1969 Lola T163 Can Am Race Car

DESCRIPTION

ESTIMATE: $225. 00 - $275. 00 

The legendary British race car designer and constructor Eric Broadley formed Lola to supply competitive cars to teams around the globe. Choosing only to sell to private owners. rather than campaign a factory works team. proved the right decision. as Lola is now England's longest-serving and most successful manufacturer of racing cars. Between 1958 and 2013 Lola's competition record is simply staggering: 6. 58 entries in nearly 2. 00 races. with two-thirds finishing the race; 512 outright wins; 315 additional class wins; and over 1. 00 podium finishes.

After successfully developing Formula Juniors and Formula 1 cars on its own. Broadley's team worked with Ford on the Lola MK6. which led to Ford's request for the company to take the design lead on the Ford GT40. Lessons learned on the eventual Le Mans-dominating GT40 immediately paid dividends with Lola's own legendary T70. which won the inaugural Canadian-American Racing Series in 1966. As the fastest race series in the world. competition in the Can-Am was fierce and dangerous. Though Lola replaced the aging T70 with the T160 in 1968. increasing competition required continued development for the 1969 season. The resulting car was called the T163. an advanced open racer with a lightweight alloy monocoque structure.

Chassis SL163/20 was delivered to American Lola importer Carl Haas on June 6. 1969. Its first owner. G Auto USA didn't utilize the car. so in 1970 it was sold to SCCA racer Steve Weaver of Indianapolis. Weaver drove SL163/20 to 3rd place in the SCCA Central National Division points standings. with two outright wins at Michigan and Indianapolis Raceway Park. At the completion of the season. Weaver sold the SL163/20 chassis to Gregory Hodges. who campaigned it in SCCA California events. In 1973. Tony Settember acquired the car and entered it in the 1973 Laguna Seca Can-Am. where it blew a head gasket on just the second lap. SL163/20's last appearance in Can-Am was under the ownership of Charles Semple. whose driver Bob Kemple qualified for the 1973 Riverside race but failed to start. After retiring from active racing. the car had a number of documented owners within America. New Zealand and France. who displayed it in their personal collections. In 2009. SL163/20 returned to California when it was sold to its latest owner. He had the car prepared for vintage racing by Toluca Lake Historics.

With recent appearances and continued eligibility at great vintage racing events. SL163/20 offers the opportunity to compete in exciting Can-Am reunion classes. It is powered by a potent carbureted 358 CI 1968 Chevrolet engine. with dry sump lubrication and magneto ignition. A Hewland LG 600 5-speed gearbox and Hewland differential transfer power to the 15x16 rear alloy wheels. Fast and nimble. courtesy of rack and pinion steering. SL163/20 is a perfect match for vintage motorsports collectors and those looking to upgrade to an ultimate vintage racing experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

- Alloy Moncoque chassis with adjustible suspension 

- 1968 Chevrolet dry sump OHV V-8 engine with magneto 

- Hewland LG 600 5-speed gearbox 

- Shaft driven Hewland LG cam and pawl differential

- Lucas carburetor with electric fuel pump 

- Wishbone front and rear suspension with coil springs. telescopic dampers. rose joints and spring platforms 

- Rear suspension features top link and trailing arms

- Lockheed hydraulic ventilated disc brakes with alloy calipers 

- Adjustible anti-roll bar. oil cooler 

- Rack and pinion steering. alternator 

- 15x10 front and 15x16 rear mag alloy wheels 

- Bore: 102. 3 mm. Stroke: 88. 9 mm 

- Sold on bill of sale

Also published at eBay.com

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