1974 Lola T360 Formula Atlantic

Description

The car was originally imported to Australia by Don Baker (Dolphin Racing) and Glen Abby in the early part of 1974. When Don purchased the car, he was informed that it was in fact the prototype T360 and had been dismantled to enable construction of production jigs after the car completed a test program at Silverstone, powered with a Cosworth BDD. As such the car did not carry a chassis plate but was stamped as chassis No. AU1 when assembled in Australia by Don. This identification and verification has been authenticated by the Australian Confederation of Motorsport before issuing the V&H log book.

The car was equipped with a Hart Ford powered twin cam when it was assembled in 1974 and had two appearances in the Van Heusen F2 series driven by Graham Lawrence and Kevin Bartlett. With the effective demise of the Australian twin-cam F2 class, the car was sold to Andrew Miedecke in 1976, re-equiped with its Formula Atlantic spec BDD and campaigned in the international Formula Pacific Stuyvesant series in New Zealand in that year. There were some US drivers in the series,including Bobby Rahal, as well as drivers like Keke Rosberg and the likes who competed in N.Z.

The car was then sold to Jim Hunter who did not do a lot with the car until purchased by the current owner in partnership with John Smith and one other person in 1989. The car was run, with John Smith driving, in 1989 at the major National historic meeting at Oran Park in Sydney where the car took pole, won the first race and was leading the second when it dropped a valve. (John Smith was an Australian Formula Ford and F2 champion, and came second to Roberto Marino in or around 1983 in the Australian Grand Prix. He drove an RT4 in that race and beat the likes of Rosberg, Prost, Piquet, and others. In the late 1970's he raced an RT1. John always said the Lola was a nicer car to drive and more predictable, while being every bit as quick as the RT1.

Following the 1989 race, The current owner decided that to campaign the car in historic racing, it should be rebuilt to a strong base and a fresh engine should be sourced to enable trouble-free campaigning for several years. He engaged one of the most successful engine builders in Australia, Steve Wiessner, to build an engine. Many new genuine parts were sourced to build the engine including new crank, Cosworth bearings, big end bolts, valve springs, some valves etc. to produce an engine (Big Valve) on standard specs that should have full life miles to run. The head has had very little machining and has lots of life left. Steve commented that it is probably one of the best engines in Australia today as he sees many units on their last days.

The car has a Vintage and Historic log book in Australia as a Group Q car (racing cars 1970-1977)