One to Buy: ex-David Piper / Solar Productions 1969 Lola T70 Mk3B GT
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For 1967, Lola created a Coupe version of the highly successful T70 which for the previous two seasons had proven so effective in Can-Am, the Unites States Road Racing Championship and the British Sports Car Championship.
Having initially been conceived for the Group 6 Prototype class (where it went up against the likes of Ferrari’s 330 P4 and 412 P and the Mk4 and Mk2 Ford GT40), the T70 Mk3 GT caught a break when the production requirement for Group 4 Sports cars was slashed from 50 to 25 cars for the 1968 season. Homologation was duly approved on February 2nd 1968 and for the next couple of seasons the T70 proved itself the fastest Group 4 car around.
An improved Mk3B GT was introduced for 1969 which famously won first time out at the 1969 Daytona 24 Hours. 16 examples were built of what remains one of the era’s most beautiful Sports racing cars.
Currently on offer at the Fiskens showroom in central London is a spectacular example of the T70 Mk3B GT: chassis SL76/150.
Originally delivered to noted British privateer, David Piper, SL76/150 was raced far and wide throughout the 1969 and ‘70 seasons, during which it most notably collected outright victories at Montlhery (the Coupes de Vitesse and Paris GP) and the Hockenheim Solituderennen.
The car also appeared in the 1970 Solar Productions movie, Le Mans, after which it was sold to Frenchman Pierre-Henri Archambeaud who campaigned it in 1971 and ‘72.
Today, this fabulous T70 is presented in David Piper’s iconic BP green livery and is being sold complete with a replica body to ensure the accompanying original can be preserved.
