The M8E was the Trojan production car for the 1971 season, the M8F designation went to the Team McLaren works cars. The M8E body shape was based on a combination of the M8B and M8D. The M8E has a 4-inch narrower track, with a smaller more robust fiberglass body than the M8D and instead of the side fins, it had a low strut supported rear wing, making a weight savings of 22 pounds. The prototype M8E was tested briefly by Denny Hulme at Goodwood in 1970 before the batch of customer cars were built.