One-of-Ten 1980 McLaren-Mustang for Sale

Rip on the Mustang II and its 140-horsepower 302 all you want, but the early Fox days were pretty bleak as well when it came to performance. In 1980, the only V8 available was a 4.2 putting out a downright-depressing 118 horsepower.

Like many manufacturers, Ford saw a savior in the form of smaller-displacement turbocharged engines, and the highest-performing Mustang powerplant was the 2.3-liter turbo, making 132 horsepower.

Seeing the potential almost immediately, ASC/McLaren began work on a project in the spring of 1980 to show the world what this turbo four could do. By disassembling, polishing, and blueprinting the rotating assembly, boost was adjustable up to 11 PSI, over twice the stock level. This resulted in anywhere from 175 to 190 horsepower (depending on who you ask) from the Garret T-3-fed 2.3.

The suspension was reworked with Koni adjustable shocks, police-spec swaybars from a Fairmont, and custom rate springs, with mega-wide BBS wheels filling out the extreme flared wheel arches well. Those incredible ’80s box flares are supplemented by several subtle aero touches that give the car a competition-ready look.

Inside, Recaro bucket seats faced a custom steering wheel and Stewart Warner gauges in the stock cluster, while an SCCA-approved rollbar added to the competition feel of the car. Each car had a numbered plaque on the dash.

This interesting footnote in turbo Mustang history paved the way for the ’84-’86 SVO and the current Ecoboost car. While 250 units were planned, just ten McLaren M81s were produced, with this one apparently being the last one built. Find it here on Craigslist for a hair shy of $46,000.

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Cameron Vanderhorst

Cam VanDerHorst has been a contributor to Internet Brands' Auto Group sites for over three years, with his byline appearing on Ford Truck Enthusiasts, Corvette Forum, JK Forum, and Harley-Davidson Forums, among others. In that time, he's also contributed to Autoweek, The Drive, and Scale Auto Magazine.
He bought his first car at age 14 -- a 1978 Ford Mustang II -- and since then he’s amassed an impressive and diverse collection of cars, trucks, and motorcycles, including a 1996 Ford Mustang SVT Mystic Cobra (#683) and a classic air-cooled Porsche 911.
In addition to writing about cars and wrenching on them in his spare time, he enjoys playing music (drums and ukulele), building model cars, and tending to his chickens.
You can follow Cam, his cars, his bikes, and his chickens at @camvanderhorst on Instagram.
When he's not busy working on his Harley-Davidson bike, the vastly experienced writer has covered an array of features, reviews, how-tos, op-eds and news stories for Internet Brands' Auto Group and is also a co-founder and co-host of the popular podcast Cammed & Tubbed.

Check him out on Instagram at: Camvanderhorst.

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