VIN: the Terry Croker / Fittipaldi Automotive / Carlos Avallone Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/153

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HISTORY OF CHASSIS SL76/153

Chassis SL76/153 was the T70 Mk3B GT supplied new to privateer Terry Croker for the 1970 season.

The yellow car appeared under an A&J Motors entry which was the garage run by Croker’s father in Chadwell Heath, East London. Chassis 153 replaced a Chevron B8 that Terry Croker had driven for his first season of top flight racing in 1969.

Croker’s debut outing with the Lola started promising when he comfortably took pole position for Snetterton’s round of the Special GT Championship. Unfortunately though, an oil leak was subsequently detected and Croker’s mechanics had not finished re-assembly by the start of the race.

Following trips to three events in mainland Europe over a four-week period in July-July (that yielded no results of any note), Terry Croker replaced his T70 with a more manageable under 2-litre sports prototype, a Lola T210.

Having acquired SL76/153 as part of the deal to supply Terry Croker’s T210, Lola sold the T70 to the Fittibiladi Automotive stable in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The Fittipaldi’s wanted the T70 for Emerson’s brother, Wilson, to race in the three-race 1970 Copa Brazil series which took place in December. During October, Emerson (who was the 1969 British Formula 3 Champion), won the United States Grand for Lotus. It was just his fourth F1 start as he stepped into the fold after Jochen Rindt’s death at the ITalian Grand Prix in September.

After the Copa Brasil series, in which Wilson took one win, one third place and posted one DNF, the Fittipaldi’s sold SL76/153 to fellow Brazilian, Carlos Avallone.

Avallone was a big buyer of single seat Lolas which he raced to great success en route to becoming a four-time Brazilian national champion. Avallone ran SL76/153 in domestic Brazilian events throughout the 1971 season and occasionally raced as far afield as Buenos Aires. He was a routine podium and top six finisher with the now white car later emblazoned with a blue noseband.

Chassis SL76/153 remained in Brazili for many years, but has since returned to Europe and been restored.

Notable History

Terry Croker (A & J Motors), London

25/04/1970 IND Snetterton - Special GT (T. Croker) DNS (#??)
07/06/1970 IND Dijon (T. Croker) 21st (#49)
28/06/1970 INT Norisring (T. Croker) unused (#??)
05/07/1970 INT Hockenheim (T. Croker) DNF (#7)

Fittipaldi Automotive, Sao Paolo

13/12/1970 CPB Copa Brasil Sao Paulo (W. Fittipaldi) 1st oa (#2)
22/12/1970 CPB Copa Brasil Interlagos (W. Fittipaldi) 3rd oa (#2)
27/12/1970 CPB Copa Brasil Sao Paulo (W. Fittipaldi) DNF (#2)

Carlos Avallone, Sao Paolo

10/01/1971 Interlagos (C. Avallone) DNF (#6)
17/01/1971 Interlagos (C. Avallone) 2nd (#6)
25/01/1971 Interlagos (C. Avallone) DNF (#6)
21/03/1971 Interlagos 12 Hours (C. Avallone / A.C. Porto Filho) DNF (#58)
23/05/1971 Interlagos (C. Avallone) 2nd oa (#6)
30/05/1971 Taruma GP (C. Avallone) 6th oa (#6)
20/06/1971 Torneio Uniao e Disciplina (C. Avallone) 5th oa (#6)
27/06/1971 Buenos Aires (C. Avallone) 5th oa (#6)
15/08/1971 Interlagos 250 mile (C. Avallone) 3rd oa (#6)
07/09/1971 Interlagos 500km (C. Avallone) 5th oa (#6)
18/12/1971 Interlagos (C. Avallone) 4th oa (#6)

03/09/1972 Interlagos 500km (M. Fernandes) DNS (#28)

Kept in Brazil for many years

Later restored

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Jim Culp - https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimculp/albums/ & Rogerio PD Luz

VIN: the Louis Morand / Denis Veyrat Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/147

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HISTORY OF CHASSIS SL76/147

Chassis SL76/147 was dispatched on May 20th 1969 to Lola’s European distributor, Jo Bonnier. Bonnier in turn sold the car to renowned Swiss tuner, Louis Morand, who planned to race it with an experimental Chevrolet engine on behalf of his company, Developpement Moteurs Morand.

Prior to this, Louis Morand had sporadically raced small displacement GT cars from the likes of Lotus and Alfa Romeo. Despite having undertaken just a handful of outings during the 1960s, he had shown some promise with his most notable result having been third overall and second in class driving a Lotus Elite at the 1962 Coupes de Paris held around the Montlhery circuit on the outskirts of Paris.

Morand’s dark green and yellow-striped Lola made its competition debut in a twelve lap sports car race around the Ulm-Laupheim airfield track in Germany on July 6th 1969. In the hands of fellow inexperienced Swiss, Gerard Pillon, it placed fifth overall and won its class (albeit behind a group of under two-litre cars).

Three more outings took place during the remainder of 1969, but without much success; the car blew a head gasket at the Hockenheim Solituderennen a week after its debut, the engine then expired during practice for the Zeltweg 1000km World Sportscar Championship event in early August and, on its return to Hockenheim for the shortened Hessenpreis in October, the car suffered another early retirement.

For 1970, Louis Morand undertook a more extensive campaign, but results again proved disappointing.

Over the course of nine outings, SL76/147 only made the chequered flag once (a ninth place finish at a non-championship event at Wunstorf). Amid a generally disappointing time of things, it failed to finish either of the Argentine Temporada races that got the season underway, did not qualify for the Monza 1000km World Championship race and was disqualified from the Spa 1000km World Championship event for receiving outside assistance.

Louis Morand sold the Lola to another Swiss driver for the 1971 season: Denis Veyrat.

Veyrat campaigned the now all-yellow T70 in nine French Sportscar Championship events during 1971 (the Championnat de France des Circuits), during which he picked up two wins and a second place finish.

Having entered just one race during 1972, in 1973 Veyrat sold SL76/147 to Gregory Fischer. Fischer had it converted to Spyder trim and contested the last four Interserie races of ‘73. Best results were a 14th place finish at the Norisring and ninth at Hockenheim.

The car then passed through the hands of Franco Sbarro and on to David Piper who reverted it back to Coupe trim and, in 1978, sold it to Lola’s US distributor, Carl Haas. Since then, the car has gone through the hands of several private collectors.

Notable History

Sold to Louis Morand, Switzerland

06/07/1969 IND Ulm-Laupheim (G. Pillon) 5th oa, 1st SRP2.0+ class (#221)
13/07/1969 IND Hockenheim Solituderennen (L. Morand) DNF (#23)
10/08/1969 WSC Zeltweg 1000km (L. Morand / G. Pillon) DNS (#31)
19/10/1969 IND Hockenheim Hessenpreis (L. Morand) DNF (#??)

11/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 1000km (L. Morand / G. Pillon) DNF (#24)
18/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 200 mile (L. Morand / G. Pillon) DNF (#24)
25/04/1970 WSC Monza 1000km (L. Morand / G. Pillon) DNQ (#18)
17/05/1970 WSC Spa 1000km (G. Pillon / L. Morand) DSQ (#34)
16/08/1970 IND Wunstorf (L. Morand) 9th oa, 9th SRP2.0+ class (#10)
13/09/1970 IND Imola 500km (G. Pillon) DNF (#7)
04/10/1970 IND Montlhery Coupes du Salon (G. Pillon) ran (#3)
11/10/1970 INT Hockenheim (G. Pillon) DNF (#69)
18/10/1970 IND Paris 1000km, Montlhery (G. Pillon / J. Cochet) DNF (#9)

Sold to Denis Veyrat, Switzerland

21/03/1971 FSC Albi (D. Veyrat) 7th oa (#??)
28/03/1971 FSC Montlhery (D. Veyrat) 1st oa (#??)
25/04/1971 FSC Coupe de Printemps (D. Veyrat) 5th oa (#20)
02/05/1971 FSC Magny-Cours Gr.5+6+7 (D. Veyrat) 1st oa (#154)
09/05/1971 FSC Montlhery Gr.3+5+6+7 (D. Veyrat) DNF (#5)
23/05/1971 FSC Montlhery (D. Veyrat) ran (#??)
08/08/1971 FSC Nogaro (D. Veyrat) 6th oa (#16)
19/09/1971 FSC Montlhery Coupes de Paris (D. Veyrat) 2nd oa (#??)
03/10/1971 FSC Paul Ricard (D. Veyrat) ran (#??)

26/03/1972 FNC Albi (D. Veyrat) DNF (#??)

Sold to Gregory Fischer (Formel-Rennsport-Club), Switzerland

Converted to Spyder trim

24/06/1973 INT Norisring (G. Fischer) 14th oa, 11th Gr.7 class (#20)
15/07/1973 INT Hockenheim (G. Fischer) DNF (#20)
19/08/1973 INT Misano (G. Fischer) DNF (#20)
30/09/1973 INT Hockenheim (G. Fischer) 9th oa, 9th S2.5+ class (#20)

Sold to Franco Sbarro, Switzerland

Sold to David Piper, England

Converted to back to Coupe trim

1978 sold to Carl Haas, USA

Sold again later than year

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed

VIN: the Scuderia Filipinetti / Jo Bonnier Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/151

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HISTORY OF CHASSIS SL76/151

Chassis SL76/151 was the second T70 Mk3B GT sold to the Swiss Ferrari distributor, Georges Filipinetti. It followed chassis SL76/145 which incurred heavy damage on its debut outing at the Brands Hatch 6 Hour World Sportscar Championship race on April 13th 1969. The engine and gearbox from SL76/145 were subsequently installed into SL76/151 while the damaged tub was repaired, built up into a rolling chassis and used for the Steve McQueen movie, Le Mans.

SL76/151 joined Scuderia Filipinetti’s Geneva-based team that, for 1969, included Grand Touring class Ferrari 275 GTBs and Chevrolet Corvettes.

As a consequence of the first T70’s crash at Brands Hatch, Scuderia Filipinetti missed their normal outing at the Monza 1000km twelve days later. However, SL76/151 was ready in time to make its debut at the Targa Florio on May 4th where Herbert Muller and Jo Bonnier failed to finish because of suspension damage following an off-course excursion.

The car then posted another three DNFs in its next three outings: an accident saw it retire from the Oulton Park Tourist Trophy, engine trouble forced it out of the Le Mans 24 Hours and head gasket failure resulted in another DNF at the Watkins Glen 6 Hours.

Thereafter, things began to improve. Bonnier claimed seventh in the Watkins Glen Can-Am race that took place the day after the World Championship contest and then finished second behind Andrea de Adamich’s works Alfa Romeo 33/3 at Zeltweg’s 39 lap Eroffnungsrennen inauguration race two weeks later.

Arguably SL76/151’s best finish came at the same track on August 8th when Bonnier and Muller took class honours at the Zeltweg 1000km World Championship contest and finished second overall behind the works Porsche 917 of Jo Siffert / Kurt Ahrens Jr.

Unfortunately, the red and white Lola failed to start the Oulton Park Gold Cup six days later after Bonnier sustained an injury driving his Lotus 49B during practice for that weekend’s non-championship F1 race at the circuit.

Herbert Muller then took the wheel of SL76/151 for the three-race Nordic Challenge Cup series held during August and September. Like most other competitors, Muller failed to take the start in the opening race at Keimoloa owing to a prize money dispute. The Mantorp Park and Anderstorp events that followed yielded a brace of third place finishes overall and a class win at the former.

In its penultimate outing as a Filipinetti entry, Muller and Bonnier finished eighth overall and fourth in class with SL76/151 at the Paris 1000km which took place around the banked Montlhery circuit, Bonnier then drove single-handedly to a class win at the 50 lap Hockenheim Hessenpreis event on October 19th when the red and white Lola finished second overall behind the Gesipa Porsche 908/02 of Jurgen Neuhaus.

Georges Filipinetti sold SL76/151 to Jo Bonnier in December 1969 and the car went on to make half a dozen more appearances over the next couple of years.

Bonnier entered Ronnie Peterson and Jorge Cupeiro for the Buenos Aires 1000km on January 11th 1970. They finished seventh overall and second in class, after which Cupeiro was paired with Reine Wisell for a 200 mile race at the same track a week later. On this occasion, SL76/151 failed to finish.

Thereafter, the car was raced by Stefan Sklenar who only made the chequered flag in one of his four outings (a 17th place finish during the Interserie race at Hockenheim in July 1970).

At some point over the next couple years, most likely after Jo Bonnier’s death at the 1972 Le Mans 24 Hours, SL76/151 was sold to Swiss racing driver, Rene Herzog, who is not believed to have used the car in anger.

The Lola then went through the hands of a couple more European owners before finding its way to George Stauffer of Wisconsin in the late 1990s. Since then the car has been restored to its 1969 specification.

Notable History

Sold to Georges Filipinetti (Scuderia Filipinetti), Geneva

04/05/1969 WSC Targa Florio (H. Muller / J. Bonnier) DNF (#190)
26/05/1969 BSC Oulton Park Tourist Trophy (J. Bonnier / H. Muller) DNF (#40)
15/06/1969 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (J. Bonnier / M. Gregory) DNF (#2)
12/07/1969 WSC Watkins Glen 6 Hours (J. Bonnier / H.Muller) DNF (#11)
13/07/1969 CAM Watkins Glen (J. Bonnier) 7th oa (#19)
27/07/1969 IND Zeltweg Eroffnungsrennen (J. Bonnier) 2nd oa (#21)
10/08/1969 WSC Zeltweg 1000km (J. Bonnier / H. Muller) 2nd oa, 2nd S5.0 class (#33)
16/08/1969 IND Oulton Park Gold Cup (J. Bonnier) DNS (#40)
24/08/1969 NDC Keimola (H. Muller) DNS (#3)
31/08/1969 NDC Mantorp Park (H. Muller) 3rd oa, 1st S class (#11)
14/09/1969 NDC Anderstorp (H. Muller) 3rd oa, 2nd S class (#3)
12/10/1969 IND Paris 1000km, Montlhery (J. Bonnier / H. Muller) 8th oa, 4th S class (#18)
19/10/1969 IND Hockenheim Hessenpreis (J. Bonnier) 2nd oa, 1st S2.0+ class (#6)

12/1969 sold to Jo Bonnier (Ecurie Bonnier), England

11/01/1970 IND Buenos Aires 1000km (R. Peterson / J. Cupeiro) 7th oa, 2nd S class (#20)
18/01/1970 IND Buenos Aires 200 mile (R. Wisell / J. Cupeiro) DNF (#20)
28/06/1970 INT Norisring (S. Sklenar) DNF (#19)
05/07/1970 INT Hockenheim (S. Sklenar) 17th oa (#9)

11/07/1971 INT Norisring (S. Sklenar) DNS (#??)
03/10/1971 INT Hockenheim (S. Sklenar) DNQ (#??)

Sold to Rene Herzog, Switzerland

Late 1990s sold to George Stauffer, Wisconsin

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Revs Institute - https://library.revsinstitute.org/

VIN: the Mike de Udy / Solar Productions Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/149

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HISTORY OF CHASSIS SL76/149

Chassis SL76/149 was sold to 28-year old English privateer, Mike de Udy, for his 1969 campaign.

Prior to this latest T70, in 1967 de Udy had purchased a new first generation Mk3 GT (chassis SL73/105) which he raced until it was wrecked at Crystal Palace in August 1968. The damaged remains of SL73/105 were sold to David Prophet while de Udy purchased a second-hand T70 from Paul Hawkins to complete the season (SL73/112).

A graduate of the Jim Russell Racing School, Mike de Udy began his motor racing career with a couple of years in Formula Junior. He then moved into sports cars with a Porsche 904 GTS mid-way through 1964 (chassis 0085).

The 904 was replaced with a 906 for 1966 (chassis 101) in which de Udy frequently appeared under the Porsche Cars Great Britain banner. 1967 saw de Udy race both his 906 and the first of his new Lolas.

As per his previous T70s, SL76/149 was painted a handsome shade of pale green and accessorised with elaborate black pinstripes. It was also fitted with the same distinctive snorkel-type air vents that de Udy installed to extract hot air from the cockpit.

This latest T70 was campaigned under the Grand Bahama Racing Car Co. banner; de Udy spent much of his childhood in the Bahamas where his wealthy family had several business interests.

SL76/149 was co-driven throughout 1969 by Frank Gardner with whom de Udy had begun to team up with in 1969.

The season got off to an inauspicious start; a faulty suspension top link that showed up in practice caused Gardner to withdraw from the green Lola’s debut in round two of the British Sportscar Championship at Snetterton before it had even turned a wheel. Next time out at Thruxton three days later (round three), Gardner qualified third but retired on the second lap with clutch failure.

SL76/149 went on to appear in two more rounds of the ‘69 British series. Gardner qualified second at Croft (round seven) but was again forced out early on with clutch failure. The car subsequently came good on its second appearance of the year at Thruxton (round eight) where Gardner took pole and finished as runner up behind Denny Hulme’s Sid Taylor Racing T70.

More success was generally had outside of the British series. At the high profile Oulton Park Gold Cup, Gardner qualified second and took victory. Six weeks earlier he and de Udy had claimed the runner up spot in the Vila Real 6 Hour street race behind a Porsche 908/02 driven by David Piper and Chris Craft.

A month after their victory at Oulton Park, Gardner and de Udy headed to Italy for the non-championship Imola 500km event, but their race (blighted by the wrong gear ratios) ended prematurely when de Udy span at Rivazza and had to limp back to the pits with a damaged back end.

After a season of mixed fortune (and following repairs from its outing at Imola), de Udy shipped SL76/149 to Africa where it would contest the five round Springbok series. Gardner and de Udy finished second in the Kyalami 9 Hours (behind the David Piper / Richard Attwood Porsche 917) after which they won the 3 Hour races at Cape Town and Lourenco Marques.

Another second place finish was achieved at the Bulawayo 3 Hours following which de Udy drove single-handedly but failed to finish in the 3 Hour finale at Pietermaritzburg (owing to a differential failure). Immediately afterwards, de Udy purchased the T70 that won the race (chassis SL76/138) which Sid Taylor had loaned to John Love.

However, de Udy only went on to race his brace of Lolas twice more as his attention soon switched to Touring Cars.

SL76/149 appeared at the 1970 Sebring 12 Hours where de Udy and Mike Hailwood retired with brake trouble early on.

The newly acquired SL76/138 appeared at the Brands Hatch 6 Hours where de Udy and Gardner failed to finish as a result of camshaft failure.

Both cars were then immediately put up for sale.

SL76/149 was purchased by Solar Productions as an extra for the Steve McQueen movie Le Mans.

It subsequently passed to noted British car dealer, Rod Leach.

By the 1980s the car had been exported to the USA where it was restored.

Notable History

Sold to Mike de Udy (Grand Bahama Racing Car Co.)

Pale Green with Black pinstripes

04/04/1969 BSC Snetterton Guards Trophy (F. Gardner) DNS (#-)
07/04/1969 BSC Thruxton Embassy Trophy (F. Gardner) DNF (#5)
06/07/1969 IND Vila Real 6 Hours (M. de Udy / F. Gardner) 2nd oa, 1st S5.0 class (#1)
13/07/1969 BSC Wills Trophy, Croft (F. Gardner) DNF (#1)
10/08/1969 BSC Kodak Trophy, Thruxon (F. Gardner) 2nd oa, 2nd SP2.0+ class (#1)
16/08/1969 IND Oulton Park Gold Cup (F. Gardner) 1st oa, 1st S5.0 class (#41)
14/09/1969 IND Imola 500km (F. Gardner / M. de Udy) DNF (#28)
08/11/1969 SBK Kyalami 9 Hours (M. de Udy / F. Gardner) 2nd oa, 1st F class (#7)
22/11/1969 SBK Cape Town 3 Hours (M. de Udy / F. Gardner) 1st oa (#7)
05/12/1969 SBK Lourenco Marques 3 Hours (M. de Udy / F. Gardner) 1st oa (#7)
13/12/1969 SBK Bulawayo 3 Hours (M. de Udy / F. Gardner) 2nd oa (#7)
27/12/1969 SBK Roy Hesketh 3 Hours, Pietermaritzburg (M. de Udy) DNF (#7)

21/03/1970 WSC Sebring 12 Hours (M. de Udy / M. Hailwood) DNF (#27)

Sold to Solar Productions Inc., North Hollywood, for the film, Le Mans

Sold to Rod Leach, UK

Later exported to the USA and restored

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Keith Lewcock

VIN: the Carl Haas / Lola Cars / Scuderia Filipinetti / Solar Productions Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/145

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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

VIN: the David Preston - Team Elite / Sid Taylor Racing Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/144

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HISTORY OF CHASSIS SL76/144

Chassis SL76/144 was sold to 32 year old privateer racing driver David Preston of Bosworth, Leicestershire.

Between 1964 and 1968, Preston had competed with a Lotus Seven, a Brabham BT14 single seater and a Lotus 47.

Like his previous mounts, Preston’s blue Lola would be campaigned under a Team Elite entry. Team Elite was a group of racing enthusiasts that mostly hailed from the Midlands.

David Preston purchased SL76/144 for ex-Lotus F1 driver, Trevor Taylor, to campaign throughout the 1969 season.

Taylor debuted the car at the Silverstone Club circuit on March 16th. The ten lap contest was organised by the Nottinghamshire Sports Car Club and Taylor lapped the entire field en route to victory.

Results thereafter were patchy.

At the Silverstone International Trophy two weeks later (round one of the British Sportscar Championship), Taylor led the first five laps before he span off the rain-soaked track. He then failed to finish the next two rounds (owing to a stuck throttle and clutch failure) after which the car was withdrawn from the subsequent two events (first after another T70 suffered hairline cracks on its wishbones at the Brands Hatch 6 Hours and then as a result of the torrentially wet conditions at the Silverstone Martini Trophy).

Taylor subsequently won the Oulton Park Tourist Trophy, but the race ended early in the saddest of circumstances after fellow T70 driver, Paul Hawkins, was killed in a fiery accident at Island Bend.

Thereafter, Taylor’s only finish was a sixth overall and third in class at the Swedish Grand Prix which took place at Karlskoga. He failed to take part in the two Scandinavian races that followed because of a starting money dispute.

For 1970, David Preston sold the Lola to Irish racing driver and team owner, Sid Taylor. SL76/144 was Taylor’s sixth and last T70. He had quit driving at the end of 1968 to focus on managing his team.

Taylor’s previous Mk3B GT (chassis SL76/138) had been arguably the most successful T70 of 1969. However, there was to be no repeat in 1970.

Trevor Taylor joined up with Peter Gethin to contest the two season-opening Temporada races in Argentina, but they failed to finish on either occasion.

Still in its original blue colour scheme, SL76/144 was then entered for the Brands Hatch 1000km World Sportscar Championship race. Barrie Smith was partnered by Howden Ganley for the event which ended in disaster.

Because of last-minute tyre panics in the paddock, Smith had to start in extremely wet conditions with dry-weather tyres on the back. During the opening lap, Smith aquaplaned along the top straight, left the track and took flight. The Lola smacked into the armco, rolled over and scattered itself in all directions before landing back on its wheels. Fortunately, Smith escaped unscathed, but SL76/144 was wrecked.

The remains (to include the engine, transaxle, suspension, brakes and steering) were sold to Mick Hill who used them to build a Boss Capri Super Saloon.

During 1980, the Capri was sold to Ian Webb who rebuilt SL76/144 around a new monocoque made by Brian Angliss.

Notable History

David Preston (Team Elite), Bosworth

Light Blue

16/03/1969 NSC Silverstone (T. Taylor) 1st oa (#124)
30/03/1969 BSC Silverstone International Trophy (T. Taylor) DNF (#40)
04/04/1969 BSC Snetterton Guards Trophy (T. Taylor) DNF (#??)
07/04/1969 BSC Thruxton Embassy Trophy (T. Taylor) DNF (#6)
13/04/1969 WSC Brands Hatch 6 Hours (T. Taylor / H. Dibley) WDN (#5)
17/05/1969 BSC Silverstone Martini Trophy (T. Taylor) DNS (#10)
26/05/1969 BSC Oulton Park Tourist Trophy (T. Taylor) 1st oa, 1st 3.0+ class (#36)
29/06/1969 IND Norisring 200 mile (T. Taylor) DNF (#4)
10/08/1969 BSC Thruxton Kodak Trophy (T. Taylor) DNS (#??)
17/08/1969 IND Swedish GP, Karlskoga (T. Taylor) 6th oa, 3rd 3.0+ class (#5)
24/08/1969 NDC Keimola (T. Taylor) DNS (#6)
31/08/1969 NDC Mantorp Park (T. Taylor) DNS (#6)

Sold to Sid Taylor

11/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 1000km (T. Taylor / P. Gethin) DNF (#46)
18/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 200 mile (T. Taylor / P. Gethin) DNF (#46)
12/04/1970 WSC Brands Hatch 1000km (B. Smith / H. Ganley) DNF (#6)

Wrecked in Barrie Smith’s opening lap crash at Brands Hatch

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia

VIN: the Barrie Smith Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/148B

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<<<T70 MK3B GT PORTAL
<<<T70 MK3B GT FOR SALE

HISTORY OF CHASSIS SL76/148B

Chassis SL76/148B was built around a brand new chassis and body using the engine and gearbox from Picko Troberg’s wrecked T70: chassis SL76/148A.

The red Lola was supplied to British privateer, Barrie Smith, who ran Avalon Racing in the village of Garlinge, Kent.

In 1963, Smith had built a Lotus Seven and three years later he successfully started racing in a GSM Delta.

For 1967, Smith moved up to a Lotus 15 and Brabham BT8. A brace of Chevron B8s and a Broadspeed Mini were then campaigned during the 1968 and ‘69 seasons, during which time Smith racked up a series of victories in the UK and Europe.

In September 1969, Barrie Smith acquired chassis SL76/148B which replaced his most recent Chevron B8.

Over the next few weeks, Smith raced the Lola in half a dozen events around Europe and most notably picked up a class win at the Salzburgring.

The 1970 season began with a trip to Argentina for the Temporada series. Unfortunately, the bright red Lola failed to finish either of its races in Buenos Aires.

A dozen events then followed in the UK and Europe. When chassis 148B made it to the chequered flag, Smith was routinely a top five finisher despite his car not having the latest long crankshaft modification of most other T70s.

1970 saw Barrie Smith collect a brace of wins at Crystal Palace along with a third place finish at Phoenix Park in Ireland and fourth overall at the Thruxton RAC Trophy.

The season ended with a trip to South Africa where Smith and Jackie Pretorious finished seventh overall and won their class at the Kyalami 9 Hours.

Having exhausted most of his funds, Barrie Smith sold the red Lola to John Farley in 1971. Farley had 148B road registered and repainted blue. It subsequently went through the hands of several British owners to include David Piper and Richard Attwood.

Notable History

Red

Engine and gearbox from chassis SL76/148A

Sold to Barrie Smith (Avalon Racing), Kent

14/09/1969 NDC Anderstorp (B. Smith) 7th oa, 6th S class (#11)
27/09/1969 IND Zandvoort Dunes Trophy (B. Smith) DNF (#2)
05/10/1969 IND Inssbruck Preis von Tirol (B. Smith) DNF (#17)
12/10/1969 IND Salzburgring (B. Smith) 4th oa, 1st S2.0+ class (#16)
19/10/1969 IND Hockenheim Hessenpreis (B. Smith) 11th oa, 3rd S2.0+ class (#??)
26/10/1969 IND Zolder (B. Smith) DNF (#150)

11/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 1000km (B. Smith / E. Swart) DNF (#42)
18/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 200 mile (B. Smith / E. Swart) DNF (#42)
30/03/1970 BSC Thruxton RAC Trophy (B. Smith) 4th oa, 3rd S2.0+ class (#9)
10/05/1970 IND Fassberg (B. Smith) DNF (#3)
13/06/1970 IND Crystal Palace (B. Smith) 1st oa (#100)
13/06/1970 SGT Crystal Palace (B. Smith) 3rd oa (#100)
21/06/1970 IND Montlhery Coupes de l'ACIF (B. Smith) 4th oa (#11)
28/06/1970 INT Norisring (B. Smith) 9th oa (#18)
05/07/1970 INT Hockenheim (B. Smith) 14th oa (#6)
14/07/1970 IND Magny-Cours (B. Smith) 5th oa (#??)
09/08/1970 IND Swedish GP, Karlskoga (B. Smith) 11th oa (#9)
13/09/1970 IND Phoenix Park (B. Smith) 3rd oa (#??)
20/09/1970 IND Zandvoort Dunes Trophy (B. Smith) DNS (#41)
27/09/1970 IND Crystal Palace (B. Smith) 1st oa (#??)
07/11/1970 SBK Kyalami 9 Hours (B. Smith / J. Pretorius) 7th oa, 1st J class (#7)

1971 sold to John Farley
Road registered and repainted blue

1974 sold

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Barrie Smith - http://www.frenchpix.com/racingtimes/

VIN: the Picko Troberg Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/148A

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HISTORY OF CHASSIS SL76/148A

Chassis SL76/148A was the second T70 Mk3B GT supplied to Swedish privateer, Picko Troberg. It replaced Troberg’s earlier example, SL76/148, which had been wrecked by Bjorn Rothstein during practice for the Nurburgring 1000km on May 30th 1969.

Picko Troberg was a successful car dealer. He began racing in the Swedish Formula Junior Championship and won the Swedish Formula 3 title in 1965.

Troberg was an extremely versatile driver who variously competed in single seaters, touring cars, GTs and sports cars. In 1966 he acquired a Porsche 906 and also raced in the European F3 series. A McLaren Elva Mk2 was added to Troberg’s fleet in 1967.

Like his previous T70, Troberg’s new Lola was painted yellow and dark green. Backing once again came from the Pierre Robert aftershave brand (PR for Men).

Chassis 148A was delivered in time for the PR Trophy Race at Anderstorp which took place on June 29th. The 20 lap contest was a support event for main event, a Formula 3 race won by Ronnie Peterson.

Despite a blown sump gasket, Troberg qualified fourth. Having initially dropped a couple of positions at the start, he eventually recovered to finish where he started.

Two weeks later, Troberg entered Peterson to race 148A at Magny Cours where the young Swede would also be contesting another F3 event. The 75 lap race was Peterson’s first in a sports car; he qualified on pole and set a new lap record on his way to a convincing win.

Following Peterson’s victory at Magny Cours, Troberg decided to have him race 148A at the brand new Osterreichring circuit two weeks later (July 27th). Unfortunately, when Peterson was lying third, a radius rod failure caused the car to have a major high speed accident. Peterson was unharmed, but chassis 148A was a write off.

The wrecked remains were returned to Lola where the engine and gearbox were used to construct a new car: chassis SL76/148B.

Chassis 148B (covered separately) was sold to British privateer, Barrie Smith.

Picko Troberg subsequently switched focus to running his touring car team and only occasionally raced in sports cars thereafter.

Notable History

Sold to Pick Troberg (PR for Men / Stockholm SVK), Sweden

Yellow & Green

29/06/1969 IND Anderstorp (P. Troberg) 4th oa, 2nd S2.0+ class (#16)
14/07/1969 IND Magny-Cours (R. Peterson) 1st oa, 1st 2.0+ class (#197)
27/07/1969 IND Osterreichring Eroffnungsrennen (R. Peterson) DNF (#22)

Wrecked in Peterson’s crash at the Osterreichring

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed

VIN: the Picko Troberg Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/148

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<<<T70 MK3B GT PORTAL
<<<T70 MK3B GT FOR SALE

HISTORY OF CHASSIS SL76/148

Chassis SL76/148 was sold via Lola agent, Jo Bonnier, to Swedish car dealer and privateer racing driver, Picko Troberg.

Troberg began racing in the Swedish Formula Junior series. In addition he campaigned GT, Rally and Touring cars, most frequently competing in British machinery.

Driving a Mini Cooper, Troberg had much success in the European Touring Car Championship. He also won the 1965 Swedish Formula 3 Championship in his Brabham BT15 and occasionally co-drove compatriot Ulf Norinder’s Ferrari 250 GTO.

In 1966, Troberg moved up to a Porsche 906 and continued to race in European Formula 3 events. He added a McLaren Elva Mk2 to his fleet in 1967.

Having not raced a great deal in 1968, Troberg purchased chassis SL76/148 for the 1969 season. The yellow and dark green Lola was backed by Pierre Robert aftershave (PR for Men) and sometimes ran under a Stockholm SVK entry.

Troberg first appeared in his T70 at the non-championship Criterium de Vitesse, a 25 lap race that took place at Dijon on May 4th. Troberg qualified third and went on to finish second behind fellow T70 driver, Paul Hawkins.

Chassis 148 was then entered for the Spa 1000km World Sportscar Championship on May 11th. Troberg was joined in the T70 by fellow Swede, Bjorn Rothstein, who, hadn’t previously raced anything much bigger than a Mini Cooper.

Despite his lack of experience, Rothstein (who started the race from twelfth) acquitted himself well and was in fifth spot after 15 laps. Rothstein came in at the 20 lap mark, at which point the mechanics decided the Lola needed its nose taping down. Troberg took over, but had dropped five places to tenth.

After completing 71 laps, Troberg and Rothstein ultimately claimed eleventh overall and fifth in the over two-litre Sports class.

Following their strong showing in Belgium, Troberg and Rothstein headed to Germany for the Nurburgring 1000km on June 1st.

Unfortunately, chassis 148 failed to start.

During Friday practice, Rothstein lost control under the bridge at the end of the main straight. He left the road at over 150mph and only missed a marshal by a couple of feet. Chassis 148 barrel rolled through fences, brush and small trees and was completely demolished. It eventually ended up back on the circuit, blocking the track.

Practice had to be stopped for half an hour while the wreckage was removed. Rothstein was taken to hospital where he was surprisingly found to be suffering no more than a cut lip and twisted vertebrae.

Picko Troberg subsequently took delivery of a new T70 Mk3B GT which was numbered SL76/148A.

Notable History

Sold to Pick Troberg (PR for Men / Stockholm SVK), Sweden

Yellow & Green

04/05/1969 IND Dijon Criterium de Vitesse (P. Troberg) 2nd oa (#5)
11/05/1969 WSC Spa 1000km (P. Troberg / B. Rothstein) 11th oa, 5th S5.0 class (#34)
01/06/1969 WSC Nurburgring 1000km (P. Troberg / B. Rothstein) DNS (#60)

Wrecked in Rothstein’s practice accident at the Nurburgring

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed

VIN: the John Woolfe / Racing Team VDS Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/146

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HISTORY OF CHASSIS SL76/146

Chassis SL76/146 was sold new to John Woolfe.

Woolfe was a British privateer who, together with his business partner, Arnold Burton, ran John Woolfe Racing, a major UK retailer of high performance automotive parts.

Having raced a Lola Mk1 and TVR Grantura between 1959 and 1962, John Woolfe returned to motor sport for the 1968 season. He purchased a used seven-litre Cobra which, for 1968, was replaced with a Lola T70 Mk3 GT (chassis SL73/102) and a Chevron B12.

For 1969, chassis SL76/146 was purchased along with a McLaren M6B.

However, before Woolfe’s latest Lola was delivered, Porsche stunned the racing world when they unveiled the 917 at Geneva in March 1969.

The 917 was a state-of-the-art five-litre Prototype that would contest the same Sports class as the T70 on account of Porsche vowing to built the 25 units required for homologation.

John Woolfe was the first customer to put his name down for a 917; it would be delivered in time for the 1969 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Prior to Le Mans, Woolfe’s new Lola made its debut at the Oulton Park Tourist Trophy on May 26th. Finished in Woolfe’s signature colour scheme of blue with two yellow centre stripes, Richard Attwood was recruited to drive but failed to finish as a result of clutch failure.

The Le Mans 24 Hours then took place over the weekend of June 14th and 15th.

Unfortunately, John Woolfe fatally crashed his 917 on the opening lap.

Having taken off at great speed without fastening his seatbelt, Woolfe was swept along by faster drivers and lost control coming over the hump through the kink before Maison Blanche.

Getting two wheels on the grass at over 150mph, the Porsche slid wide and Woolfe couldn’t catch it.

The 917 hit the guard rail, flipped onto its roof and continued down the road before breaking in two and catching fire.

Poor John Woolfe was thrown from the car and died in the helicopter as he was rushed to hospital.

Despite the fatal crash, chassis SL76/146 made three more appearances for John Woolfe Racing over the remainder of 1969. It failed to finish the Wills Trophy at Croft with Digby Martland at the wheel (overheating) and then didn’t make the grid for the Swedish Grand Prix at Karlskoga after Richard Attwood crashed in practice.

Attwood subsequently claimed fifth overall and fourth in the Sports class at the Anderstorp Nordic Challenge Cup race at Anderstorp.

During the next four weeks, SL76/146 was sold to Racing Team VDS in Brussels.

Founded in November 1964 by Count Rodolphe van der Straten Ponthoz, Serge Trosch and Lionel William, Racing Team VDS quickly became one of the top privateer racing teams in Belgium. Funding came principally from Count van der Straten who was heir to the Belgian brewing dynasty that made Stella Artois.

Racing Team VDS started out with Mini Coopers before beginning a collaboration with Autodelta that saw the Belgian outfit compete with Alfa Romeo GTAs, TZ2s and various iterations of the Tipo 33 sports car.

As their three year association with Autodelta was coming to an end for 1970, Racing Team VDS acquired the ex-Woolfe Lola.

Now painted red with a white and blue centre stripe, SL76/146 debuted at the end-of-season Paris 1000km which took place around the Montlhery circuit. Drivers Teddy Pilette and Gustave Gosselin qualified ninth but retired with fuel-injection trouble.

During the 1970 season, Racing Team VDS contested over 20 races with the Lola.

Highlights included fourth overall and a class win at the Buenos Aires 1000km Temporada event plus outright victory at the Vila Real 500km. Teddy Pilette was ever-present behind the wheel.

Racing Team VDS ran a dramatically curtailed sports car programme in 1971 as they switched focus to Formula 5000 racing.

The five-events contested by the Lola in 1971 most notably yielded a sixth overall and fourth in class at the Spa 1000km World Sportscar Championship race. Elsewhere, SL76/146 failed to finish at the Le Mans 24 Hours for the second year in a row.

The T70’s final period outing came at the 1971 Paris 1000km, but Gosselin span into the barrier when lying fifth. Externally the damage didn’t look too bad, however, a broken upright brought the car’s front line career to an end.

Notable History

John Woolfe Racing, London

Blue with Yellow stripes

26/05/1969 BSC Oulton Park Tourist Trophy (R. Attwood) DNF (#33)
13/07/1969 BSC Croft Wills Trophy (D. Martland) DNF (#4)
17/08/1969 IND Swedish GP, Karlskoga (R. Attwood) DNS (#4)
14/09/1969 NDC Anderstorp (R. Attwood) 5th oa, 4th S class (#27)

Sold to Racing Team VDS, Brussels

Red with White and Blue stripes

12/10/1969 IND Paris 1000km, Montlhery (T. Pilette / G. Gosselin) DNS (#2)

11/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 1000km (T. Pilette / N. Garcia-Veiga) 4th oa, 1st S class (#50)
18/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 200 mile (T. Pilette / N. Garcia-Veiga) DNF (#50)
22/03/1970 IND Jarama (T. Pilette) DNF (#68)
12/04/1970 IND Le Mans Test (T. Pilette) 4th oa, 3rd S5.0 class (#4)
19/04/1970 IND Zolder 500km (T. Pilette) DNF (#??)
25/04/1970 WSC Monza 1000km (T. Pilette / G. Gosselin) 16th oa, 10th S5.0 class (#16)
10/05/1970 IND Fassberg (T. Pilette) 10th oa, 3rd SRP2.0+ class (#??)
17/05/1970 WSC Spa 1000km (T. Pilette / G. Gosselin) DNF (#35)
24/05/1970 IND Paris GP, Montlhery (T. Pilette) 2nd oa (#9)
31/05/1970 WSC Nurburgring 1000km (T. Pilette / G. Gosselin) DNS (#46)
14/06/1970 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (T. Pilette / G. Gosselin) DNF (#4)
21/06/1970 IND Montlhery Coupes de l'ACIF (T. Pilette) 1st oa (#9)
28/06/1970 INT Norisring (T. Pilette) DNF (#16)
05/07/1970 IND Vila Real 500km (T. Pilette / G. Gosselin) 1st oa, 1st S5.0 class (#5)
11/07/1970 INT Croft (T. Pilette) 6th oa, 4th SR2.0+ class (#8)
09/08/1970 IND Swedish GP, Karlskoga (T. Pilette) 12th oa (#5)
16/08/1970 IND Wunstorf (T. Pilette) 3rd oa, 3rd SRP2.0+ class (#6)
23/08/1970 INT Keimola (T. Pilette) 5th oa (#6)
13/09/1970 IND Imola 500km (T. Pilette / G. Gosselin) DNF (#9)
20/09/1970 INT Thruxton (T. Pilette) 7th oa (#20)
11/10/1970 INT Hockenheim (T. Pilette) DNF (#70)
18/10/1970 IND Paris 1000km, Montlhery (T. Pilette / G. Gosselin) DNF (#8)

18/04/1971 IND Le Mans 3 Hours (T. Pilette) DNF (#8)
09/05/1971 WSC Spa 1000km (T. Pilette / G. Gosselin) 6th oa, 4th S5.0 class (#31)
30/05/1971 WSC Nurburgring 1000km (T. Pilette / G. Gosselin) DNF (#54)
13/06/1971 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (T. Pilette / G. Gosselin) DNF (#5)
17/10/1971 IND Paris 1000km, Montlhery (T. Pilette / G. Gosselin) DNF (#2)

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed

VIN: the Sid Taylor Racing / Mike de Udy Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/138

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HISTORY OF CHASSIS SL76/138

Chassis SL76/138 was sold to Irish racing driver and team owner, Sid Taylor.

Taylor hailed from Rathfarnham in south Dublin. He ran Taylor’s Grange Hotel (located on his family’s extensive farm) and also made a small fortune through Sidney Taylor Plant which rented out construction machinery.

Taylor began racing in 1961. Between 1962 and 1964, he successfully ran a Lotus Elite, Lotus Elan and a Jaguar E-type. During this period, he most notably won the 1963 Leinster Trophy.

In 1965, Taylor moved up to a Brabham BT8. Throughout the course of a successful season he won several races in England.

The first of Taylor’s six Lola T70s (a Mk2) arrived in 1966. Chassis SL71/31 was followed by SL71/38 for 1967. A Mk3 GT also joined the stable for 1967 (SL73/102). This was in turn replaced by another new Mk3 GT for 1968 (SL73/134).

Taylor hung up his helmet to concentrate on managing his team for 1969. That season, he recruited the likes of Brian Redman, Denny Hulme, Peter Revson, Frank Gardner, Andrea de Adamich and Nino Vaccarella.

Chassis SL76/138 was the first Mk3B GT delivered. It was campaigned in Taylor’s signature white and green colour scheme. Backing came from the Hamlyn Publishing Group.

The car began its career after it had been displayed on Lola’s stand at the London Racing Car Show in January 1969.

Highlights of its 16 race 1969 campaign included outright wins for Brian Redman at the Thruxton Embassy Trophy, Norisring 200 miles and Swedish Grand Prix. Denny Hulme won the Thruxton Kodak Trophy and Frank Gardner took victory at the Innsbruck Preis von Tirol.

There were also several class wins and an impressive fifth overall at the Monza 1000km World Sportscar Championship race (for Gardner / de Adamich).

SL76/138 was then leased to John Love for the end-of-season South African Springbok series. For this, the car was repainted the orange, brown and gold colours of Love’s sponsor, Gunston cigarettes.

Love and Redman took pole for the Kyalami 9 Hours, but they failed to finish owing to a crown wheel and piston failure. Thereafter, Love drove single-handedly. He picked up wins in the three hour races at Bulawayo and Pietermaritzburg. Love also finished second in the Cape Town 3 Hours.

Following its African exploits, Sid Taylor sold SL76/138 to Mike de Udy. The still orange, brown and gold car replaced de Udy’s previous T70 Mk3B GT (chassis SL76/149). Taylor then ran the ex-David Preston / Team Elite T70 for 1970 (chassis SL76/144).

Mike de Udy raced SL76/138 just once. It appeared at the 1970 Brands Hatch 1000km World Sportscar Championship event where de Udy and Frank Gardner qualified twelfth. Unfortunately, they retired from the soaking wet race after 26 laps with a broken camshaft.

Immediately after Brands, de Udy sold the Lola to Paul Vestey. Vestey in turn passed it on to privateer, Mike Coombe.

Coombe had the car repainted purple and campaigned it throughout 1971 albeit without much notable success. He then sold it to Ferrari collector, Jack Le Fort.

Le Fort entered the car for Albert Powell to drive at the Rothmans 50,000 meet at Brands Hatch. Against the latest single seater machinery, it failed to qualify.

SL76/138 was subsequently converted to road-going trim at great expense.

In 1977, Jack Le Fort sold the by now red Lola to Ford GT40 expert, John Etheridge.

Notable History

Sid Taylor

White & Green livery

01/1969 London Racing Car Show

30/03/1969 BSC Silverstone International Trophy (B. Redman) 2nd oa, 2nd 2.0+ class (#29)
04/04/1969 BSC Snetterton Guards Trophy (B. Redman) DNF (#51)
07/04/1969 BSC Thruxton Embassy Trophy (B. Redman) 1st oa, 1st S2.0+ class (#4)
13/04/1969 WSC Brands Hatch 6 Hours (D. Hulme / P. Revson / S. Axelsson) DNF (#4)
25/04/1969 WSC Monza 1000km (F. Gardner / A. de Adamich) 5th oa, 2nd S5.0 class (#33)
17/05/1969 BSC Silverstone Martini Trophy (B. Redman) 2nd oa, 2nd S2.0+ class (#9)
26/05/1969 BSC Oulton Park Tourist Trophy (B. Redman) DNF (#39)
29/06/1969 IND Norisring 200 mile (B. Redman) 1st oa, 1st SRP3.0+ (#3)
13/07/1969 BSC Croft Wills Trophy (T. Taylor) 2nd oa, 2nd S2.0+ class (#2)
20/07/1969 IND Mugello GP (A. de Adamich / N. Vaccarella) 3rd oa, 1st S5.0 class (#71)
10/08/1969 BSC Thruxton Kodak Trophy (D. Hulme) 1st oa, 1st SP2.0+ class (#3)
17/08/1969 IND Swedish GP, Karlskoga (B. Redman) 1st oa, 1st 3.0+ class (#3)
24/08/1969 NDC Keimola (B. Redman) WDN (#??)
31/08/1969 NDC Mantorp Park (B. Redman) DNF (#2)
14/09/1969 NDC Anderstorp (B. Redman) 2nd oa, 1st S class (#14)
05/10/1969 IND Innsbruck Preis von Tirol (F. Gardner) 1st oa, 1st S2.0+ class (#15)

Orange, Brown & Gold Gunston livery

08/11/1969 SBK Kyalami 9 Hours (J. Love / B. Redman) DNF (#1)
22/11/1969 SBK Cape Town 3 Hours (J. Love) 2nd oa, 2nd 2.0+ class (#1)
05/12/1969 SBK Lourenco Marques 3 Hours (J. Love) DNF (#1)
13/12/1969 SBK Bulawayo 3 Hours (J. Love) 1st oa, 1st 2.0+ class (#1)
27/12/1969 SBK Roy Hesketh 3 Hours, Pietermaritzburg (J. Love) 1st oa, 1st 2.0+ class (#1)

Sold to Mike de Udy (Grand Bahama Racing Team)

12/04/1970 WSC Brands Hatch 1000km (M. De Udy / F. Gardner) DNF (#7)

Sold to Paul Vestey

Sold to Mike Coombe

Purple livery

04/04/1971 WSC Brands Hatch 1000km (B. Muir / G. Edwards) DNS (#4)
09/05/1971 WSC Spa 1000km (M. Coombe / P. Vestey) DNF (#29)
30/05/1971 IND Thruxton (M. Coombe) 2nd (#??)
31/05/1971 IND Silverstone Formula Libre (M. Coombe) 2nd oa (#146)
04/07/1971 IND Vila Real (M. Coombe) DNF (#7)
15/08/1971 IND Wunstorf (M. Coombe) DNF (#??)
29/08/1971 IND Mendig (M. Coombe) 6th oa, 6th SRP2.0+ class (#6)
11/09/1971 MGT Crystal Palace (M. Coombe) ran (#??)
03/10/1971 INT Hockenheim (M. Coombe) 12th oa (#7)
17/10/1971 IND Paris 1000km, Montlhery (M. Coombe / P.F. Rousselot) 12th oa, 3rd Gr.5 class (#18)

Sold to Jack Le Fort

Red livery

28/08/1972 IND Rothmans 50,000, Brands Hatch (A. Powell) DNQ (#54)

Converted to road-going trim

1977 sold to John Etheridge

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed

VIN: the David Piper / Solar Productions Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/150

<<<LOLA PORTAL
<<<T70 MK3B GT PORTAL
<<<T70 MK3B GT FOR SALE

HISTORY OF CHASSIS SL76/150

Chassis SL76/150 was one of 16 Lola T70 GTs built to Mk3B specification.

It was originally sold to renowned British privateer, David Piper.

David Piper was among the best known sports car entrants of the 1960s and early 1970s. He started out racing Lotus single seaters and made the switch to sports cars in 1962.

Mid-way through the ‘62 season, Piper purchased a Ferrari 250 GTO (chassis 3767 GT). The GTO was followed by a 250 LM (chassis 5897) and a 365 P2 (chassis 0836). The P2 was later uprated to P2/3 trim and then effectively converted to become a 412 P.

The bright green Lola was purchased as Piper’s primary race car for the 1969 season. That year, he also did a couple of events for the Ferrari and Porsche factory teams and intermittently ran his 412 P and a Porsche 908/02.

SL76/150 replaced the ageing Ferrari 250 LM Piper had campaigned for much of 1968. At non-FIA events that season, Piper often raced his 412 P. The 412 P was a car that the FIA had outlawed from the World Sportscar Championship with their new three-litre engine limit for Group 6 Prototypes.

By contrast, the Lola had no such issues and qualified for the Group 4 Sports class on account of having met the reduced 25-car production requirement introduced for 1968.

Piper raced his green Lola far and wide in 1969. He picked up a couple of wins (at the Montlhery Coupes de Vitesse and Hockenheim Solituderennen) and another half dozen podium finishes.

Piper was given a works drive in a Porsche 917 at the Nurburgring 1000km in May 1969. He acquired his own example towards the end of the year (chassis 010).

The 917 would effectively replace the Lola for 1970 so Piper frequently installed other drivers to pedal the T70 that year.

Chris Craft, Richard Attwood and Jean-Pierre Beltoise all raced SL76/150 in 1970. Attwood picked up a couple of wins in France (at Montlhery and Dijon) and Beltoise won the car’s final race in Piper’s ownership (at Magny Cours).

In the second half of 1970, Piper was recruited by Solar Productions to source cars for their upcoming Steve McQueen movie, Le Mans.

Some filming took place at the 1970 Le Mans 24 Hour race. The crew then returned to Le Mans in November for more action shots. SL76/150 was one of many cars that appeared in the epic production.

In addition to sourcing cars for Solar Productions, Piper was one of several top drivers brought on board for the driving scenes. Unfortunately, he was involved in a nasty accident.

While behind the wheel of a Porsche 917, Piper lost control at high speed in the fast Maison Blanche kink near where John Woolfe had perished the previous year. The 917 was completely destroyed and Piper lost half of his right leg. He would continue as an entrant, but his top flight driving career was over.

After filming, Solar Productions sold SL76/150 to Parisian privateer, Pierre-Henri Archambeaud.

Throughout 1971 and 1972, Archambeaud raced the T70 along with his Porsche 911 S. He picked up myriad top three results in French championship events including a couple of wins at his home circuit of Montlhery.

The by now green, orange and white-striped Lola was retired at the end of the 1972 season.

It subsequently went through the hands of Franco Sbarro, who sold it back to David Piper, who in turn traded the car to Brian Redman.

SL76/150 later spent time in a Swedish collection before returning to the UK.

Notable History

Sold to David Piper, UK

Green livery

04/04/1969 BSC Snetterton Guards Trophy (D. Piper) DNF (#53)
07/04/1969 BSC Thruxton Embassy Trophy (D. Piper) 4th oa, 4th S2.0 class (#3)
13/04/1969 WSC Brands Hatch 6 Hours (D. Piper / R. Pierpoint) WDN c. 17th oa, 5th S5.0 class (#2)
20/04/1969 IND Montlhery Coupes de Vitesse (D. Piper) 1st oa, 1st 2.0+ class (#3)
25/04/1969 WSC Monza 1000km (D. Piper / P. Hawkins) DNF (#41)
01/05/1969 IND Magny-Cours Criterium des Nivernais (D. Piper) 3rd oa, 3rd SRP1.3+ class (#88)
04/05/1969 IND Dijon Criterium de Vitesse (D. Piper) 3rd oa (#2)
17/05/1969 BSC Silverstone Martini Trophy (D. Piper) 3rd oa, 3rd S2.0+ class (#7)
26/05/1969 BSC Oulton Park Tourist Trophy (D. Piper) 2nd oa, 2nd S2.0+ class (#38)
29/06/1969 IND Norisring 200 mile (R. Attwood) 4th oa, 2nd SRP3.0+ class (#1)
13/07/1969 IND Hockenheim Solituderennen (H. Herrmann) 1st oa, 1st S5.0 class (#20)
27/07/1969 IND Zeltweg Eroffnungsrennen (D. Piper) DNF (#25)
10/08/1969 WSC Zeltweg 1000km (D. Piper / D. Quester) DNF (#32)
24/08/1969 NDC Keimola (C. Craft) DNS (#??)
31/08/1969 NDC Mantorp Park (D. Piper) 4th (#29)
14/09/1969 NDC Anderstorp (D. Piper) 9th (#4)
21/09/1969 IND Preis von Salzburg, Salzburgring (D. Piper) 2nd oa, 1st S2.0+ class (#20)
27/09/1969 IND Zandvoort Dunes Trophy (D. Piper) 2nd oa, SP2.0+ class (#4)
12/10/1969 IND Paris 1000km, Montlhery (R. Attwood / M. Parkes) 10th oa, 6th S class (#1)
19/10/1969 IND Hockenheim Hessenpreis (H. Herrmann) 4th oa, 2nd S2.0+ class (#8)

11/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 1000km (C. Craft / R. Attwood) DNF (#26)
18/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 200 mile (C. Craft) 11th oa (#26)
30/03/1970 BSC Thruxton RAC (D. Piper) 15th oa, 4th S2.0+ class (#7)
24/05/1970 IND Paris GP, Montlhery (R. Attwood) 1st oa (#20)
07/06/1970 IND Dijon (R. Attwood) 1st oa (#43)
21/06/1970 IND Montlhery Coupes de l'ACIF (R. Attwood) 3rd oa (#1)
28/06/1970 INT Norisring (R. Attwood) DNF (#11)
05/07/1970 INT Hockenheim (R. Attwood) 5th oa (#5)
14/07/1970 IND Magny-Cours (J.P. Beltoise) 1st oa (#58)

Sold to Solar Productions Inc., North Hollywood, USA, for the film, Le Mans

Sold to Pierre-Henri Archambeaud, France

Green with Orange & White stripes

21/03/1971 FRA Albi (P.H. Archambeaud) 4th oa (#??)
28/03/1971 FRA Montlhery (P.H. Archambeaud) 4th oa (#??)
25/04/1971 IND Coupe de Printemps, Montlhery (P.H. Archambeaud) 7th oa (#22)
02/05/1971 FRA Magny-Cours (P.H. Archambeaud) DNF (#??)
23/05/1971 FRA Montlhery (P.H. Archambeaud) 1st oa (#??)
19/09/1971 IND Montlhery Coupes de Paris (P.H. Archambeaud) 3rd oa (#??)
03/10/1971 IND Paul Ricard International (P.H. Archambeaud) ran (#??)
10/10/1971 IND Montlhery Coupes du Salon (B. Wollek) ran (#4)
10/10/1971 FRA Montlhery (P.H. Archambeaud) 1st oa (#??)

26/03/1972 FRA Albi (P.H. Archambeaud) 4th oa (#??)
02/04/1972 FRA Nogaro (P.H. Archambeaud) 5th oa (#??)
16/04/1972 IND Montlhery Coupes de l'ACIF (P.H. Archambeaud) 3rd oa (#??)
01/05/1972 FRA Magny-Cours (P.H. Archambeaud) 4th oa (#??)
07/05/1972 IND Paul Ricard (P.H. Archambeaud) 4th oa (#??)
14/05/1972 FRA Montlhery (P.H. Archambeaud) 3rd oa (#1)
04/06/1972 FRA La Chatre (P.H. Archambeaud) 3rd oa (#??)
17/09/1972 IND Montlhery Coupes de Paris (P.H. Archambeaud) 5th oa (#1)
01/10/1972 IND Magny-Cours (P.H. Archambeaud) 2nd oa (#??)
08/10/1972 IND Montlhery (P.H. Archambeaud) 2nd oa (#4)

Later sold to Franco Sbarro, Switzerland

Later sold to David Piper, UK

Later sold to Brian Redman, UK

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia & unattributed

VIN: the Penske / Wolfman - Banzai Runners Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/139

<<<LOLA PORTAL
<<<T70 MK3B GT PORTAL
<<<T70 MK3B GT FOR SALE

HISTORY OF CHASSIS SL76/139

Chassis SL76/139 was the first T70 Mk3B GT.

Completed by Lola on December 30th 1968 and dispatched to the USA the next day, its destination was Roger Penske Racing in Philadelphia.

Penske had a reputation for turning out some of the best racing cars in the business and, once landed, SL76/139 was comprehensively reworked to include lots of parts from the Group 7 Lola T160.

The T70 was purchased by Penske to contest the triple crown of endurance racing: the Daytona 24 Hours, Sebring 12 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours. Like all Penske’s cars of the period, it ran in the dark blue and yellow colours of the Sun Oil Company (Sunoco).

SL76/139 was supposed to be driven at Daytona by Mark Donohue and Ronnie Bucknum. However, Bucknum had injured a finger in a motorcycle spill so was replaced during practice with Chuck Parsons. The Lola qualified second behind the works Porsche 908 Langheck of Vic Elford and Brian Redman.

The early stages of the race saw Donohue dice with the Porsches of Jo Siffert and Vic Elford at the head of the field. The Lola then began to fall back as Porsche occupied the first five positions and the Gulf Racing GT40s moved up the leaderboard.

At around one third distance, the Lola had a minor coming together with a Porsche and needed a long stop for body and exhaust system repairs; just over an hour was lost and any chance of victory seemed to have disappeared.

By midnight, Donohue and Parsons were eleventh, 44 laps behind the lead Porsche.

Three hours later, the Lola had risen to seventh and it continued to gain places as the front runners steadily encountered trouble.

With 18 hours gone, all the Porsches were out and the sole remaining Gulf GT40 followed soon afterwards.

Donohue / Parsons took the lead on the 484th lap. They finished on 626 laps, 30 clear of the older T70 GT driven by Ed Leslie and Lothar Motschenbacher. It was Lola’s first international long distance race win.

At Sebring six weeks later, Donohue was reunited with Bucknum and SL76/139 again qualified second. This time, it was behind the works Ferrari 312 P of Chris Amon and Mario Andretti.

For Sebring, the Lola’s fuel-injection had been switched to Weber carburettors after pick-up problems at Daytona. It was 40bhp down as a result. The front suspension had been strengthened, the rear anti-roll bar repositioned and a new engine cooling scoop added behind the cockpit.

Donohue got a great start in the race and the Lola led for much of the opening four-and-a-half hours. However, when the bumpy track caused a rear radius rod to pull out of the monocoque, its race was over.

Afterwards, two crew members were given the task of transporting SL76/139 back to Philadelphia on Penske’s distinctive Sunoco blue flatbed transporter. They got six miles up the road to Ormond Beach where they decided to stop for the night.

When they woke the next morning, the transporter was gone.

It was discovered later that day just a few miles down the road. The Lola was still on the truck but its engine had been crudely removed. The thieves had also stolen all of Penske’s tools and spares to include wheels, a gearbox and a spare engine.

About a month later, a tip off led the police to the crooks; they discovered a barn full of stolen goods including much of the Penske gear.

Roger Penske eventually arranged for SL76/139 to be repaired by a local firm.

It was made street legal, given a stock five-litre engine from a Z/28 Camaro, kitted out with a more comfortable interior and air-conditioning.

In its new configuration, the Lola appeared in the November 1970 edition of Car Craft magazine at which point it was on the temporary Philadelphia plate T598-215.

Penske sold SL76/139 to Mike Bohanon from Southern California. Also known as ‘Wolfman’ on account of his long hair and beard, Bohanon was a major marijuana dealer in the Los Angeles area and a founder member of the Banzai Runners.

The Banzai Runners did high speed early morning sorties on the freeways of Los Angeles; to join you had to do a run in excess of 150mph.

The club used a team with CB radios to spot traffic and scout the area for police. For this purpose, Bohanon had his Lola equipped with brighter than normal front lights.

Bohanon left the Banzai Runners in 1971 after the San Fernando earthquake made the freeway surface inconsistent. By this stage, the club had been over run by a new crowd.

SL76/169 was later acquired by Jim Landrum and restored to its 1969 race specification.

Notable History

Roger Penske Racing, Philadelphia

02/02/1969 WSC Daytona 24 Hours (Donohue / Parsons) 1st oa, 1st S5.0 class (#6)
22/03/1969 WSC Sebring 12 Hours (Bucknum / Donohue) DNF (#9)

23/03/1969 stolen but recovered later that day missing its engine.

Repaired and fitted with a Z/28 five-litre motor. Modified for road use.

11/1970 featured in Car Craft magazine

Sold to Mike ‘Wolfman’ Bohanon, Southern California

Later sold to Jim Landrum

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed & Motor Trend Group - https://www.motortrend.com/

VIN: the Ecurie Bonnier Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/143

<<<LOLA PORTAL
<<<T70 MK3B GT PORTAL
<<<T70 MK3B GT FOR SALE

HISTORY OF CHASSIS SL76/143

Chassis SL70/143 was one of the 16 B-spec. T70 MK3 GTs constructed by Lola.

It was supplied new to Swedish Formula 1 driver, Jo Bonnier, whose Grand Prix career included spells at BRM, Porsche and the Rob Walker Racing Team.

Ecurie Bonnier ordered chassis 143 to replace chassis 101, an old 1967 example that the team had campaigned throughout 1968. The new car was painted the Bonnier team colours of yellow with a broad white centre stripe and single red pinstripe.

It contested a mixture of World, British and Swedish sportscar championship events in 1969 plus a smattering of big independent events as well.

Highlights of its inaugural campaign included fifth overall and first in class at the Spa 1000km World Championship race, a brace of seconds in the British Sportscar Championship and outright victory in the Paris GP at Montlhery.

Throughout 1969, Jo Bonnier was a frequent guest driver in the Scuderia Filipinetti Lola T70s. The Swiss team’s number one driver, Herbert Muller, also appeared alongside Bonnier in chassis 143.

Another guest driver in the car was future F1 great and Bonnier’s fellow Swede, Ronnie Peterson. On home soil, Peterson drove chassis 143 to third place finishes in the 1969 Swedish GP and the 1970 Interserie race at Keimola.

The car was used in an equally diverse mix of events throughout 1970. Although grids were now swamped with Porsche 917s and Ferrari 512s, the bright yellow Lola was still able to pick up some strong results. It most notably finished in the top ten at each of its three World Championship events during 1970 and also secured a pair of Interserie podiums.

With five-litre Group 4 cars made obsolete at the end of 1970, there were suddenly fewer opportunities to compete.

Chassis 143 was sold, converted to Spider bodywork and, in its new configuration, is said to have contested a couple of Interserie events.

Thereafter, the car spent 40 years in storage at a Welsh farm prior to undergoing restoration to its original specification.

Notable History

Jo Bonnier (Ecurie Bonnier)
Yellow with White & Red central stripe

30/03/1969 BSC Silverstone International Trophy (J. Bonnier) 17th oa, 7th 2.0+ class (#38)
04/04/1969 BSC Snetterton Guards Trophy (J. Bonnier) 2nd oa, 2nd S5.0 class (#54)
07/04/1969 BSC Thruxton Embassy Trophy (J. Bonnier) 2nd oa, 2nd S2.0+ class (#1)
25/04/1969 WSC Monza 1000km (J. Bonnier / H. Muller) DNF (#40)
11/05/1969 WSC Spa 1000km (J. Bonnier / H. Muller) 5th oa, 1st S5.0 class (#32)
01/06/1969 WSC Nurburgring 1000km (J. Bonnier / H. Muller) DNF (#55)
08/06/1969 IND Paris GP, Montlhery (J. Bonnier) 1st oa, 1st S class (#32)
29/06/1969 IND Norisring 200 mile (J. Bonnier) DNF (#2)
17/08/1969 IND Swedish GP, Karlskoga (R. Peterson) 3rd oa, 2nd in class (#14)
24/08/1969 NDC Keimola (M. Gregory) DNS WDN over prize money (#9)
31/08/1969 NDC Mantorp Park (J. Bonnier / M. Gregory) 6th oa, 3rd S class (#1)
14/09/1969 NDC Anderstorp (J. Bonnier) 4th oa, 3rd S class (#6)
08/11/1969 SBK Kyalami 9 Hours (J. Bonnier / R. Wisell) DNF (#2)

11/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 1000km (J. Bonnier / R. Wisell) DNF (#18)
18/01/1970 TEM Buenos Aires 200 mile (J. Bonnier) 5th oa (#18)
30/03/1970 BSC RAC Thruxton RAC (J. Bonnier) 3rd oa, 2nd S5.0 class (#8)
12/04/1970 WSC Brands Hatch 1000km (J. Bonnier / R. Wisell) 7th oa, 5th S5.0 class (#5)
17/05/1970 WSC Spa 1000km (J. Bonnier / R. Wisell) 10th oa, 9th S5.0 class (#33)
28/06/1970 INT Norisring (J. Bonnier) 5th oa (#5)
05/07/1970 INT Hockenheim (J. Bonnier) 3rd oa (#4)
11/07/1970 WSC Watkins Glen 6 Hours (J. Bonnier / R. Wisell) 8th oa, 7th S5.0 class (#50)
12/07/1970 CAM Watkins Glen (J. Bonnier) 11th oa, 7th S5.0 class (#50)
09/08/1970 IND Swedish GP, Karlskoga (R. Wisell) 5th oa (#15)
23/08/1970 INT Keimola (R. Peterson) 3rd oa (#14)
11/10/1970 INT Hockenheim (J. Bonnier) 8th oa, 3rd S2.0+ class (#66)
18/10/1970 IND Nurburgring (H. Muller) 5th oa, 1st SRP5.0 class (#3)

Reputedly sold and converted to Spider trim
Stored for 40 years

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia

VIN: the Mecom Racing Team Lola Mk6 GT chassis LGT-2

<<<LOLA PORTAL
<<<MK6 GT PORTAL

HISTORY OF CHASSIS LGT-2

Chassis LGT-2 was one of the two Mk6 GTs fitted with an aluminium monocoque after the prototype (LGT-P) had been completed with a steel monocoque.

LGT-1 was retained by Lola as a works car and LGT-2 was sold to millionaire Texan industrialist, John Mecom Jr.

The son of John Mecom Sr. (one of America’s top independent oilmen), John Mecom Jr. was only 23 when he acquired the Lola. Nevertheless, his privateer Mecom Racing Team already boasted an enviable stable of machinery and a fine roster of drivers.

Perhaps most famously, it was Mecom’s Lola T90 that won the 1966 Indianapolis 500 with Graham Hill at the wheel.

John Mecom Jr. took delivery of LGT-2 in time for the Guards Trophy at Brands Hatch on August 6th 1963.

Like most of Mecom’s sports cars, the Lola was painted metallic blue with a white centre stripe. However, it arrived late and Augie Pabst started from the back of the grid after he missed practice.

Pabst’s race only lasted four laps before the Ford engine lost oil pressure and expired.

Mecom took the car back to the US where it was fitted with a six-litre Traco-tuned Chevrolet V8. In this configuration, Pabst won the end-of-season Nassau Tourist Trophy at the Bahamas Speed Week.

Thereafter, success was limited.

In 1964, LGT-2 failed to finish at Sebring, did not start the Player’s 200 at Mosport, took seventh in an SCCA National race at Road America and then placed eleventh overall at the Brands Hatch Guards Trophy.

After Brands, it was returned to Lola for some modifications. By this time, Eric Broadley had quit his two-year contract with Ford to develop the GT40 and was back at Lola full-time.

LGT-2 was uprated with new wide track suspension, bigger brakes with better cooling, improved driver ventilation, Cobra-style FIA wheels and GT40 hubs. The wider wheels also required all four wheelarches to be dramatically flared.

Back in America, LGT-2 was entered for the US Road Racing Championship finale; a 500 mile contest at Road America on September 14th. Once again, Pabst was forced to retire, this time after 30 laps with a radiator issue.

The car’s next outing should have been the 200-mile Los Angeles Time Grand Prix at Riverside on October 11th. However, a sticking throttle in practice saw the Lola crash heavily into a guard rail. Pabst was lucky to escape with his life as the top of the aluminium canopy was nearly shorn off.

Rather than have LGT-2 repaired, John Mecom Jr. decided to cut his losses and put the damaged Lola into storage.

He eventually sold the partially repaired car in 1986.

Notable History

John Mecom Jr. (Mecom Racing Team), Texas

Metallic Blue with White centre stripe
Temporarily registered on British trade plate 0142 KE

06/08/1963 IND Brands Hatch Guards Trophy (A. Pabst) DNF (#3)

4.7-litre Ford V8 replaced with a 6-litre Traco Chevrolet V8

01/12/1963 BSW Nassau Tourist Trophy Preliminary (A. Pabst) 1st oa, 1st GTP class (#00)
01/12/1963 BSW Nassau Tourist Trophy (A. Pabst) 1st oa, 1st GTP class (#00)

21/03/1964 WSC Sebring 12 Hours (A. Pabst / W. Hansgen) DNF (#20)
06/06/1964 CSC Mosport Player's 200 (A. Pabst) DNS (#9)
21/06/1964 SCA National Road America (A. Pabst) 7th oa, 2nd CM class (#2)
03/08/1964 IND Brands Hatch Guards Trophy (A. Pabst) 11th oa, 7th SP2.0+ class (#8)

Returned to Lola and modified with wide track suspension, bigger brakes with better cooling, improved driver ventilation, Cobra-style FIA wheels, GT40 hubs and flared wheelarches

13/09/1964 USR Road America 500 mile (A. Pabst) DNF (#1)
11/10/1964 IND Riverside 200 mile (A. Pabst) DNS (#24)

Damaged in Pabst’s practice crash at Riverside

1986 sold partially repaired to Gordon Gemball, Seattle

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: The Henry Ford Museum - https://www.thehenryford.org/

VIN: the works / Ford Motor Company Lola Mk6 GT chassis LGT-1

<<<LOLA PORTAL
<<<MK6 GT PORTAL

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

VIN: the works / Ford Motor Company Lola Mk6 GT chassis LGT-P

<<<LOLA PORTAL
<<<MK6 GT PORTAL

HISTORY OF CHASSIS LGT-P

Chassis LGT-P was the original Mk6 GT prototype. It was the only Mk6 GT built with a steel as opposed to aluminium monocoque.

Lola took it to Olympia in January 1963 for the London Racing Car Show but, at this stage, it had not been fitted with a functional drivetrain. Equipped as a road car with vivid turquoise seats to match the turquoise chassis, a 4.2-litre Ford V8 with single Holley carb was subsequently installed.

The low-slung silver Lola then made the Mk6 GT’s competition debut when it appeared at the Silverstone International Trophy race for GT and Sports cars on May 11th.

John Surtees drove the car in practice but was outlawed from racing it by his employers at Ferrari.

Tony Maggs stepped in at the last moment and started from the back of the grid; he had never even sat in the car before the race began.

At an average speed of around 100mph, Maggs progressed up the 43-car field to eventually finish ninth overall and fifth in the over two-litre class.

One week later, LGT-P was entered for the Nurburgring 1000km World Sportscar Championship event.

Maggs was co-driven by Bob Olthoff and the Lola qualified a reasonable ninth. The race proved a disappointment though as Maggs had to stop at the end of the first lap for the rear wheel nuts to be tightened up. He then retired on lap four with a broken distributor.

After its appearance at the Nurburgring, LGT-P was retired from competition duty as two new cars with aluminium monocoques were nearing completion (LGT-1 and LGT-2).

Following LGT-1’s performance at Le Mans in June, the Ford Motor Company purchased it along with LGT-P to act as mobile test beds for what would become the GT40. Ford had failed in their quest to buy Ferrari and were planning a Sports car programme of their own. They considered the Mk6 GT to be the perfect foundation and Eric Broadley was given a two-year deal to work with them as part of the GT40 design team.

However, Broadly quit the project after twelve months and received LGT-P as part of his settlement.

LGT-P was then stored back at the Lola factory in Slough where, in May 1965, it was spotted by Shelby American racing driver, Allen Grant.

Grant was in England working for Shelby at Ford Advanced Vehicles (FAV). The FAV operation was on the same industrial estate as Lola.

Grant spotted the Mk6 GT under a cover in the corner of the Lola factory and struck a deal with Broadley to buy it for $3000.

Allen Grant has owned LGT-P ever since.

Notable History

Lola Cars

Silver with Turquoise interior

01/1963 London Racing Car Show

11/05/1963 IND Silverstone International Trophy (T. Maggs) 9th oa, 5th S2.0+ class (#48)
19/05/1963 WSC Nurburgring 1000km (T. Maggs / B. Olthoff) DNF (#115)

Purchased by Ford Motor Company for GT40 testing and development

1964 returned to Eric Broadly as part of his settlement from Ford

May 1965 sold to Allen Grant, USA

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Lola Heritage - http://www.lolaheritage.co.uk

VIN: the Paul Hawkins Lola T70 Mk3B GT chassis SL76/142

<<<LOLA PORTAL
<<<T70 MK3B GT PORTAL
<<<T70 MK3B GT FOR SALE

HISTORY OF CHASSIS SL76/142

Considered among the best sports car drivers of his time, Australian Paul Hawkins was variously employed by the works Porsche and Ferrari teams as well as Carroll Shelby and the Gulf-backed John Wyer Automotive Engineering squad between 1966 and 1968.

In 1967, he established Paul Hawkins Racing and went on to purchase several top flight cars including a Ford GT40 and Ferrari 350 Can-Am. A pair of Lola T70s were also acquired by the Aussie driver: a 1967 Mk3 GT from Jackie Epstein and a brand new quasi-works 1969 Mk3B GT (chassis SL76/142).

This latest machine was painted red with white tabs and, in Hawkins’ hands, proved to be one of the quickest T70s around. It took pole at the Spa 1000km World Championship race and would have secured a class victory were it not for an engine failure late on.

In addition to several World Championship events, Hawkins planned to do a full season in the 1969 British Sports Car Championship.

The first three rounds yielded a win at Snetterton and two third places. Fourth position at a wet Silverstone followed although Hawkins had looked certain to win in Northamptonshire before a throttle linkage pin broke.

Round five was the Oulton Park Tourist Trophy and Hawkins started from pole. However, in changeable conditions, he found himself seventh during the closing stages after a stop for dry tyres.

Attempting to charge back up the order, the Lola ran wide onto the grass at Island Bend and span across the road before it slammed into a tree.

The car was engulfed in a huge sheet of flame and Paul Hawkins was killed instantly.

The burning wreck blocked the track and the rest of the race was called off.

Notable History

Paul Hawkins Racing, Slough

Red with white tabs

30/03/1969 BSC Silverstone International Trophy (P. Hawkins) 3rd oa, 3rd 2.0+ class (#28)
04/04/1969 BSC Snetterton Guards Trophy (P. Hawkins) 1st oa, 1st S5.0 class (#52)
07/04/1969 BSC Thruxton Embassy Trophy (P. Hawkins) 3rd oa, 3rd S2.0+ class (#2)
13/04/1969 WSC Brands Hatch 6 Hours (P. Hawkins / J. Williams) DNF (#1)
01/05/1969 IND Magny-Cours (P. Hawkins) 2nd oa, 2nd SRP 1.3+ class (#84)
04/05/1969 IND Dijon (P. Hawkins) 1st oa (#1)
11/05/1969 WSC Spa 1000km (P. Hawkins / D. Prophet) 8th oa, 2nd S5.0 class (#33)
17/05/1969 BSC Silverstone Martini Trophy (P. Hawkins) 4th oa, 4th S2.0+ class (#3)
26/05/1969 BSC Oulton Park Tourist Trophy (P. Hawkins) DNF (#37)

Destroyed in Hawkins’ fatal accident at the Oulton Park Tourist Trophy

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia