The McLaren M23 should be regarded as one of the all-time great Formula 1 cars. It has to be with three world titles - two drivers’ and one constructors’ — and 16 grand prix victories over a world championship career spanning a remarkable six seasons. That longevity makes it a kind of bridge between eras, not least because in its dotage the Cosworth-powered machine set a young Brazilian by the name of Nelson Piquet on the road to super-stardom.
The Gordon Coppuck-designed masterpiece was given its first start by Dennis Hulme, the 1967 F1 title winner, at the 1973 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. Yet its final world championship appearances came at the back end of 1978 with Piquet, a driver who was still racing - and winning - in F1 in 1991.
