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1963 Lola Mk 6 GT

1963 Lola Mk 6 GT 1963 Lola Mk 6 GT 1963 Lola Mk 6 GT High bid of $1,200,000 at 2014 RM Auctions at Monterey. (did not sell)
Eric Broadley's firm would gain notable recognition toward the mid-to-late 1960s as it partnered with Ford to mount an attack on Ferrari's dominance at Le Mans. However, the foundations would be laid much earlier causing Lola to be on the forefront of mid-engine sportscars.

The foundations would be laid at the Olympia Racing Car Show in January of 1963. Upon this stage Broadley would introduce Lola's latest GT creation, and it would be truly revolutionary.

At its introduction, the new Lola Mk 6 GT would require a bit of imagination as it was a non-running example, and therefore not much different than many other manufacturers who had tried to place big-bore engines at the back of a GT car. The display would suggest Broadley's team had solved the issue of the incredible torque, but the display wasn't necessarily proof. The proof would come about six months later.

At the 1963 24 Hours of Le Mans, Dickie Attwood and David Hobbs would take to the wheel of the Mk 6 GT around the famed eight mile circuit. Taking advantage of the 530hp, 5.7-liter Chevrolet V8, Attwood and Hobbs would come all the way from the back of the field to run as high as 9th place. Lap after lap, the Lola would redefine the big block, mid-engine sportscar. Completing 151 laps, the Lola would only come undone when it suffered an accident. Despite the accident, Attwood would immediately know the car was something special.

Sadly, finances would prevent the Mk 6 GT from being produced in any sizable numbers. In fact, just three examples would be built before Ford would realize what Broadley had built and inquired about building what would become the famed GT40. Nevertheless, the GT40's predecessor would not lack suitors.

One of those suitors that would recognize the strengths of the Mk 6 would be none other than John Mecom, the Texas racing team owner. Coming across the Lola while on his honeymoon, Mecom would put in an order and would receive chassis LGT-2. Mecom's example would be held for the Texan as he would enter the '63 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of the Lola factory effort. The car was intended to be a second car effort. Sadly, the car would sit idly by serving as a spare for LGT-1.

LGT-2 would actually take to the track in the International Guard's Trophy race held at Brands Hatch. Augie Pabst would get a demonstration run and then would be given the task of driving the car in the race. Fearing for his life behind the wheel, Pabst would find some relief when an oil pressure problem forced the car to retire after just a few laps.

Undaunted, Mecom would take LGT-2 and would have the problems rectified. However, before he would be able to do anything with the car Ford would come calling. They wanted every example of the Mk 6 GT for the GT40 project. Mecome would be rather annoyed by Ford's approach and would deny them the car. Instead, the Texan would ship the car back to the U.K. to have the Chevrolet engine tuned. The result would be a car that was not only faster, but lighter as well. In December of 1963 the car would make an appearance at the Nassau Speed Week and would duly go out and win its preliminary event. Then, in the Tourist Trophy race, LGT-2 would again end up victorious.

Heading into the 1964 12 Hours of Sebring, LGT-2 would be a favorite with Pabst and Walter Hansgen as the car's drivers. However, the car would complete just 44 laps before engine problems sidelined the car for the remainder of the race.

LGT-2 would return to the Lola factory once again where it would undergo some more modifications. These would include a further tuned suspension, wider track, GT40-style hubs and modified front and rear fenders. Once finished, this aggressive-looking Mk 6 GT would return to the United States ready for action.

Unfortunately, the car would continue to run into some reliability issues, and then, at the Los Angeles Times Grand Prix, held at Riverside, Pabst would suffer a sticking throttle. The result would be the Lola plowed hard into a guardrail nearly taking the top of the car clean off. Pabst, amazingly, would not be severely hurt in the incident, but the car would be finished.

Following the accident Mecom would store the Mk 6 GT away. The car would be nearly forgotten about for nearly a couple of decades. It had not undergone any restoration. It remained in its state when it plowed headlong into the guardrail. Then, in 1986, an attempt would be made to restore the car.

The restoration would be only partially completed before Gordon Gemball would show an interest in owning it. Gemball would take delivery of the car and would keep it in his possession for a couple of years before he would sell the Lola to Chuck Haines of Missouri.

Haines was intent on having the Lola restored. Therefore, he would commission Tom Frederick to take on the endeavor. Frederick was by no means a stranger to such cars. He had been a former Can-Am crew chief and had years of experience. Less than a year after coming to own the car, Haines would sell LGT-2 to Peter Kaus.

The well known German collector would have to have the Lola and would display it proudly in his Rosso Bianco Museum where it would stay until 2006.

Following the period with Kaus, the Lola would go on to be a part of the Louwmn Family Collection in Holland. While with the family the Lola would continue to undergo restoration work. Hall and Hall in England would take up the effort. Their more than two decades of experience would come in handy as the car would be renewed. The effort would finally come to an end in 2010. Immediately, LGT-2 would make its presence felt in a number of vintage events, such as the SOVREN Historics held at the Pacific Raceway in Kent. This appearance would be followed up with a trip to the 2011 Silverstone Classic and then the 2012 Techno Classic held in Essen, Germany.

In addition to all of the events, LGT-2 would receive a FIVA Historic Technical Passport from the UK Motor Sports Association, which only furthered the car's eligibility for vintage and historic events.

Muscular from every angle, mean and aggressive, the 1963 Lola Mk 6 GT certainly has the blood lines of the iconic GT40. From select breeding come champions and the Mk 6 GT was what made the GT40 possible. The car is not a mere footnote in GT racing history. It represents a landmark of discovery; a moment that made everything else possible.

One of just three ever built, LGT-2 represents very select company. It didn't achieve the success, notoriety or the fame of the later generation, but it is by no means unspectacular and unimportant. It is one of just three automobiles that changed…well the whole landscape of mid-engined sportscars.

Offered at the 2014 RM Auctions event held in Monterey, chassis LGT-2, the 1963 Lola Mk 6 GT would draw pre-auction estimates ranging well into the seven figure categories. As it made its appearance the bidding would go north of $1,000,000 but would ultimately fall short of the reserve having a high bid top out at $1,200,000.

By Jeremy McMullen
1963 Lola Mk 6 GT 1963 Lola Mk 6 GT 1963 Lola Mk 6 GT This car is the prototype Lola GT MK6, the first of only three constructed before Ford Motor Company hired its designer and Lola Cars owner, Eric Broadley, to design its new Ford GT40. Ford also purchased this and the second car built to use as mules to test components of its new GT40 as they were being designed.

The world famous Ford GT40 won LeMans four years in a row starting in 1966 defeating Enzo Ferrari, Henry Ford II's nemesis in the process. The new 2016 Ford GT won LeMans again this year, once again defeating Ferrari.

The Lola GT Mk6 was also the inspiration for the famous Lola T70 sports car which won many races worldwide including the 1966 Can-Am Championship.

The chassis is a semi-monocque sheet steel tub with formed panels and tubular framework front and rear for suspension mounting. Thirty gallons of fuel is carried in two 'D' section tanks flanking the central tub.

Broadley originally designed the car around the 260 CID Ford pushrod V8, but switched to the Ford 289 CID High Performance Cobra engine when it came out in early 1963. It had the capability of developing over 350 horsepower. The engine is mated to a Colotti 4-speed transaxle.

The Lola GT is 40-inches tall, has a 92-inch wheelbase, and 52-inch track, and is 63 inches wide and 154 inches long. Weight of the car is 1,485 pounds and required 440 pounds of ballast to bring it to race weight required by the FIA rules.

The history of this car includes January of 1963 - introduced at the London Racing car show. In May of 1963 it raced at the Silverstone International Tourist Trophy where it finished in 5th place being driven by Tony Maggs. Also in May, it was driven by Tony Maggs and Bob Olthoff at the Nurburgring 1000km. The car had rear wheel trouble and was unable to finish the race.

The Ford Motor Company purchased the car in August of 1963. It was then used until June of 1964 for testing Ford GT40 components. In July of 1964, Eric Broadley obtained the car in Ford settlement. In May of 1965, Allen Grant purchased the car from Lola Cars for $3,000. It has remained in Allen's car for over five decades.

Allen Grand was one of Carroll Shelby's first employees and a driver on the Shelby American Team that won the 1965 World GT Championship driving the Cobra Daytona Coupes.

1963 Lola Mk 6 GT Vehicle Profiles

1963 Lola Mk 6 GT vehicle information
Coupe

Chassis #: LGT-2

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