1980 MCLAREN M29

Unregistered
Competition vehicle

- In the collection of the Manoir de l'Automobile since 1998
- Powered by the legendary Cosworth V8
- From one of the greatest racing teams in history
- An exciting project
- No reserve

At the end of the 1970s, Formula 1 was in turmoil. The ever more numerous French drivers were increasingly competitive, while Renault crushed the supremacy of Cosworth's V8 with its 1.5L V6 turbo. For McLaren, life was more complicated. After the titles won by Fittipaldi (1974) and Hunt (1976), the company was in a slump. It would be the end of 1980 and the takeover of the team by Ron Dennis before McLaren's star would shine again.
The single-seater from the Manoir de l'Automobile, which we are proud to present, is an M29, the archetypal F1 from this period. Designed by Gordon Coppuck, the M29 has an aluminium monocoque chassis and a 3-litre Cosworth DFV V8, mated to a Hewland gearbox modified by McLaren. By deductive reasoning, this could be chassis no. 3C, has a fascinating history. The full story of all five M29 chassis is told in Autocourse. The famous English yearbook relates that chassis no. 3, which later became 3C, made its début in South Africa and was damaged by Prost during testing. It served as a spare car for the French, British and German Grands Prix, where Watson drove it on the Friday and Saturday mornings. Watson also drove it in the race at the Austrian Grand Prix and damaged it when he ran off the track during testing for the Dutch Grand Prix.
After the 1980 season, the car was given to the French subsidiary of the title sponsor, the cigarette company Marlboro. It was then bought directly from Marlboro by M. Duval, a leading French collector and magazine publisher. It was from Duval that Michel Hommell, the famous French publisher and media proprietor, acquired the car in 1998, to add to his fabulous hall of F1 cars at the Manoir de l'Automobile in Lohéac. Mr Duval confirmed that it was indeed an M29, as the car had most likely been driven at the time, given the signs of wear and tear on the hull. It is however impossible to confirm the hull number, the chassis plate having been removed after the car was acquired from Marlboro.
Exhibited since 1998 at Lohéac, the McLaren joined a collection of 18 F1 cars. Its Cosworth engine and the gearbox are incomplete, and the car will need a full restoration. Probably, Driven by the phlegmatic John Watson and a young Alain Prost, the M29 shows signs of use and will make an exciting project for any lover of Formula 1 looking to own one of the last McLarens with an aluminium monocoque before the advent of carbon-fibre.

Photos © Romaric Croisile

The auction of this lot will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
https://www.artcurial.com/fr/lot-1980-mclaren-m29-no-reserve-4134-215