1979 McLaren M24B Indianapolis
McLaren M24B chassis 001 served as the backup entry for three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford's 1979 CART season campaign, making it part of the final McLaren factory programme at Indianapolis before the team's 2017 return. After a period in private ownership during which it was repainted McLaren Orange for a promotional role, Rutherford himself tracked the car down and reacquired it, returning it to its Budweiser livery. The chassis has accumulated few race miles and survives in well-preserved, as-restored condition.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$214,500
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1981Bodywork
Car refinished in McLaren Orange to support promotional work connected with the McLaren Mustang programme.
- —Engine rebuild
The DFX engine was stripped and fully gone through after Rutherford reacquired the chassis.
Work carried out during Rutherford's ownership following reacquisition from the Indiana collector.
- —BodyworkA.J. Foyt
Car repainted from McLaren Orange back to its original Budweiser livery by A.J. Foyt.
Foyt, described as an Indianapolis legend, carried out the livery restoration personally or through his organisation during Rutherford's ownership.
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