Honoring the first F1 win during the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, exactly 50 years ago, McLaren's special division, MSO, revealed a Special Edition McLaren 720 S Spa 68. Commissioned by McLaren Brussels, the latest special edition 720S joins numerous other SE models. I am quite sure that McLaren makes a whole lot of money on its SE cars. I can't even imagine how expensive some of them will be in 20 or 30 years time. Nevertheless, crafting yet another Special Edition McLaren 720S, MSO division tried to tie the new 720S with the old orange McLaren M7A racer Bruce McLaren drove back then to claim the first F1 win for the McLaren.

The car you can see in the photos is a part of the 720 S Spa 68 Collection. Three cars will be built - all for McLaren Brussels.

Exterior

Nearing the McLaren 720S Spa 68 to its spiritual predecessor, McLaren Special Operation painted it in Anniversary Orange. It is a subtle detail that can go a long way in the circles of car enthusiasts. As a final touch, the exterior has been garnished with the fine set of unique wheels. In black of course.

Interior

Contrasting the touch up on the exterior, the inside of the 720S features an all-black ambiance broken by a fine orange outline of the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack on the headrests.

Back then, the Spa-Francorchamps Formula 1 race had been held at a 14-kilometer track. That one is outlined. Not the new one with 7 kilometers of length. An obvious link to the first Formula 1 McLaren win comes as a courtesy of the sill inscription. Orange letters inscribed on top of the carbon-fiber read:

-* 1st McLaren F1 Victory

-* Belgian Grand Prix - 9th June 1968

-* Driver: Bruce McLaren

-* Straightforward. Just as McLaren likes it.

Apart from that, the cabin features a unique plaque that says SPA ‘68 Collection 1 of 3.

I like this detail the most. Somehow, all the way from my first experiences with cars, I wanted every car to have some kind of special key. BMW did it best among the ordinary cars, and I have to admit that this one is special in its own right. It is a conversation starter. That should be the main task of any key to any special car.

Drivetrain and Performance

As expected, in linking the new car with the old racer MSO focused only on stylistic improvements. In that case, the powertrain remained the same as before. Nothing to bat an eye at, mind you.

The 4.0-liter, twin-turbo, V-8 cranks out 710 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque - figures that make the 720S one of the most brutal supercars today. Believe it or not, this is not that important. I think that what's far more important is the fact that this supercar lapped the ‘Ring in 7 minutes and 14 seconds. That’s epically quick.

How did McLaren fare in F1?

With the first win in Formula 1, the McLaren Formula 1 started an epic adventure that brought it eight constructor championships and as many as 12 drivers Championships. I mean, this is probably one of the most important names in the whole Formula 1 business. So, this special edition McLaren 720S Spa 68 is crucial for any serious car collector. Two of them have been sold. One is still available. Hurry up.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 McLaren 720S.

Read our full review on the 2018 McLaren 720S Velocity.