 Denny Hulme (1936–1992) in a McLaren M7A at the 1968 United States Grand Prix | |||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | McLaren | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Robin Herd Gordon Coppuck | ||||||||
| Predecessor | McLaren M5A | ||||||||
| Successor | McLaren M9A / McLaren M14A | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Aluminium alloy and magnesium alloy monocoque | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Upper and lower top links, radius arms and outboard coilover springs and dampers | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Lateral top links, twin radius arms, reversed wishbones and outboard coilover springs and dampers | ||||||||
| Engine | Ford-Cosworth DFV 2993cc V8 naturally aspirated Mid-engine, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Hewland DG300 5-speed manual | ||||||||
| Fuel | Shell (McLaren) Gulf (Anglo) | ||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear (McLaren) Dunlop (Anglo) | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Bruce McLaren Motor Racing, Anglo American Racers | ||||||||
| Notable drivers |  Bruce McLaren Denny Hulme Dan Gurney (Anglo) | ||||||||
| Debut | 1968 Spanish Grand Prix | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 (Best: 2nd – 1968) | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
The McLaren M7A and its M7B, M7C and M7D variants were Formula One racing cars, built by McLaren and used in the world championship between 1968 and 1971. After two relatively unsuccessful years of Formula One competition, the M7A was used to score McLaren's first win at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix.
Designed by Robin Herd and Gordon Coppuck, the M7A was the first McLaren to be powered by the Cosworth DFV engine, which went on to be used by the team until 1983. The M7B was a development of the M7A (chassis M7A/3), and had outboard fuel tanks riveted to the existing bath-tub monocoque to house the fuel bags, along with wrap-over panel-work similar to the M10, thus creating an interim full-monocoque chassis. The M7C was effectively a Formula 5000 M10A chassis with the horn removed at the rear of the cockpit to enable the fitment of the DFV engine, whilst the M7D was powered by an Alfa-Romeo engine.
The M7A made its Grand Prix debut at the second race of the 1968 world championship. After its victory in Belgium, it took another two wins that year, helping to place McLaren second in the Constructors' Championship.