1966 Lola T70 MKII Coupe

In 1963, Eric Broadley's innovative Lola MK 6 GT with their mid-engined layout, coupe bodies, and Ford Fairlane V8 power proved to be potent competitors at Le Mans. Pleased with the car's capabilities, Ford hired Broadley to oversee what was to become the GT40 program. After leaving that project, Broadley decided to further develop the mid-engined them and built cars for the Group 7 category.

Introduced in early 1965, the new T70 model was given a steel-reinforced aluminum monocoque with double wishbone coil spring/shock suspension in both the front and rear. The unusual brake layout had discs in the front mounted in a location to receive maximum cooling air rather than being hidden inside the wheels. The fiberglass body was lightweight and aerodynamic and designed to accommodate the large-displacement American V8 engines, including Oldsmobile, Chevrolet and Ford. A few chassis were given Aston Martin and BRM powerplant, though they did not enjoy the same successes as the American V8s. 15 examples of the MK1 'Spiders' were built, followed by 33 MK. 2 versions, and 31 of the MK3, of which were built in both open and closed configuration. The MK.3B series comprised four Spiders and 22 MK.3B GT coupes (plus two spare chassis).

Reigning F1 World Champion John Surtees drove his Chevrolet-powered T70 MK.2 to three wins in six races of the 1966 Canadian-American Challenge to winner of the Championship. After this impressive accomplishment, sales for the Group 7 T70 Spider took off. The last iteration of the T70 was intended for Group 4, which required a minimum of 50 completed cars to satisfy homologation requirements, and a closed body. The T70 MK.3GT coupe was introduced in 1967. It had a body shape that was stable at high speeds and could be raced in both categories by simply changing the body.

This Lola, with chassis number SL71/39, is the 24th chassis in the MK. 2 series. It was delivered new as a Spider in August of 1966 to John Mecom. It was later sold to Carl Haas who kept it as a back-up for his Simoniz-sponsored team of MK. 3s campaigned by chuck Parsons and Skip Scott. The car was entered in the Road America race in 1968, though it did not race in that event. It was soon sold to Duane Zinola who drove it at Riverside, finishing 5th at year's Runoffs. The next owner was Ron Grable, who drove it just once, at the Edmonton round of the 1968 Can-Am series, where it DNF'd with clutch failure. In October, 1969, Grable offered the car for sale with a Traco-rebuilt 366-cubic inch Chevrolet engine.

John Williamson purchased it in the late 1960s and raced it at the 1969 Laguna Seca Can-Am, but was disqualified for being too slow. It failed to qualify for the Riverside round, so Williamson handed driving duties over to Lou Pavesi, who qualified but would drop out of the race with a blown tire. Williamson later ran SL71/39 at several club-level races.

The next owner was Mac McClendon who had the car restored in 2004. The current owner converted to the car to MK.3B coupe specifications. Power is from a 355 cubic-inch Chevrolet engine with 48mm Weber carburetors and a Hewland LG600 transaxle.

In 2012 the car was offered for sale at the Quail Lodge presented by Bonhams Auction. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for $324,000 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012