Hi All,
Sorry, guys, in previous postings I’ve played guessing games. Time for the truth. Yes, we are looking closely at a Lola T70 Mk111B replica. As the Lola is a ‘cousin’ of the GT40 I’m sure it’ll be OK to talk about this car on this forum.
We’ve sourced all the drawings, jigs, moulds, parts, etc, required to build a precise copy of the original car, right down to the last nut, bolt and rivet. The jig-saw puzzle pieces are in place and it’s now a case of putting it all together and working out all the various ramifications of getting the project going.
Back in 1990 Eric Broadley gave Ray Christopher and Graham Kelsey of GTD permission to build a replica the T70. As they already had their GT40 space frame it was a logical progression to fit the Lola on to it with minor changes to accommodate the Lola’s more rounded shape. When I paid them a visit in 1991 to suggest to them that they have their cars built in South Africa I saw their stunning yellow demonstrator. There seems to be two camps – those who like the T70 and those who don’t. Both cars have appeal in different ways just like Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida (mentioning film stars like that might just give an indication of one’s age!) General consensus is that the GT40 is a prettier car than the T70 but that the T70 is more brutal in appearance. I think I agree.
In 1995 a friend imported a T70 kit from GTD and started building it up himself. At about the 30% stage he ran out of steam and time and brought the car through to my factory for completion. In his usual way Norman Lewis did a stunning job and as he’s a former RAF jet aircraft electrician the electrics are a work of art. Norman also cladded the space frame with aluminium panels to resemble a monocoque and about 2 000 rivets were used.
Engine is 400bhp Chevvy with four downdraught Webers, Brodix performance street heads, roller cams and rockers as well as four bolt mains block. Gearbox is Renault 20/30.
There was a problem worth relating, one of those annoying ones that require lateral thinking. When the car was fired up for the first time the engine ran roughly and unevenly and no matter what the owner did, he and so-called V-8 experts couldn’t solve the problem. He tracked down Weber specialists Inglese Induction Systems in Connecticut and they found that the cam was designed to partner a Holley carb. They despatched the correct cam and all the set up specs and from then the big
V-8 has been as smooth as silk.
The owner having realised his dream of building and owning a T70 now hardly drives the car and consequently it’s for sale.
For some time now I’ve been asking David Piper and his partner, Mike Knight (no not that one , the other one!) to motivate the inclusion of precise replicas into their classic and historic class. Thus far, an emphatic no, as only original cars with FIA papers are allowed. But there does seem to be a glimmer of hope.
On the other hand replicas are allowed in the Sports and GT class in the UK in which Graham Turner (GTA Racing) races his Gulf sponsored GT40 and soon I believe his 917 replica.
Question is how big would the market be in the US? ‘Big’ is a relative word as I would envisage no more than 12 to 18 cars per year world wide. No big deal.
My friend Denys will post some pics. The colour pic with Table Mountain in the background has a split down the front of the car which is due to the photo having been spread across two pages in a magazine article and the middle bit being lost in the fold.
Tip for today – Find the good in every situation!
Andre 40
Sorry, guys, in previous postings I’ve played guessing games. Time for the truth. Yes, we are looking closely at a Lola T70 Mk111B replica. As the Lola is a ‘cousin’ of the GT40 I’m sure it’ll be OK to talk about this car on this forum.
We’ve sourced all the drawings, jigs, moulds, parts, etc, required to build a precise copy of the original car, right down to the last nut, bolt and rivet. The jig-saw puzzle pieces are in place and it’s now a case of putting it all together and working out all the various ramifications of getting the project going.
Back in 1990 Eric Broadley gave Ray Christopher and Graham Kelsey of GTD permission to build a replica the T70. As they already had their GT40 space frame it was a logical progression to fit the Lola on to it with minor changes to accommodate the Lola’s more rounded shape. When I paid them a visit in 1991 to suggest to them that they have their cars built in South Africa I saw their stunning yellow demonstrator. There seems to be two camps – those who like the T70 and those who don’t. Both cars have appeal in different ways just like Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida (mentioning film stars like that might just give an indication of one’s age!) General consensus is that the GT40 is a prettier car than the T70 but that the T70 is more brutal in appearance. I think I agree.
In 1995 a friend imported a T70 kit from GTD and started building it up himself. At about the 30% stage he ran out of steam and time and brought the car through to my factory for completion. In his usual way Norman Lewis did a stunning job and as he’s a former RAF jet aircraft electrician the electrics are a work of art. Norman also cladded the space frame with aluminium panels to resemble a monocoque and about 2 000 rivets were used.
Engine is 400bhp Chevvy with four downdraught Webers, Brodix performance street heads, roller cams and rockers as well as four bolt mains block. Gearbox is Renault 20/30.
There was a problem worth relating, one of those annoying ones that require lateral thinking. When the car was fired up for the first time the engine ran roughly and unevenly and no matter what the owner did, he and so-called V-8 experts couldn’t solve the problem. He tracked down Weber specialists Inglese Induction Systems in Connecticut and they found that the cam was designed to partner a Holley carb. They despatched the correct cam and all the set up specs and from then the big
V-8 has been as smooth as silk.
The owner having realised his dream of building and owning a T70 now hardly drives the car and consequently it’s for sale.
For some time now I’ve been asking David Piper and his partner, Mike Knight (no not that one , the other one!) to motivate the inclusion of precise replicas into their classic and historic class. Thus far, an emphatic no, as only original cars with FIA papers are allowed. But there does seem to be a glimmer of hope.
On the other hand replicas are allowed in the Sports and GT class in the UK in which Graham Turner (GTA Racing) races his Gulf sponsored GT40 and soon I believe his 917 replica.
Question is how big would the market be in the US? ‘Big’ is a relative word as I would envisage no more than 12 to 18 cars per year world wide. No big deal.
My friend Denys will post some pics. The colour pic with Table Mountain in the background has a split down the front of the car which is due to the photo having been spread across two pages in a magazine article and the middle bit being lost in the fold.
Tip for today – Find the good in every situation!
Andre 40
