1969 Lola T70 MkIIIB

For Sale

2 Feb

£ 795,000

One of just sixteen T70 MkIIIBs produced in period, this ex-Jo Bonnier example has an international period racing history and remains a formidable force in historic racing today.

Overview

One of just sixteen original Lola T70 MkIIIb's produced by the British marque in period
Fantastic period history, including entries at the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and 6 Hours of Brands Hatch
Driven by notable drivers, including Jackie Oliver, Jo Bonnier and Carlos Reutemann
Potential to choose from one of at least three glorious period liveries
Sold to Solar Productions for use in the film ‘Le Mans’ with Steve McQueen
Accompanied by a vast history file documenting provenance from new
Restored by US-based marque expert Mac McLendon in the late-1990s
Rebuilt for the vendor by British Lola T70 expert Clive Robertson in 2007 who also conducted a bare-chassis rebuild ahead of the 2024 season (unused since)
Raced regularly in historic events for almost two decades and a proven front-runner, including three overall victories at the Silverstone Classic, two victories at Spa and multiple podiums at Le Mans Classic
Road registered and accompanied by a UK V5
Sale includes a spares package featuring spare wheels and bodywork
Eligible and extremely competitive for many of the finest historic racing events on the calendar, including: Peter Auto's CER 1, Masters Sports Car Legends, Le Mans Classic (Plateau 5), HSR in the US, including Daytona and Sebring Classics


Details

Introduced in 1965, the Lola T70 is celebrated as one of the all-time great sports racers. John Surtees drove the original Spyder version to victory in the inaugural Can-Am Challenge Cup, after which the T70 continued to evolve, culminating in the stunning T70 MkIIIb Coupe of 1969. This model achieved a landmark victory at the Daytona 24 Hours, piloted by Mark Donohue and Chuck Parsons. Even today, the T70 MkIIIb remains a formidable competitor in historic racing events.
The T70 was the first sports racer developed by Lola founder Eric Broadley after his work on the Ford GT40 project. In many ways, it was a more refined version of the GT40, featuring a predominantly aluminium monocoque and sleek Spyder bodywork. Designed to accommodate either Chevrolet or Ford small-block V8 engines, the T70 Spyder enjoyed success on both sides of the Atlantic following its debut in 1965. In 1966, John Surtees drove an evolution of the model, then powered by a Chevrolet V8, to victory in the first Can-Am series.
In 1967, Lola introduced the MkIII Coupe, which competed at Le Mans with an Aston Martin V8 engine that proved unreliable. However, Chevrolet-powered versions were more successful. A rule change before the 1968 season further boosted the Coupe's prospects. Pure prototypes were restricted to three-litre engines, while production GT cars could use five-litre engines. With the homologation rules initially requiring at least 50 examples to have been produced, a later adjustment to just half that amount enabled the T70 to become eligible for the new Group 4 class.
Ahead of the 1969 season, Lola introduced the ultimate T70 development: the MkIIIb, known internally as the T76. This model featured a lighter and more rigid monocoque with aluminium bulkheads, suspension from the new T142 Formula 5000, magnesium uprights, and ventilated disc brakes on all four corners. It was equipped with a Traco-prepared '304' Chevrolet V8 engine with four carburettors as standard.
Visually, the MkIIIb evolved from its predecessor, incorporating twin headlights and broader rear bodywork to accommodate wider tyres. The rear also featured adjustable trim tabs to enhance downforce. The bodywork included pioneering carbon-fibre reinforcement strips in both the front and rear sections. Forward-tilting doors replaced the 'gull-wing' doors of the MkIII for improved safety. According to Lola's specifications, the T70 MkIIIb weighed 860 kilograms with fluids, while the Traco-built V8 produced 480bhp.
To ensure full homologation as a Group 4 sports car, the new MkIIIb retained the T70 name. Production began in late 1968, and one of the first cars was sent to Roger Penske for the Daytona 24 Hours. In a particularly gruelling race, Mark Donohue and Chuck Parsons drove the Sunoco-liveried T70 MkIIIb to a sensational victory. Lola eventually built and sold sixteen MkIIIb examples, achieving considerable worldwide success.
The T70 was ultimately outpaced by the Porsche 917, which adopted a rear bodywork design similar to the T70 MkIIIb. During its career, the T70 MkIIIb also received a fuel-injected version of the Chevy small-block. While this engine struggled in period with the low-grade pump fuel available at European circuits, the T70 MkIIIb has enjoyed a renaissance in historic racing today where the V8 engine's reliability and performance underline its enduring appeal.
Factory-built continuation models were produced in the late 1970s and again in the 2000s, but none are more coveted than the original sixteen MkIIIbs built in late 1968 and early 1969.
According to the work of author and historian Gordon Jones, the fourth T70 MkIIIB built, chassis SL76/141, was sold new to Swedish racing driver Ulf Norinder. The hugely experienced driver had previously piloted a wide variety of machinery, including a Ferrari 250 GTO, Porsche 906 and most recently, a Lola T70 MkIII. He acquired the car through compatriot and 1959 Dutch Grand Prix winner Jo Bonnier, also based in Switzerland and serving as Lola's European distributor. Norinder had his new Lola finished in white with a longitudinal blue and yellow stripe to mark his Swedish roots.
It was entered under the Sportscars Unlimited Switzerland banner in the 1969 Daytona 24 Hours for Norinder and Bonnier. They qualified fifth overall but sadly retired only 52 laps into the race with minor accident damage. The car was repaired in time for the Sebring 12 Hours, for which its livery had been updated to reflect a new sponsorship deal with oil company Valvoline. Starting seventh on the grid, a radius arm mounting failure prompted an early retirement.
That same season, SL76/141 was also campaigned in the World Championship rounds at Brands Hatch and Monza, with Norinder joined on these occasions by Robin Widdows, the best result being 21st at Brands Hatch after a tumultuous race. Having retained Valvoline's sponsorship for the British round, Norinder would lose it by the time the team arrived in Italy, prompting a simple widening of the red stripe to cover the blue of its former sponsor. Unfortunately, a gearbox issue would scupper hopes of an improved performance at the hallowed Autodromo.
For Magny Cours, Norinder loaned the car to fellow Swede Picko Troberg, who finished a commendable fourth in a non-championship race.
Chassis SL76/141 was then repainted once again in a resplendent dark blue with an eye-catching bronze/gold strip and red touches, which it would carry through the rest of its period racing life. Norinder returned to the driver's seat for the second half of the 1969 season, campaigning the car in numerous events across Scandinavia, with a best finish of 3rd overall and 1st in class at Anderstorp in June.
For 1970, Norinder recruited Jackie Oliver and Carlos Reutemann for the Buenos Aires 1000kms, where the pair finished 11th overall and 3rd in class.
The next outing for SL76/141 was on the silver screen as Solar Productions acquired it to star in the movie Le Mans alongside Steve McQueen in May 1970. The production company used several T70s and reclothed them to look like Porsche 917s before use in various crash sequences, for which they were equipped with a remote control setup to ensure no drivers were injured. Having served its purpose, the now damaged SL76/141 was sold by Solar Productions in July of 1970 to Hermann von Wolfe along with at least one other MkIIIB chassis. Von Wolfe was an American based German BP executive who had coincidentally been staying at the Hotel Central in Le Mans when the filming of the movie had wrapped.
Von Wolfe left the Lola chassis unrepaired and sold it on to another American Lola enthusiast, Mac McClendon, in March 1983. The still damaged car was eventually sold to Eric Mueller in 1997, who commissioned Mac McClendon to finally conduct a complete restoration, during which the original chassis had to be replaced for the car’s safe return to competitive use. To complete the restoration, McClendon applied the iconic Valvoline livery of 1969. Chassis SL76/141 then changed hands several times but remained in North America until it was acquired by the vendor in 2007 via Fantasy Junction and repatriated to Great Britain.
Shortly after its return to the UK, our vendor commissioned Lola T70 expert and former marque employee, Clive Robinson, to conduct a complete restoration in readiness for an exciting new chapter as a highly competitive historic racer. Having initially worn Ulf Norinder’s 1968 Le Mans livery, the vendor later chose to reapply Valvoline colours.
Since then, SL76/141 has been raced with great success by the vendor and his son, Oliver Bryant, for over a decade, scoring several notable victories in the Masters Series, such as three victories at the Silverstone Classic, two victories at Spa and multiple podiums at Le Mans Classic in Plateau 5.
A hugely competitive and well-proven car, SL76/141 is offered in race-ready condition, sporting the iconic Valvoline colours used during the 1969 season. Conveniently, it is road registered in the UK, with accompanying V5 documentation. The vendor informs us that the high-specification engine, built by Peter Knight, currently has four hours of use, with recommended rebuild intervals of 30 hours. A useful spares package also accompanies the car, including two spare noses, two spare tails, two sets of spare wheels and more (full details enclosed).
The ex-Ulf Norinder Lola T70 MkIIIb is eligible for many of the greatest historic races on the calendar, for which it is sure to be a contender for overall victories.
Historic Technical Passport:
• Issuer: FIA
• Expiry date: 31st December 2026
• Document number: GB10791
Crack Testing:
• Last completed: January 2024
Engine Life:
• Last rebuild: 2023
• Engine builder: Peter Knight
• Current engine hours: 4 hours
• Recommended engine rebuild intervals: 30 hours
Gearbox life:
• Last rebuild: March 2024
Fuel Cell Certification:
• Expiry date: April 2028
Seatbelt Certification:
• Expiry date: TBC
Fire Extinguisher Certification:
• Expiry date: March 2026
Category: Group 4
Chassis: Aluminium riveted and bonded monocoque
Engine: 4940 cc, 16 valves, OHV, Chevrolet 90°, V8 engine
Gearbox: Hewland LG 600 5-speed manual transmission
Front suspension: Double wishbones, coil springs, adjustable telescopic dampers, adjustable anti-roll bar
Rear suspension: Top link with radius arm and lower wishbones, coil springs, adjustable telescopic dampers, adjustable anti-roll bar
Brakes: Girling ventilated steel discs, all-round, hydraulic actuation, 4 piston alloy callipers
Weight: TBC
Tyres: Avon (treaded)
Le Mans Classic – Plateau 5
The biennial Le Mans Classic is the premier event in historic endurance racing. Held over four days in early July, this event features grids for cars of all eras, with this Lola T70 MKIIIB eligible for the Plateau 5 – a grid for cars which competed at Le Mans between 1965 and 1972. The next running of the Le Mans Classic is set to take place between July 3rd and 6th, 2025.
Peter Auto’s Classic Endurance Racing 1 (CER1)
For sports prototypes and GT cars built between 1966 and 1971, Peter Auto’s Classic Endurance Racing 1 (CER1) features events at iconic circuits, including Spa and Imola.
Masters Sports Car Legends
For Le Mans-style sports cars and competition GT cars built between 1962 and 1976, Masters Sports Car Legends holds a full annual calendar of events, with outings at great circuits, including Silverstone and Zandvoort.
HSR Group 7 - Including Daytona and Sebring Classics
For historic/post-historic sports racing cars, HSR’s Group 7 holds a full calendar of events in the United States. Among these events are two of the premier events for historic endurance competition, which are HSR Classic Daytona in November and HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour in December.
• Bodywork: Front Clam Shell x, Rear Clam Shell x 2
• Complete sets of wheels x 4
• Oil coolers x 2
• Fuel Filter x 1
• Metering unit x 1
• Magneto pick up x 1
• High-pressure fuel pump x 1
• Fuel Pressure regulator x 1
• Fuel pick-up pipe & sock filter x 1
• Distribution cap with leads x 1
• Distribution cap without leads x 1
• Throttle cable x 1
• Driveshaft belts x 1
• Wheels spacers x 4
• Exhaust mufflers with mounting brackets x 2
• Wiper blade x 1
Car Location: this car is located at our Petersfield showrooms in Hampshire, United Kingdom, where viewings are welcome by appointment.
Taxes: UK