McLaren M10B

Information

New to Niel Allen (Australia), who won on his debut in late 1969. Raced by Allen in the 1970 Tasman series, the 1970 Gold Star, and the 1971 Tasman. Allen then announced his retirement and the M10B, together with Allen's spare chassis, were advertised from 31 March to 7 May 1971. Sold to Kevin Bartlett (Sydney, NSW), and raced in the 1971 Australian Gold Star and 1972 Tasman, then taken to the US for a raced at Laguna Seca in May 1972. Then unknown until it appeared three years later with Gil Cameron (South Australia). The rear pontoons were cut off, and replaced with an A frame. The car was increasingly modified by Cameron over the next two years, and gained a wide sloping nose similar to a 1976 March, and side radiators in McLaren-like sidepods. He was last seen with the car in February 1977.

The car then passed to Don Elliott, and donated components to an Alfetta Chev sports sedan built for Elliott by K&A Engineering, and driven for him by Tony Edmondson. The car was enormously successful but highly controversial. After Elliott and Edmondson bought Elfin in the mid-1980s, the McLaren monocoque was stored at the factory.

Subsequent history unknown but reported to be one of the cars owned by Llynden Riethmuller (Sydney, NSW) in 2007. Riethmuller died in July 2009 and both his M10Bs were acquired from Riethmuller's family by Alan Hamilton in May 2011. Restored in time for the Mar 2013 Phillip Island Classic where it was driven by Alfredo Costanzo. According to Hamilton, it was owned by Tony Edmondson between Cameron and Riethmuller. Some pre-race reports said that Costanzo's car was chassis 400-19 and others that it was the ex-Bartlett car. Hamilton had acquired both cars.

When Alan Hamilton's two M10Bs were restored, one was dark green with an orange nose and the other was red with a green nose. The red M10B 400-02 was restored for Hamilton by Giuseppe 'Joe' Ricciardo during 2015 and was on display at Bathurst in October 2015. Alfredo Costanzo drove the red M10B at the Phillip Island Classic in March 2016, but swapped back to the green 400-19 during the event. Raced by David Hardman at VHRR Phillip Island Classic 11 March 2018.