Fantasy Junction

Description

1972 Lola T310 Can-Am
Chassis HU-01
White with Red Stripes

The T310 was Lola’s last unlimited Can Am car, and proved to be exceptionally rare, with only one example built. The chassis was a full length aluminum monocoque, and one of the widest and longest to ever race in Can Am. The body was carefully optimized from an aerodynamic standpoint to maximize downforce and minimize drag. The car went to Carl Haas, Lola’s US importer, and he signed David Hobbs to drive the car. The car was ready rather late, so much so that it did not compete in the first race of the season. During the season, Hobbs’ time and attention was devoted not simply to racing the T310, but also to developing the car, and additionally, the impressive turbocharged 12-cylinder Porsche 917’s were coming into their own. Despite these challenges and having missed a race, the T310 finished 7th in the 1972 Can Am season. When the T310 was finally dialed in however, it was a monster, and one of the car’s subsequent owners reported “I personally watched it demolish “A” Sports Racing at the ’72 Road Atlanta Championship Runoffs, lapping almost the entire field within 4 laps, including Follmer’s turbo Porsche 917-10, and a gaggle of McLarens.”

Following the 1972 season, Haas sold the car, and it passed through the hands of a number of other racers who continued to race the car at the great racetracks around the United States including Elkhart Lake and Laguna Seca. Included among these were Jerry Hansen, who won the national championship in A/SR, and then sold it to Elliot Mendenhall in SCCA, who sold it on to Bruce Langson. The car was crashed in 1977, and capably repaired and reconditioned. The car as known history throughout this period and is one of the most comprehensively documented cars that Fantasy Junction has had the opportunity to represent in recent memory.

The car was purchased by Bob Lee in 1989, who embarked on a comprehensive restoration, as well as a thorough research and documentation effort. The restoration completed in part by Scott Drnek of Virtuoso Performance, and the car has competed in numerous historic events since 2001, including the Monterey Historics in 2007 and 2008 (driven by Bobby Rahal in 2008, where it won its race on the final straight after starting at the back of the pack), as well as the Goodwood Revival. The car is currently powered by a 510 cubic inch (8.4 litre) engine producing about 950hp. After the 2008 Monterey win, it was fully race prepped by Tony Nicholson of Robin Automotive in September 2008 and has not raced since, though it was freshened and gone over in August of 2010 to ensure that it is track ready at this time. Additionally, the car was invited to the 2009 Amelia Island Concours D’Elegance where it was featured on the show field in the “Cars of David Hobbs” class.

This Lola was recently photographed for the new Pete Lyons book which will feature the most significant Can-Am cars of all time. Reportedly it will be one of 20-25 cars featured in Pete’s new book which is scheduled to be published in July.

The car has a fairly large package including molds for the body, a complete front clip, 3 extra sets of wheels/tires, and boxes and boxes of other parts. Bob Lee retained all of the original material from the original tub when he had the car restored the car.

The car is extraordinarily well documented with four large binders and a accordion envelope filled with invoices and documents. The binders also contain period documents, newspaper articles, and photographs. There are dozens upon dozens of period photos of the car, both on and off the track, and several with David Hobbs as well. Additionally, there are dozens of schematics and diagrams of various components, along with a parts book, and many restoration photos as well. There is also a folder containing recreations of the period decals that the car wore in competition. The car also has two log books, including its original log book from the 1972 season. The car is featured prominently in Pete Lyons’ book “Can-Am” where it has its own section on pages 210-211.

The car remains in excellent condition, with nice race cosmetics. The paint is nice throughout and replicates the livery in which the car competed in Can Am in 1972. The paint is in good shape with some wear from track use. The wheels are excellent and wear vintage style Avon tires. The interior is Spartan and tidy, and has full safety equipment as required of vintage racing including power cutoff and Willans harness. The engine compartment and front compartment are both very clean and nicely detailed, reflecting the high level of competition preparation this car has received.

This opportunity is truly unique in every sense of the word. The only T310 constructed, this example has outstanding history, is superbly documented, and has been correctly and capably restored. The car is everything that a truly great world class racing car should be: macho, intense, hugely fast, and demanding the ultimate in skill and mastery of motorsports. The car is widely eligible and is also extremely competitive, making it ideal car for a competition-minded historic racing enthusiast seeking to run at the front of any Can Am field. This is truly unrepeatable opportunity to acquire one of the fastest most outrageous race cars ever constructed for the fastest and most outrageous unlimited racing series.

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