McLaren 650S Liberty Walk Build – A Journey of Passion

Discover the journey behind the Liberty Walk McLaren 650S build—an 11-month saga of passion, patience, and perseverance. From sourcing rare parts to last-minute fixes, this exotic car build was no easy feat.

Paul Doherty

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McLaren 650S Liberty Walk Build

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Kelli Tolbert

LBWK McLaren 650s

Instagram: @lbwkc8

The Road to the McLaren 650S Build

Over the years of building Liberty Walk cars, my husband and I have forged a strong friendship with Long Tran (LTMW) of LT Motorwerks. This connection led to my latest and most challenging build yet. One day, Long called me unexpectedly with an intriguing proposition—he had come across a McLaren 650S with only minor damage and thought of me first, knowing I had been looking for one to turn into another Liberty Walk masterpiece.

Intrigued, I wasted no time. The first step was flying a mechanic out to Michigan to inspect the car. After a thorough assessment, he gave us the green light—well, sort of. The body cosmetics didn’t concern me much since I planned to widebody the car anyway. Once the deal was finalized and transportation was arranged, the real journey began. Little did we know what we had truly signed up for.

McLaren 650S Liberty Walk Build

The Unexpected Challenges Begin

From the moment we started, it felt like one thing after another. While the main components of the vehicle were in great shape, it was the smaller, unexpected issues that added up quickly. We decided to go through the entire car meticulously, ensuring there were no hidden surprises. Additionally, since the car was already being disassembled, we took the opportunity to upgrade several components along the way.

What should have been simple fixes turned into time-consuming obstacles. Finding a new passenger-side front headlight turned into a week-long Easter egg hunt, scouring salvage yards and searching for wrecked 650S models in hopes of sourcing the parts we needed. Since we were adding the Liberty Walk widebody kit, some components required customization. To complicate matters further, we had to order parts from Europe, which meant enduring long wait times.

Despite these hurdles, we pressed on.

A smashed McLaren 650S Liberty Walk Build

Customization and Innovation

One of the most exciting parts of the build was working with Rohana Wheels on a unique design. I had a vision, and Angela and her team at Rohana brought it to life. The final product was breathtaking—exactly how I had envisioned it. After eleven months of relentless work and thousands of hours poured into this build, she was finally ready for Monterey Car Week. Or so we thought.

The Final Hurdles – Testing Patience and Perseverance

Just when we thought we had overcome all obstacles, she sprung a leak. The coolant hose clamps had come loose, testing my patience yet again. But despite the setback, we made it to Monterey. Then, on the way back, the accumulators blew out, sending her right back to the shop.

With the help of Trofeo Imports, we addressed the issue and installed new suspension and springs from Swift Springs. The next big event? SEMA. But, of course, the journey wasn’t over yet. After SEMA, the alternator failed, leading to yet another round of fixes. More suspension adjustments followed, reinforcing why we decided to nickname her McMoneyPit.

Throughout this entire process, my husband was my rock, offering unwavering support. I couldn’t have done it without Long, the incredible LTMW team, and Ben at Trofeo Imports. Looking back, the nickname almost feels unfair because, for the past few months, she has been running flawlessly. Now, it has simply become an inside joke among those who know the full story.

McLaren 650S Liberty Walk Build

The Lesson Learned – Exotic Cars Are No Joke

The moral of this journey? Exotic cars are no joke. They require a tremendous amount of work, patience, and financial investment. But would I trade her for anything? Absolutely not. She is stunning, exhilarating to drive, and represents an unforgettable experience.

For now, we’re taking a break from new builds… Maybe.