Fantasy Junction

Description

1975 Lola T296
s/n HU 80
Blue and Yellow Livery with Blue Interior

With its advanced construction, state of the art technology, and low-profile body designs, Lolas remain among the most effective and beautiful racecars ever built. Established in 1958 by Eric Broadley, a brilliant engineer and determined businessman, Lola was a fledgling company eager to establish their name in the growing field of competitive motorsports. Although Lola began building front-engine sports cars, they rapidly expanded their offerings into more ambitious ventures including pioneering development for the mid-engine platform. Key to their ground-breaking efforts, they privately built the Lola Mk6 coupe, a car that would capture the attention of Ford engineers, eventually hiring Broadley for development of the Ford GT40. Under Broadley’s guidance, Ford leveraged the sophisticated Lola construction methods, suspension geometry, and body design to bring the GT40 to life.

Broadley’s intuitive engineering mind was both stimulated and exhausted by his exposure to millions of dollars of engineering funded by Ford and their juggernaut to win at Le Mans. The lightweight yet remarkably robust aluminum monocoque construction, suspension dynamics, and horsepower management, coupled with newly developed mid-engine platforms culminated in some of the most advanced construction methods deployed in any contemporary race car.

Having developed a wide range of cars for various racing applications, Lola cars were winning at all levels of racing. As the 60s ended, Lola began construction on the T290 series car, which was offered in 1972, specifically for 2-liter Group 6 racing. Built around the impressive lightweight aluminum alloy monocoque with a separate subframe, this series advanced to the T296, which offered ample space for a range of engines. The most prevalent choices were the Ford Cosworth or BMW 4-cylinder variant. As the 290 series evolved through the decade, by late 1975, the T296 offered increased front and rear body lengths allowing distinct aerodynamic advantages at higher speeds. One of the most commercially successful series of cars developed by Lola, the T296 would compete in a wide range of races from European 24 Hours of Le Mans to North American Can Am Challenge Cup to Italian Hill Climbs.

This Lola, chassis # HU80, is believed to be the first of just seven T296 series cars constructed. According to researched history compiled in 2019 and updated in 2020 by the current owner, this car was sold in 1976 through Haas Imports to the first owner Frank Moyle of Chicago, IL. Believed to have been delivered to North America for road racing, outfitted with a Cosworth engine, Moyle, an executive for Powertron, a local diesel engine supplier. A racing team was established complete with truck, trackside team, and a robust Powertron budget to campaign the car. Advantages to the team included access to Powertron labs for oil analysis. Finished in yellow and white livery wearing #27 and Powertron branding, Urbauer & Moyle raced exclusively at Blackhawk Farms, IL earning a reputation as one of the fastest cars at the track. With company sponsorship and Powertron engineering on hand, the team did very well not only at the track but attracting further attention at car shows and local malls as a display. In 1980, their racing program was cancelled when corporate power struggles resulted in Moyle’s ouster. The car was sold to a local privateer who painted it blue, raced it briefly, and over time, fell into disrepair. Urbauer continued his racing career with other teams including a stint with George Bignotti and a lengthy career with Rick Parsons, who remembers that the Powertron Lola was sold to Haas and then brokered to a privateer in 1980. With more recent ownership and vintage racing duties in the hands of enthusiast Randy Johnson, this Lola has been under current ownership since 2018 benefiting from extensive professional preparation covering all mechanical aspects of the car.

In addition to the superlative preparation for the engine and gearbox, recent preparation includes a new dashboard – installed to accommodate the changes in the fuel system pump returning it to a lighter weight single pump system, a new fuel cell (2019), seat belts (exp. 2023), fire system (2020), and a hand formed correct diameter stainless steel exhaust system built with a newly designed collector to improve performance. Importantly, in 2020, Bob Slade built the Cosworth motor currently in the car with dyno sheets charting 318hp at 9,000 rpm and 270 tq. At 7250 (dyno sheets accompany the car). Additional recent items include double adjustable Ohline shocks with full service for 2021 season (dyno sheets accompany the car), a new starter with retard start system installed, and new front brake calipers from Lola Heritage. Numerous invoices spanning 2018-2022 include Hewland FGA gearbox and bearing components from Hewland Classic, PDS Racing, Taylor Race Engineering, ATL Fuel cell, Fox Racing for low drag T290 series wings, and two invoices totaling $22k comprehensively documenting the 2020 Slade engine build. In addition to the invoices documenting the most recent years of work performed on the car, there are detailed notes and engineering reference information covering the fuel system, starting procedure, air pressure, wheel and tire combinations, and other details. As part of the preparation for this car, the current owner purchased a new set of T296 body panels including a nose, doors, side sills, long tail, high tail, and headlamp covers directly from TWM UK Limited, totaling over $12,000.00. All body parts were professionally prepared and finished in the current livery. Under current ownership the car was raced with support from Robin Automotive and Intrepid Motorcars. The current HMSA Logbook covers races under current ownership including race entries: 2018 CSRG Charity Challenge, HMSA Laguna Seca 2021, and Sonoma 2023.

Today this Lola presents in excellent condition supported by top-tier preparation from racing professionals. The near-new body work is very well prepared with excellent paint, vivid graphics, and compelling presence finished in a dynamic blue and yellow livery. The finish is very nice overall displaying typical front fascia track speckling but otherwise should be considered high quality when compared to most race car finishes. The Cosworth BDG SE2001 engine is fitted with a 4-bolt cylinder head, Carrillo rods, and specialized Richardson crankshaft which sheds 5 lbs from the original design. The cam cover is finished blue, a tradition of Richardson’s excellence. A gear-driven fuel injection system with electric start pump and belt driven mechanical pressure pump. Though the engine is concealed beneath the aggressive and impossibly low-profile body, evidence of the mid-engine design is clear in the dramatic layout. A chrome roll bar tops the profile with rear view mirrors on elevated perches and a side mounted air scoop for fast air feeding the Cosworth engine. A set of center hub wheels are mounted, shod with Avon tires. The cockpit is all business revealing the aluminum riveted tub structure accented by a matching blue cloth form fitting driver seat and competition seat harness (dated to 2023). The dashboard was fully reconfigured under current ownership offering excellent reference instrumentation, quick release Momo steering wheel, flanked by a right-hand shifting lever.

Under the rear body panel, the cleverly engineered mechanical components reveal the sophisticated lightweight subframe construction and superbly detailed workmanship recently performed on the car. The exposed mechanicals revealed when the front section is removed display a very clean car with correct riveted aluminum tub construction and substructure, exposed suspension, inboard Lockheed brakes, and professionally prepared lines, hardware, and, once again, excellent quality professional attention offered by racing experts. The properly sorted suspension, professionally prepared Cosworth engine, Hewland FGA 5-speed gearbox, and expert mechanical care in this Lola offers the next owner confidence for the coming racing season and seasons to come. The engine has 1.5 hours (single Sonoma event) and the gearbox has approximately 5 hours which has numerous new components and is serviced after every event as needed.

Although this race car has been previously and recently professionally prepared, we recommend that the next owner enlist a qualified race specialty shop to perform a comprehensive inspection before driving this car in a competition setting.

This Lola is accompanied by invoices outlining recent mechanical preparation, numerous spares (listed below), and a short tail body section packed in a shipping crate.

Spares included with this car:

Two sets of wheels and tires
A set of BBS rims
A new Cosworth ignition box
Master cylinder and rebuild kits
Spare gauges
Oil cooler
Gearbox oil pump plate
Spare alternator
Various clutch parts
Various slave cylinders and throw-out bearings
Spare clutch plates (still usable)
One each front and rear upright castings
Front and rear spare hubs
Various new hub bearings, CV joints, races, and spacers
Various gear sets
Headlight covers

This is a fantastic opportunity to acquire a professionally prepared Lola T296, ready to continue historic racing just as it has under the past six years of current ownership. Having been expertly campaigned both in period and in recent vintage events, this Lola will confidently run at the head of the pack in any major vintage race.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608