1969 Lola Can Am - $300,000 - Tasman, - The T165/70 Concours Road car has been in private collections since it's first owner, Bobby Thompson. Renowned Lola restorer Mac Clendon traded the car on a race car in 1984, then selling to the current owner in 2004. The car has recently been refreshed with the body refinished, new carpet and mechanicals and air conditioning checked. The Chevrolet 462 CID Big Block starts on the press of the starter button, every time.
The Concours history speaks for itsself. This car would be the centre piece of any collection, an entry into the elite Concours circuit or great promo car.
The car was the cover and feature car for Road & Track magazine in April 1984. The article stated;
”You don’t so much drive it. You experience it, for in spite of the fact that this particular automobile has been tamed for highway use, it continues to communicate its racing lineage most convincingly.”
Built History
Charley and Don Bartz decided to build road versions of potent race track cars. They chose Lola as the vehicle marque. Their first car was the conversion of a T70 Spyder to a T70 MkIII CanAm Coupe. A T70 Sypder had a limited top speed of around 150 Mph due to the aerodynamics. A T70 Coupe body, (with the MkIII "long tail" body aero developments and horsepower) was chosen. The body shape also lent itself to road adaptation.
According to the 1984 Road & Track article the Bartz Brothers were not happy with resulting performance of the T70 (red livery) car. They moved onto a T160 series Chevrolet “big block” based Can Am car.
A T70 MkIII body was chosen to adorn the T160 series chassis. Given the T160 series chassis is wider than the T70 the body required a 9" widening stretch. More indepth details can be view on cultsportscars.com
Lola T165/70 Show History
First Place Competition Class, Palm Springs Concours 1985
First Place Competition Cars, Chicago Historic Concours 1984
Best of Show Bahama Speed Week, Concours, Freeport 1984
Best of Show Road America Vintage Grand Prix Concours 1984
First Place Competition Class, Palm Springs Concours 1983
Best in Show Engine compartment, Newport Concours 1983
Best in Class Competition Cars, Newport Concours 1983
Specifications
Chassis 1969 Lola T160 (SL160/10) "donor" updated to T165 spec by John Collins, Shelby team (GT40 program) fabricator
Suspension Lola T222 spec with Koni Adjustable Shocks
Body Lola T70 MkIII Coupe, widened by 9"
Engine Chev 454 over bored 0.030" to 461.55 CID (7.55 Litres)
MkIV Cast Iron Block, Cast Iron Heads, Steel Crank
4 x Ingelse Weber 48 IDA
Dry Sump Oil System, Magneto ignition
560 Hp (418 kW) @ 6400 rpm
465 ft/lb (630 NM) at 4800 rpm
US 574 BHP/Ton 633 BHP/1000 kg
Fuel "Bag" Capacity 32 US Gallons (121 L), 100 Octane
Wheels Lola 7 Stud Magnesium Centre Drive "Knock Off's"
15" x 12" Front, 15 x 19" Rears
Transaxle ZF DS25-2, 5 Speed with reverse
1st 2.33, 2nd 1.47, 3rd 1.04, 4th 0.85 5th 0.71 :4.22:1
Brakes 12" x 1" "Le Man's" vented disc, 4 Pot Girling Calipers
Curb weight 1950 Lb's (885 Kg's)
Weight Distribution 42/58% est
Wheel base 94” (2388mm)
Length 166” (4216mm)
Height 37.5” (953mm)
Ground clearance 4” (102mm)
Headroom 33" (838mm), Seats 15" (381mm)
Interior Black Leather Seats
Footwell lined Carpets
Lola Steering Wheel
Windows Aircraft Polycarbonate
Gauges - Smiths Speedo, 9000 rpm Tacho, Oil pressure, Oil temp, coolant temp, diff Oil temp, Ammeter, Fuel pressure, Fuel level, - Oil pressure warning lights
Air Conditioning with Barron Beachcraft aircraft vents, aircraft electrical circuit breakers and switches, Indicator Stalk.
The car is located in New Zealand. We have experience shipping to any location globally at the buyers cost. Two sets of images are shown (of the car today and the 1984 photoshoot from Road & Track)