<< Prev Page 2 of 3 Next >> With the Spyder such a big hit, Broadley saw an opportunity to homologate the Chevrolet engined machine for Group 4, which required a production minimum of 50 cars. At the end of 1966 over 40 cars were completed and the homologation loomed for 1967. To be eligible for Group 4, several modifications were required, the biggest being the installation of a roof and a windscreen. Obviously a completely new body was required and with the help of Tony Southgate and a wind-tunnel, Broadley created a highly effective shape. Up to that point the minimizing drag and lift was the biggest concern, but thanks to its high tail, the T70 Mk3 Coupe actually created considerable downforce. This made the new Lola very stable, even at high speeds.
With the new Coupe body, Lola offered a two for one machine, which could be raced as a Group 7 Spyder and a Group 4 Coupe, powered by the six litre version of the small-block V8. In the latter configuration, it predominantly faced the Ford GT40, which was by then also built in sufficient number for Group 4. Aston Martin was also interested in the T70 Coupe for a renewed attack at Le Mans with a twin-cam V8 engine that was under development. Not built in sufficient numbers, like the Chevrolet T70, the Aston engined machine was forced to run in the Group 6 class against the latest Ferraris and Fords. The Aston effort proved a big failure as the V8 was severely underpowered and equally unreliable. A very early retirement from Le Mans also meant the premature end of the program. Sadly it remained the only manufacturer interest in the T70.
Soon after that devastating 1967 Le Mans race, Lola received more bad news as the sport's governing body (CSI) announced that the 'Group 6' prototype class would be restricted to 3 litre and the 'Group 4' sportscar class to 5 litre. This pretty much rendered the T70 Coupe useless for 1968 and the company could look forward to many cancelled orders. Fortunately the CSI showed some leniency and allowed the T70 into Group 4 again, under the condition that it ran with a five litre engine. With the prototypes allowed to be much lighter, it looked like the T70 still had little chance of taking overall victories. In Group 4, it again faced the GT40 over which, the T70 should have an edge considering its big weight advantage.
The successes of the T70 were in 1968 again restricted to sprint races. The Chevrolet small block was a commendable powerplant in sprint races, yet it struggled to cope with the strains of endurance racing. Especially the valve-train suffered from fatigue in long races because of the relatively high weight of the very large valves fitted. With smaller valves the engine would obviously lose its competitiveness. Another reason why the T70 struggled was the lack of a truly professional team to prepare and run it. Most of Lola's attention was on Formula 1, Indy racing and Can-Am. Racing the T70 Coupe was pretty much left to the gentleman racers and they could not match the standards set by the John Wyer's with his Gulf livered GT40s. << Prev Page 2 of 3 Next >>