At last weekend’s Goodwood SpeedWeek, McLaren Automotive debuted the Elva Gulf Theme by the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) department which celebrates the renewed relationship between McLaren and the Gulf Oil brand.
McLaren and Gulf recently confirmed a new partnership that renews their union which dates back to the 1960s; a decade when both companies made their first forays into motorsport. Gulf branding appeared on McLaren’s Can-Am, Formula 1 and Indy cars from 1968 to 1973. Two decades later, McLaren’s F1 GTRs carried the famous Gulf livery in global GT racing, including the 24 hours of Le Mans. Under the new partnership, McLaren Automotive customers will have the opportunity to commission Gulf-liveried cars directly from MSO.
“The McLaren Elva Gulf Theme by MSO is a striking celebration of both McLaren’s history in sports car racing and our new partnership with Gulf Oil. McLaren Special Operations is committed to pushing the boundaries of the ‘art of the possible’ and projects like this showcase the increasingly extensive range of personalisation options we can offer customers – in this case, enhancing the authenticity of the livery by incorporating Gulf brand logos into the design,” McLaren Special Operations, Managing Director, Ansar Ali.
The 1.4 million pound Elva makes 815 hp and 800 Nm from a 4.0-litre twin turbo V8, capable of hitting 100 km/h from standstill in under three seconds and takes just 6.7 seconds to complete a 0 to 200 km/h run.
Its production numbers, however, have been the topic of scrutiny. McLaren started off by announcing that 399 units would be made but proceeded to revise that figure to 249 units. Now, they’re only making 149 units of the Ultimate Series roadster, making it one of the rarest McLarens ever produced. McLaren says that each car will have its own unique identity with an almost limitless degree of personalisation.
GALLERY
