VIN: the Ulf Norinder / Solar Productions Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/141
History of chassis SL76/141
Ulf Norinder was a wealthy Swiss privateer whose grandfather manufactured Lakerol pastils and lozenges.
By 1968, Norinder had owned and raced a variety of cars to include a Maserati 200 S, two Ferraris (a 500 Mondial and 250 GTO) and three Porsches (a 356 Carrera, 718 RSK and 906).
For the 1968 season, Norinder purchased a new Lola T70 Mk3 GT and was impressed enough to upgrade into Lola’s new Mk3B version for 1969.
Ordered with a Traco Chevrolet engine, Norinder also purchased a Lola T142 Formula 5000 car for 1969 and typically ran both cars under his Sportscars Switzerland banner.
Norinder’s Mk3B was chassis SL76/141, the fourth of 16 built. Although he frequently had his cars painted blue with a flared yellow centre stripe, this latest Lola made its debut at Daytona in white with a blue and yellow centre stripe.
After sustaining minor damage to both sides at Daytona, it was refinished with a flared blue and red stripe for Sebring to reflect new sponsorship from Valvoline. On both occasions, Norinder was partnered with co-driver, Jo Bonnier.
In this configuration, 141 also contested the World Sportscar Championship events at Brands Hatch and Monza (with Jackie Oliver co-driving).
Norinder subsequently loaned the car to Picko Troberg for a minor race at Magny Cours as Troberg was waiting on his own new Mk3B to arrive from Lola.
Norinder then had 141 repainted dark blue with a flared gold centre stripe. That summer he campaigned the car in Sweden and Finland before it was flown out to Argentina for the 1970 season-opening Buenos Aires 1000km. For this and its final race (a 200 mile event also at the Buenos Aires circuit one week later), Norinder hired Jackie Oliver who was partnered with Carlos Reutemann in the main event.
Norinder dramatically scaled down his sports car racing activities in 1970 and chassis 141 was sold to David Piper who was helping Solar Productions buy cars for use in Steve McQueen’s Le Mans movie.
In addition to Porsche 917s and Ferrari 512s, Solar Productions purchased five T70s. Chassis 141 was repainted yellow for its first on track sequence and then re-bodied as a Gulf 917 for its starring role.
Engineered to run with remote control, the now Porsche-bodied Lola was deliberately crashed down the high speed section between Arnage and Maison Blanche; it was made to swerve to avoid a slower vehicle and then pinballed either side of the track before burying itself in the armco.
After filming, the crashed car was sold to Kilmene Latours of France Etablissements de Kilmanie at Chambray-les-Tours.
From there, the Lola was sold to Roger Bolton who rebuilt it and repainted it red.
In 1971, Unsworth sold the Lola to Clive Unsworth from Wigan who had it road registered.
Between 1975 and 1994, the car was stored after which it was sold to noted Lola historian, John Starkey.
Notable History
Ulf Norinder, Switzerland
02/02/1969 WSC Daytona 24 Hours (U. Norinder / J. Bonnier) DNF (#60)
Repainted white with blue and red flared stripes.
22/03/1969 WSC Sebring 12 Hours (U. Norinder / J. Bonnier) DNF (#14)
13/04/1969 WSC Brands Hatch 6 Hours (U. Norinder / R. Widdows) 21st (#6)
25/04/1969 WSC Monza 1000km (U. Norinder / R. Widdows) DNF (#52)
Repainted dark blue with gold flared stripe.
01/05/1969 IND Magny-Cours (P. Troberg) 4th (#92)
29/06/1969 NOR Anderstorp (U. Norinder) 3rd (#15)
17/08/1969 NOR Swedish GP, Karlskoga (U. Norinder) 7th (#16)
24/08/1969 NDC Keimola (U. Norinder) DNS (#??)
31/08/1969 NDC Mantorp Park (U. Norinder) 8th (#15)
14/09/1969 NDC Anderstorp (J. Oliver) 6th (#8)
11/01/1970 WSC Buenos Aires 1000km (J. Oliver / C. Reutemann) 11th (#22)
18/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 200 mile (J. Oliver) 4th (#22)
Sold via David Piper to Solar Productions Inc., North Hollywood, USA, for the Steve McQueen film, Le Mans.
Crashed during filming.
Sold to Kilmene Latours of France Etablissements de Kilmanie at Chambray-les-Tours.
Sold to Roger Bolton, rebuilt and repainted red.
1971 sold to Clive Unsworth, Wigan
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
