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  Lola T70 Mk3B Spyder Ford      

  Article Image gallery (13) SL75/122 Specifications User Comments (1)  
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Country of origin:Great Britain
Produced in:1967
Numbers built:4
Designed by:Eric Broadley
Predecessor:Lola T70 Mk2 Spyder Ford
Author:Wouter Melissen
Last updated:January 04, 2012
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Click here to download printer friendly versionBroadley's biggest concern with the original T70 was that it was too heavy; there was still too much steel in the chassis. The Mk2 T70's monocoque was outwardly very similar to the first design, but other than the cross bracing consisted almost entirely of aluminium. More weight was saved by riveting the sheets together instead of welding. Broadley estimated at least 100 pounds was shaved off the total weight thanks to the new chassis. Detail changes to the suspension and radiators were also carried. After just fifteen T70s tubs were constructed and not even six months after its launch the T70 Mk2 hit the track. Surtees soon showed what the car was indeed a major improvement by scoring a landslide win at the Guards International Trophy at Silverstone. He beat Bruce McLaren by one and a half minute.

In 1966 the T70 Mk2 was the dominant force in sportscar racing, especially those powered by the small-block Chevrolet engine. In England Denny Hulme proved particularly successful in the Sid Taylor entered example. In North America the popularity of the 'big banger' sportscar racers led to the introduction of a brand new championship; the Canadian American Challenge Cup or Can-Am. The new series was a big success, attracting massive crowds and top level entries including the new McLarens and the revolutionary Chaparral 2E. Surtees won the first race and scored another two wins to clinch the title. Two of the other three races were also won by T70s with Dan Gurney scoring the only Can-Am win ever for a Ford-engine.

In Great Britain the spectacular and very fast sports racers were quickly growing in popularity and the organizers feared that they would become too much of a rival for Formula 1. This led to the much criticized decision to cancel all Group 7 & 9 races for 1967. It forced Broadley to once again adapt the design of the T70 to make it suitable for Group 6 endurance racing class and possibly even for the Group 4 GT class, which required a minimum production of 50 cars for homologation. Having sold 47 examples in the past two years, Broadley believed it would not be impossible at all to meet the homologation requirements. A Group 6 version of the T70 would be eligible to run at Le Mans where Broadley would face his previous employer.

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  Article Image gallery (13) SL75/122 Specifications User Comments (1)