Lola T70 Spyders
SL70/7

Traco Chevrolet engine.
LG500-6 gearbox.

Delivered on 13/4/65. Light green with dark green racing stripe. This chassis was built as a replacement for SL70/4, which belonged to the Stirling Moss Auto Racing Team (SMART) for BOAC pilot Hugh Dibley.

Hugh Dibley raced this T70 both in the U.K. and America in 1965 and 1966. After this, he loaned to car to Scooter Patrick for two races at Riverside and Las Vegas and then sold it to the Smothers Brothers for Hugh Powell to drive in 1967. After this, Hugh Powell sold the T70 to Hayes Racing Equipment (Charlie Hayes).

In April 1968, /7 was sold to John McGuire, Hemmit, California for $3,270.00. less engine, with gearbox, plus a Ford 289 adapter, (Bellhousing?). (Invoice #121.) John was a paraplegic who tried to modify the car for hand controls. Number 7 was then stored in a barn.

Apparently, in 1969, the T70 was used in the film "The Challengers" and the nose was damaged.

In 1974, /7 was given by John McGuire to Jim Schield of La Habra, California. A tree which had grown up in front of the barn where the car was stored had to be cut down to remove it and there were black widow spiders in the car! At this time, /7 had old, dark green bodywork, a new white nose and on the right front fender: Crew: D. Smith, D. McGrew, R. White.

1985 saw Jim Schield sell /6 to Phil Schmitt of Los Angeles, California. The car was restored to 1968 specification and had Mark 3B front from Dan Gurney’s shop and rear bodywork from George Follmer’s Mark 2 Spyder, which was crashed at Riverside in 1968. 9 inch front and 16 inch wide Halibrand wheels were fitted. Phil Schmitt raced the car in various vintage events for over 3,000 miles and restored the car back to its original specification and in Hugh Dibley’s livery.

In late 2004, your author sold this T70 Mark 1, the most original Mark 1 he has ever seen, to a collector/racer in Europe. The car went into a total restoration and emerged ready to race in mid-2006. It was then tested at Spa in Belgium.

1965:
19/4: Easter Monday Goodwood Meeting: H. Dibley; 4th.
01/5: LA Times GP, Riverside: Hugh Dibley; 7th.
15/5: Silverstone International Trophy: H. Dibley, #26;.2nd.
06/6: Players’ 200, Mosport Park: H. Dibley, #5; Qualified 8th, DNF.
01/7: Silverstone: H. Dibley; DNF.
12/7: Senior Service 25 laps. H. Dibley. DNF. Engine blew.
24/7: Martini Trophy at Silverstone: H. Dibley; DNF. Gearbox split when 2nd at 29 laps.
09/8: Brands Hatch Guards Trophy, 10 laps: H. Dibley; Result unknown.
15/8: Croft. 40 laps: H. Dibley; DNF. Gear selector problems.
30/8: Brands Hatch. Guards International Trophy: H. Dibley; DNF.

Hugh Dibley picked up the car from Friendly Chevrolet, San Bernardino, installed the engine from Tony Sargent’s crashed T70 (SL71/19), and continued the Can-Am series at Mosport.

19/9: Mont Tremblant-St. Jovite. Players Trophy: H. Dibley; DNF.
10/10: North-West GP: H. Dibley; DNF.
30/10: Riverside Times GP: H. Dibley; 6th #69.

1966:
22/4: For sale in "Autosport": £3,600 with 6.2 Chevrolet engine.
25/9: Can-Am. Mosport Park: H. Dibley, #53; 7th.
9/10: Can-Am Kent: H. Dibley; 18th.
16/10: Can-Am. Laguna Seca: H. Dibley, #53; 10th.
Loaned to Scooter Patrick in the U.S.A.
30/10: Can-Am. LA Times G.P. Riverside. S. Patrick. # 53. DNF. (Rings broken.)
13/11: Can-Am. Stardust Grand Prix, Las Vegas: Dibley, #53; 5th.

Sold by Bob Winkelman to Hugh Powell with the Smothers Brothers.

1967:
03/9: Can-Am round 1: Elkhart Lake 200: H. Powell; DNF.
17/9: Can-Am round 2: Bridgehampton: H. Powell; DNF.
23/9: Can-Am round 3: Mosport: H. Powell, #24; DNA.
15/10: Can-Am Round 4. Monterey GP, Laguna Seca: T. Settember, DNF (gearbox).
29/10: Can-Am round 5. Los Angeles GP Riverside: H. Powell, #24; Qualified 35th. Race result: DNF. (Accident.)
12/11: Can-Am round 6. Stardust GP Las Vegas: H. Powell, #24; Qualified 28th. Race result: Crashed in first lap "coming together". DNF.

Sold to Charles Hayes Racing Equipment (Not Chuck Haines!) Santa Ana, California.

1968: 16/4: Sold to John McGuire, Hemmit, California for $3,270.00. less engine, with gearbox. Plus Ford 289 adapter (Bellhousing?). (Invoice #121).

1969: The T70 was then used in the film "The Challengers". Nose damaged.

1974: Given to Jim Schield of La Habra, California.

1985: Sold to Phil Schmitt of California. Restored to 1968.
2001: Newly rebuilt Ford V8 installed.
2005: STP0.
2006: Restored in Europe.