a racing machine into a road-legal supercar. The M6GT was described as "a very high-performance car that could be used on the road." Its compact size made it seem almost impossible to enter without bending down. The car was based on the M6A, which had won the 1967 Can-Am championship, introducing the famous Papaya orange color of the brand. Bruce McLaren aimed to meet regulations requiring at least 50 units, but the threshold was later raised to 250, leading to the collapse of the industrial project. However, he continued with a personal prototype. The red coupé, registered as OBH 500H in the United Kingdom, was Bruce McLaren's daily driver in England. He used it for commuting and weekend racing. Under the hood was a 5.7-liter Chevrolet V8 engine producing 370 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque, transmitting power to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual ZF transaxle. The car's lightweight fiberglass body and rigid chassis kept the weight to 800 kg, allowing impressive performance for the time: 0 to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 265 km/h. The M6GT's size is immediately striking. At just 41 inches tall, or 1,041 mm, it is significantly smaller than modern supercars. Its compact dimensions make it appear almost like a white line on the road, with the bodywork skimming the ground. Getting into the car requires bending over and sliding under the windshield. The cockpit retains the race-car feel, with no compromises for comfort. Jay Leno experienced this firsthand during a test drive of a restored M6GT by McLaren Special Operations. He was warned of the heavy steering and firm clutch pedal before even buckling in. Under high temperatures, he had to move the car carefully to avoid road imperfections, highlighting the physical challenge of driving such a low-slung car. The M6GT program ended abruptly in 1970 when Bruce McLaren died at the age of 32 during a racing test. Only a few prototypes were completed, with the red coupé OBH 500H later sold to his friend Denny Hulme and eventually ending up in a private collection in Chicago. The car's rarity has made it a phantom model in McLaren's history, known to enthusiasts but rarely seen on the road. Decades later, McLaren Special Operations revived the M6GT's legacy by recreating its design using original molds and historical details. The new McLaren McL 6GT is a modern tribute, featuring a central carbon cell, twin-turbo V8 engine, and a limited production run of 500 units planned for 2028. The design honors the original's compact, driver-focused spirit, embracing it as a major milestone in McLaren's history.