McLaren M19A
 Peter Gethin driving the M19A, during the 1971 German Grand Prix. |
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
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| Constructor | McLaren Racing | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Ralph Bellamy | ||||||||
| Predecessor | M14A | ||||||||
| Successor | M23 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Aluminium monocoque. | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone. | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbone. | ||||||||
| Axle track | Front: 63.0 in (160 cm) Rear: 62.0 in (157 cm) |
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| Wheelbase | 100 in (254 cm) | ||||||||
| Engine | Ford-Cosworth DFV 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in) 90° V8, naturally aspirated, mid-mounted. | ||||||||
| Transmission | Hewland DG400 5-speed manual gearbox. | ||||||||
| Weight | 560 kg (1,235 lb) | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants |
Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Team Yardley McLaren Yardley Team McLaren |
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| Notable drivers |
 Denny Hulme Peter Revson Jody Scheckter Brian Redman
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| Debut | 1971 South African Grand Prix | ||||||||
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| n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only. |
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The McLaren M19A is a Formula One racing car built and run by McLaren in three World Championship seasons between 1971 and 1973. The C version (an extension of the A car) was used in the 1972 and 1973 seasons.
With Gordon Coppuck preoccupied by designing the McLaren M16 Indianapolis 500 car, the task of designing an all-new Formula 1 car for 1971 fell on Ralph Bellamy. The result was a distinctive car that was nicknamed "The Alligator Car". The pear-shaped cockpit sides that led to this nickname were a result of placing two of the car's three 15 imp gal (68 l) fuel tanks alongside the driver.
The M19A used inboard coilover shocks for the front and rear suspension, which were actuated through a swinging link that gave an increasing spring rate as the springs were compressed. This linkage was dropped in favor of a conventional system with the M19C. The M19A and M19C both used a mid-mounted Cosworth DFV V8 and Hewland 5-speed manual gearbox.
The McLaren M19A debuted at the 1971 South African Grand Prix with 1967 world champion Denny Hulme driving. Peter Gethin continued driving a McLaren M14A until a second M19A was built for the Dutch Grand Prix. Jackie Oliver took over driving the second McLaren for the Austrian Grand Prix after Gethin left to drive for BRM. Hulme scored the M19's first fastest lap at the Canadian Grand Prix, but a string of reliability issues had left McLaren placing only sixth in the Constructor's Championship.
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