VIN: the works / Ford Motor Company Lola Mk6 GT chassis LGT-1
History of chassis LGT-1
After the Mk6 GT prototype (LGT-P) had been completed with a steel monocoque, two additional examples were built with aluminium monocoques.
The first was LGT-1 which Lola retained for use as a works car. The second (LGT-2) was sold to Texan John Mecom Jr. for his privateer racing team.
Chassis 1 only made one competitive outing; the 1963 Le Mans 24 Hours.
The car was finished late and Lola boss, Eric Broadley, had to drive it to Le Mans on British trade plates.
He arrived at Le Mans a day after scrutineering should have taken place and Lola were fortunate to be accommodated by the ACO. However, the organisers deemed LGT-1 to have insufficient rear visibility and Lola were forced to make some frantic last-minute modifications.
The offending roof-mounted engine cooling ducts were removed and inlets were cut from each rear flank instead.
After much time lost, the team were finally cleared to race albeit after most of practice had been missed.
Richard Attwood and David Hobbs qualified 22nd out of 47 starters but the car had the wrong gear ratios and there was no time to change.
In addition to being 30mph slower than anticipated, the drivers weren’t able go full throttle down the Mulsanne Straight in case they over-revved the engine.
Attwood and Hobbs spent the first four hours of the race running just outside the top ten despite lost time for a slipping dynamo belt to be fixed.
By 2am, the Lola had climbed into the top ten but, soon afterwards, it began to experience gearbox difficulties. LGT-1 resumed following a two hour stop, however, the ‘box was still highly suspect.
At 5:30am, Hobbs went to downshift when the Lola jumped out of gear going into Tertre Rouge. LGT-1 left the road and crashed into the barriers with enough force to dislodge the front and rear bodywork.
Fortunately, David Hobbs escaped unhurt.
Lola’s Le Mans effort had not gone unnoticed by Ford. The American company had failed to buy Ferrari and were now planning a sports car programme of their own. They considered the Mk6 GT to be the perfect foundation and approached Broadley with a view to taking over the project.
Ford purchased chassis LGT-P and LGT-1 to act as mobile test beds for what would become the GT40.
Broadley was given a two-year deal to work as part of the GT40 design team alongside John Wyer and Roy Lunn.
LGT-P was returned to Lola when Broadley quit the Ford project after just twelve months.
LGT-1 was retained by Ford and later sold to a Japanese collector.
Notable History
Lola Cars
Green with Pale Blue centre stripe
Temporarily registered on British trade plate 0142 KE so it could be driven to Le Mans
16/06/1963 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (R. Attwood / D. Hobbs) DNF (#6) Broadley
Purchased by Ford Motor Company for GT40 testing and development
Later sold to Japan
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Lola Heritage - http://www.lolaheritage.co.uk
