Haynes Owners’ Workshop Manual: McLaren M23
By Ian Wagstaff
The first ever publication to bear the name Haynes Owners’ Workshop Manual was for the Austin-Healey Sprite, and published in the mid 1960s. The original objective of the books was to show owners how to strip, rebuild, repair and maintain their particular vehicle. Most were written with the full co-operation of the relevant manufacturer.
Now, while keeping loosely to the original Workshop Manual ethos, Formula One racing cars have become a popular subject. The first of these was the 2010 Red Bull RB6-Renault, but it naturally gave only a skin-deep synopsis, rather short on technical detail. Although author Steve Rendle did a reasonable job, it didn’t really live up to the historical standards. The baton of author was passed to Ian Wagstaff whose first subject was the Lotus 72. The book was filled with technical and historical data together with well researched photographs giving a full appreciation of the car and the various chassis developments.
Wagstaff also authored this further book on the McLaren M23, a rather topical car given the 50th Anniversary of the marque and the recent release of the movie Rush. The M23 was McLaren’s answer to the 72, a strong, adaptable machine that lent itself to development. It took Emerson Fittipaldi to his second World Championship in 1974, and much the same car helped James Hunt win the crown in ’76. While similar to the Lotus book, Wagstaff has supplemented this information with interviews from some of those who drove the cars in period and many of those who worked on them.
Available for US$32.95 / £21.99 from publisher Haynes at www.haynes.com
