1969 Lola T142 Formula 5000 Monoposto. From humble beginnings… - Collector's Motor Cars & Aircraft - Bonhams & Goodman (No longer trading)

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Description:

1969 Lola T142 Formula 5000 Monoposto. From humble beginnings in 1958 - the prototype Mark 1 sports car emerged from a garage behind the Broadley family's tailoring shop in Bromley, Kent - Lola Cars quickly established a winning reputation and grew to become a major force in world motorsport. Eric Broadley, his cousin Graham and Rob Rushbrook, at whose garage premises the first customer production versions were made, were the architects of the early success, which continued with a front-engined single-seater, the Formula Junior Mk2. By 1962, Lola was in Formula 1, with the well-sponsored team running an evolution of the Fj frame powered by the 1,500cc Coventry-Climax Fwmv V8 engine. John Surtees led the Bowmaker Finance-backed equipe, and a domestic F1 win in the 2000 Guineas race at Mallory Park presaged second places in the British and German GPs, which built towards the brilliant, multiple-world-champion motorcyclist finishing 4th in the 1962 Driver's World Championship, won by Brm's Graham Hill. Among Broadley's early projects was the Mk6 Gt coupe, which laid the foundations for Ford's all-conquering GT40, but the former builder's ability to produce cars for a wide variety of formulae was only just beginning to bubble to the surface. In 1966, for instance, Lola Cars's stock rose in the Usa when Graham Hill won the celebrated Indianapolis 500 in a T90 and Surtees the inaugural Can-Am championship in a T70 Spyder. Given its Can-Am origins, it is not surprising that the long-serving T70 family of sportscars was better suited to sprint events yet, against the odds, a MkIIIB coupe owned by Roger Penske lasted the distance to win the coveted Daytona 24 Hours endurance classic in 1969. With the coming of Formula 5000, it was inevitable that the versatile Broadley would turn his attentions to that too. Devised in the Usa as a relatively low-cost single-seater formula with a maximum engine capacity of 5,000cc, Formula 5000 spread around the world, drawing in major manufacturers such as McLaren, Eagle, March, Lotus, Chevron and of course, Lola. In Australia and New Zealand, local manufacturers enjoyed considerable success: Mildren, Matich, McRae and Elfin all winning domestic championships during the 1970s. Formula 5000 cars were almost always, although not exclusively, powered by American V8s, Lola's first such offering being the T142, a simple spaceframe design easily maintained - and repaired - by private owners. Chassis number '37' was purchased new in April 1969 by Sportscars Switzerland for Ulf Norinder to race in the Guards-sponsored European Formula 5000 Championship. Norinder scored several top-five finishes that year, his best result being 3rd at Hockenheim. The Lola was also raced on one occasion by Jackie Oliver. '37' was passed on to Ian Ashley (European F5000 Champion in 1973) for the 1970 season but was crashed in the first round. The car was imported into New Zealand in the early 1990s and raced in classic F5000 events in Nz and Australia. Chassis number '37' was totally rebuilt during 2006 to the highest standards by the current owner and comes with a detailed list of work undertaken and parts replaced. Refurbishment included stripping the chassis, replacing both bottom rails and powder coating as new. Two new bag tanks have been fitted together with a new Holley fuel pump, filter and all new fuel lines. The faultless bodywork is to original pattern, while the cockpit retains its original seat and Stewart Warner gauges. There is, of course, a plumbed-in fire extinguishing system. All suspension components - including uprights - have been cleaned, inspected, crack tested (full test schedule with all parts marked) before being refinished to original specification. Formula 1-quality rod ends have been used throughout and all fastenings are of aircraft quality. The half-shaft universal joints, front stub axles, wheel bearings, slicks, brake pads and other consumables are all new. The totally rebuilt (zero hours) Chevrol

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Category:

Unclassified