﹒Ford engine rebuilt by Paul Gardner Engine Services
﹒Comes with plenty of rebuild documentation
The Background
Those with an even vague passing of interest in British Motor Sports will recognise the Lola name. Like much of the UK's motorsports heritage, it was built upon a passion for motorsports. Formed in 1957 by Eric Broadley, he based his first cars around a Ford base and soon gained significant recognition by regularly beating other well-established race cars in competitions. Within just four years, Lola was competing in Formula One races.
While developing chassis' for the likes of General Motors and Nissan, Lola maintained a presence in grassroots racing, particularly in the entry-level classes like the Formula Ford racing championship, which often provided stepping stones for prospective F1 drivers. The Lola T642E was considered one of the first aerodynamic Formula Ford cars, with a carefully wind tunnel designed front and tail cowling covering up suspension components to improve drag coefficient combined with a long wheelbase to aid excellent traction around corners.
This car, originally built in the Huntingdon factory in 1983, has recently gone through a genuine ground-up nut and bolt restoration and is ready to see the open track. The T642E ('E' for Europe) is specifically designed for European regulations and is one of three similar types of Lolas built between 1982 and 1985. Around 80 of all types are thought to have been built, with this particular car being one of the later examples.
It’s said that this car was regularly raced at Castle Combe and Monoposto by Andy Walters Racing and eventually ended up with Lola specialists, Chris Fox of Lola Spares who sold the car to Eddie Guest. Eddie bought the car in pieces, as a restoration project to race with his son. The car remained with him for a while, still as a giant Meccano kit waiting to be constructed, when it was then sold to its current owner in 2016.
The new owner has a vested interest in Formula Ford and Group C racing cars, serving on a semi-professional level at motorsports events. Combining his engineering skills and facilities, he decided to take on the Lola with a view to bringing back up to its original spec. His main motivation is the pure enjoyment of the build process, which includes him flexing his machining skills as well as employing his attention to detail.They have also made vital connections during the restoration of the Lola, many of which are recognised as specialists in Formula Ford and the Lola brand.
The car is on the market, as the owner wishes to move on another project. The Lola was completed at the beginning of 2020, but due to the current situation has not managed to use the car. It has been dry stored but as a result of a lack of use, it may need the lightest of recommissioning.
The restoration has been sympathetic to the specification of the original car. The process involved the original tubular chassis being shot blasted, followed by all the rivet holes manually welded. The front hubs were remade, as the originals suffered from stress cracks, so having cast the mould himself, they were heat-treated and machined using his own facilities. Other items such as wishbones, were remanufactured by specialist an engineering company with jigs made from original components. Spares can be obtained from Chris Fox Motorsport who own all old mechanical stock of the old Lola company
As often hoped with cars that have undergone complete rebuilds, no short cuts have been taken and the care, attention and duty of mechanical sympathy will reassure any potential buyer that this example is one of the best currently for sale. While the car's early paperwork has been lost by its previous owner, the current owner has kept a meticulous log of receipts and photographs of the rebuild, which also includes an illustrated components data log, including specification sheets and component drawings. In addition to this, the car is also FIA accredited with documentation.
Being an FIA approved race car, any prospective buyer will not expect much in terms of frivolous fitments and comfort but the owner has installed a foam-filled leatherette covering on the bulkhead to act as a seat, along with a removable steering wheel which aids exit and entry to the car - useful to know this if you’re as tall as the 6'3" owner.
While the mechanical and running gear aspect of the Lola has been extensively renewed, the owner retained an element of body patina and originality of the nose cone and rear engine cover sections, simply as a mark of authenticity of its past pedigree. In addition to this, the top, front suspension cover and seat have been sourced from T W Mouldings. The side sheets have been replaced by Dural - a brand name for a processed form of Aircraft-spec Aluminium which is known for its ability to withstand damage better than Aluminium.
The 98bhp 1.6-litre Ford Kent Crossflow engine is coupled with a 4 speed Mk 9 Hewland gearbox and is fully compliant to Formula Ford specifications. The engine has been rebuilt by the well respected Ford tuning experts Paul Gardner Engine Services, who are well-known specialists associated with Formula Ford and Lola, which adds to the authenticity of the car. In addition, the T682E has a Formula Ford expert Neil Bold Engineering machined head. The car will also come with a 4 speed Hewlad mk9 sourced from official Hewland distributors PDS racing. According to the current owner, it had a 1-hour dyno run time.
As to be expected for a ground-up restoration, the car received a full complement of new suspension components, including wishbones, rose joints and wheel bearings. The braking system has been completely renewed and shod with Avon ACB10’s with freshly powder coated wheels. The car also includes anti-roll bars.
As a budget entry-level way into single-seater motorsports, it doesn’t get much better than the Lola T642E. The responsive handling and grip around corners are just one step away from a historic Formula one car at a fraction of the cost. The Lola name itself has exclusivity over other Formula Ford race cars, but there’s more substance to the Lola than just its illustrious pedigree. The car's superior aerodynamics combined with blistering performance thanks to its 1/2 ton weight can only be described as a genuine adrenaline pumper. While it's likely to appeal to those with Formula Ford experience, the Lola T642e is also a potentially cheap entry-level point for those who wish to experience the single-seater buzz and the thrill and skill development that comes with the sport.
** The photos in this listing have been provided to us by the seller **
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1983 Lola T642E
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