VIN: the Carl Haas / Lola Cars / Scuderia Filipinetti / Solar Productions Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/145
History of chassis SL76/145
Chassis SL76/145 was sold to Lola’s US distributor, Carl Haas, of Lincolnshire, Illinois. Together with the sister cars of Roger Penske and John Love, SL76/145 was expected to form part of a three-car factory-assisted team of T70s at the 1969 Le Mans 24 Hours.
With this in mind, Lola took SL76/145 to France for the Le Mans Test weekend which took place over March 29th and 30th. The brand new car appeared having never turned a wheel in anger, but despite a few teething problems, it ultimately proved very fast.
Paul Hawkins was the sole driver on duty. In the early stages, as a result of the car’s high downforce bodywork, he struggled to top 180mph down the Mulsanne Straight. Accordingly, the Lola engineers quickly devised an aluminium long tail that was grafted in place by early Saturday afternoon.
Amazingly, after some adjustment to the suspension, SL76/145 proved just as stable through the corners, but was now able to hit around 200mph.
Hawkins ended up third fastest overall behind a Porsche 917 Langheck and Matra MS630/650.
Unfortunately, one week before the Le Mans test, Penske’s T70 and all the team’s gear had been stolen. The theft happened the night after the Sebring 12 Hours. Although their transporter and car were discovered the next day, the T70 had had its engine crudely removed and much of the team’s vital equipment was missing (not to be found until a month later).
Shortly after SL76/145 had returned from France, Roger Penske informed Lola boss, Eric Broadley, that he would have to abandon the planned-for outing at Le Mans. Without their strongest team, Broadley and Haas also decided to drop any notion of running at la Sarthe.
As a consequence, SL76/145 was rebuilt to standard Mk3B specification and sold via Lola’s European agent, Jo Bonnier, to Georges Filipinetti for his Geneva based outfit, Scuderia Filipinetti.
During the second week of April, Bonnier delivered the car to Brands Hatch where he shared it with Filipinetti’s number one driver, Herbert Muller, for the 6 Hour World Sportscar Championship race.
Bonnier and Muller qualified third. They took up a position alongside the works Ferrari 312 P and a factory Porsche 908 on the front row of the grid.
When the flag dropped, Bonnier slotted in behind Amon (Ferrari) and Siffert (Porsche). However, before long, the red Lola came into the pits where it lost nine minutes having a water pump drive belt replaced.
After another unscheduled stop for a puncture, SL76/145 found itself miles behind at the back of the field. Nevertheless, Bonnier, and later Muller, pressed on.
Bonnier was back in the car during the final hour, by which time it was running at a very rapid pace.
With around 45 minutes to go, Bonnier ran wide at Bottom Bend and the T70 smacked into the safety bank at around 100mph. It then cartwheeled along the armco barrier. Miraculously, aside from the odd cut and bruise, Bonnier emerged from the wreck unhurt.
SL76/145 returned to Lola where it was discovered that the damage was not as bad as initially thought. Its engine and gearbox were used in the assembly of another car for Filipinetti (chassis SL76/151). This new example, along with the un-repaired tub of SL76/145, were subsequently delivered to Switzerland in late April.
Nothing was done with the bare tub until the early summer of 1970. At this point, it underwent a basic repair and was dressed up as a rolling chassis at Filipinetti’s workshop. SL76/145 was then sold to Solar Productions for the Steve McQueen movie Le Mans.
Solar Producitons purchased the T70 (along with several other cars from Filipinetti) with the expectation that it would serve as a stunt prop. However, it was ultimately not used and, after filming was complete, Solar Productions sold SL76/145 to German BP Oil executive, Herrman von Wolfe, who at the time was staying at the Hotel Central in Le Mans.
In 1979, von Wolfe sold the car to Mac McClendon in California.
McClendon kept the still un-restored T70 until 2010, at which point it returned to Europe and was completely rebuilt.
Notable History
Sold to Carl Haas, Lincolnshire, Illinois (Carl A. Haas Auto Imports)
30/03/1969 IND Le Mans Test (P. Hawkins) 3rd oa, 2nd S5.0 class (#4) Lola Cars entry
Sold via Jo Bonnier to Georges Filipinetti, Geneva (Scuderia Filipinetti)
13/04/1969 WSC Brands Hatch 6 Hours (Bonnier / Muller) DNF (#3)
Wrecked in Bonnier’s accident at Brands Hatch
1970 built up as a rolling chassis by Scuderia Filipinetti
1970 sold to Solar Productions Inc., North Hollywood, for the film, Le Mans
1970 sold to Herrman von Wolfe, Germany
1979 sold to Mac McClendon, California, and retained until 2010
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Lola Heritage - http://www.lolaheritage.co.uk
