CanAm Lola

[Lizard Racing]

For those who don't remember the original Canadian-American Challenge Cup series, it collected the professional sports car races in the US and Canada into a (for the time) high-dollar championship.  All a car had to have was two seats, four covered wheels and a windscreen.  Everything else was up to the owner's discretion.  The CanAm started in 1966 and the winner of the first race, and the championship, was John Surtees driving a Lola T-70 with a Chevy engine.

I first built his replica from a re-issue of the IMC Lola kit over 40 years ago and it has been in storage most of the time since.  Lately I've tried rebuilding some survivors.  All I did to this one was glue the bits back together and apply new decals.  Some are home made and others are Gofer decals.  I didn't even repaint it, as the old paint is still good with a few flaws.

 

[Phildaupho]

Great looking Lola T-70 and impressive build and restoration of the IMC kit

[Ace-Garageguy]

Good looking model.

1 hour ago, Lizard Racing said:

...All a car had to have was two seats, four covered wheels and a windscreen.  Everything else was up to the owner's discretion. 

 

Actually, there were a few more requirements. The cars, sanctioned under "FIA Group 7", were supposed to be "sports cars" and as such, also had to have opening doors, self-starters, lights, and originally, a spare wheel/tire (the front lights and spare tire rules were dropped), and run on pump-gas. There was also a minimum weight of somewhere around 1500 pounds, and safety regs required a roll bar and split braking system.

Everything else was, as you say, unlimited, and that's why we saw such wild things as the "sucker" Chaparral. Truly the golden age of motorsports.  

Edited May 28, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy

[Dave B]

Nice save George

Dave B

[aurfalien]

Hi,

Wow great build, love it!

[afx]

12 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Good looking model.

Actually, there were a few more requirements. The cars, sanctioned under "FIA Group 7", were supposed to be "sports cars" and as such, also had to have opening doors, self-starters, lights, and originally, a spare wheel/tire (the front lights and spare tire rules were dropped), and run on pump-gas. There was also a minimum weight of somewhere around 1500 pounds, and safety regs required a roll bar and split braking system.

Everything else was, as you say, unlimited, and that's why we saw such wild things as the "sucker" Chaparral. Truly the golden age of motorsports.  

...and a passenger seat.

[Ace-Garageguy]

23 hours ago, afx said:

...and a passenger seat.

Yes, the OP mentioned two seats.

[Lizard Racing]

Regarding the passenger seat: the rule specified that the seats had to be positioned equally on both sides of the vehicle centerline.  I call that the "Roger Penske Rule."  Remember the old Zerex Special Cooper?

That was a wrecked Cooper Formula 1 that RP made into a sports car.  Its passenger seat was hung outside the frame on the left side.  The driver seat was moved 1/2 inch to the right.  Conformed to the letter, but not the spirit of the rules.  First application of the "Unfair Advantage."

[ismaelg]

Great save!  Very nice! Love those Lolas!