Description

- Interesting  US race history

- The very last T70 Spyder MK II produced in 1965 (essential for Goodwood participation) 

- Eligible for Goodwood, Classic Endurance Racing, Masters and numerous high-class events

The tale of this impressive Lola T70 Spyder MKII begins at the end of the year 1965. On December 19th the new SL 71/20 had been delivered to the well-known race car importer and team owner John Mecom of Dallas, Texas, and was subsequently built up with a Ford 289ci engine and a Hewland LG 500 gearbox. Without having turned a wheel in anger the car was sold to Jerry Crawford of Connecticut, USA, who had it painted in its distinctive white-blue livery with a cheeky “Pussycat” on its rear end.

Jerry Crawford raced the car with considerable success in the Cam Am and SCCA series achieving many good results. Several race victories and podium finishes bear witness to the car’s extensive early race history. Many newspaper articles, lists of race results and historic pictures document the active and successful race career of “Pussycat” on US race tracks until the end of 1967. When the Ford  289ci engine broke down during the “USRRC Bridgehampton 200” in 1967 SL71/20 was re-engined with a 5.9 liter Chevrolet V8. With this set-up the Lola was victorious six times and  achieved an additional podium finish. In August 1968 the car was retired from active racing and put into long-term storage. Contrary to the fate of many Lola T70 which suffered heavy accidents  there is no such incident documented in the long race career of SL71/20.

In 1992 the car came out of hibernation and was sold to Chris Fox, a Lola expert in the UK, who sold it on to fellow Brit Nigel Kemp. 14 years later SL71/20  went to the well-known historic racer and former sales director of McLaren, David Clark, who passed it on to John Bendall, another Englishman. John Bendall had the car fully restored from 2009 until 2011 by the Lola specialists Foxcraft Engineering.  For reasons of age Bendall sold it in July 2011 to its last and current owner, Dr Wolf Zweifler, a collector from Germany, who has been actively racing for decades and who in the same year added two further victories to SL71/20’s CV at the Trofeo Ignazio Giunti in Imola.  Dr Zweifler competed with the car in the 1000km-Series in Monza and Le Castellet and the Classic Endurance Series of Patrick Peter in Imola and Mugello.

Further highlights were the repeated participation in Goodwood at the Members’ Meeting and the Goodwood Revival. Since only Lolas constructed until the year 1965 are eligible for Goodwood SL71/20 - as one of only five MKIIs built until this decisive year - remains the last Lola Spyder approved for Goodwood. In the last years SL71/20 was also used at some track days and most recently raced in the Master’s Series at the OGP at the Nürburgring. The regular maintenance performed at GPS Classic, Hall & Hall and OC Racing is reflected in the exceptional technical and visual condition of the car.

Only few racing cars of the 60ies can be driven as pure and exhilarating as a Lola T70 Spyder. With SL71/20 you will be a most welcome guest at all the important race meetings around the globe. Whether you want to race this Lola in the prestigious Goodwood events or experience the brute force at track days or add it to your race car collection: Due to its outstanding general condition, its built date, its history and its ample documentation this Lola MKII Spyder offers you the full range of possibilities.

Summa summarum „Pussycat“ will fulfill the wishes of both collectors and racers.