McLaren unveils the 3-7-59 theme in a stunning tribute to motorsport glory

McLaren Automotive has unveiled a remarkable achievement in bespoke automotive artistry with the launch of the 3-7-59 Theme, a series of six limited-edition McLaren 750S supercars. This theme, a result of the meticulous craftsmanship of McLaren Special Operations (MSO), celebrates McLaren’s illustrious Triple Crown victories in motorsports. The unveiling, which took place at the luxurious Velocity Invitational motorsports festival in Sonoma Raceway, USA, saw the collaboration of McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris, IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward, and former McLaren F1 driver Derek Bell, alongside Michael McDonagh, Director of MSO and Motorsport at McLaren Automotive.

The 3-7-59 Theme, requiring over 1200 hours of painstaking labor to paint, symbolizes McLaren’s victories at the Indianapolis 500, the Monaco Grand Prix, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its name references the race numbers of the winning McLarens in these events: ‘3’ from the 1974 Indy 500 M16D, ‘7’ from Alain Prost’s 1984 McLaren MP4/2 at Monaco, and ‘59’ from the 1995 Le Mans-winning McLaren F1 GTR.

The livery of each car weaves together a vivid collage of these three iconic races, their winning cars, and the liveries they sported, representing a blend of McLaren’s racing heritage and contemporary design ethos. The exterior showcases over 20 colors, creating a mesmerizing visual narrative that starts with the key fob, adorned with hand-painted artwork mirroring the car’s exterior.

Front designs draw inspiration from the white and red livery of the McLaren MP4/2, including the ‘7’ race number subtly integrated into the F1 car’s expressive ‘shattered’ livery interpretation. The sides pay homage to the 1995 Le Mans-winning McLaren F1 GTR, exhibiting its grey color scheme, ‘59’ race number, and the bright green dot indicating its GT1 class participation.

At the rear, the ‘3’ race number in blue adorns the orange backdrop, reminiscent of the 1974 Indy 500 winner, transitioning into the F1 GTR’s grey scheme through a chequered flag effect. A novel blue ‘splash’ effect, achieved by a vector process, graces the other side, adding a dynamic three-dimensional appearance.

The car’s Satin Black ultra-lightweight Vortex alloy wheels feature brake calipers in blue, red, and Le Mans Gold, each symbolizing the colors of the Triple Crown winning cars. Additionally, McLaren introduces new interactive elements, such as three QR codes in the livery and an electrochromic MSO logo in the brake light, alongside reflective ‘3-7-59’ motifs.

Remarkably, the 3-7-59 Theme incorporates silver leaf exterior detailing, showcasing McLaren’s in-house gilding techniques. This is complemented by Triple Crown logos stitched into the headrests, debossed into the center armrest, and etched into the graphite Alcantara of the Carbon Fibre Racing Seats.

Inside, the theme continues with carbon fibre door trim featuring artwork from the seats, a painted 12 o’clock marker on the steering wheel, and hand-painted extended carbon fibre shift paddles. Underneath, the pedals are adorned with laser-etched artwork and ceramic coating, while the doorsills and dedication plaque add to the car’s unique tribute to McLaren’s Formula 1 and Monaco Grand Prix successes.

Each of these six 750S coupes or Spiders, already sold, is a moving masterpiece, a fusion of McLaren’s racing legacy and cutting-edge design, symbolizing the brand’s journey from the racetracks to the roads.