RM Auctions: 1971 Lola T260 Can-Am Spyder
Built as Jackie Stewart’s backup car for 1971, and raced successfully in Can-Am in ’72, ’73 and ’74, this Can-Am monster has the racing history to back up that towering stack, and is heading to auction at RM Auctions’ upcoming Monaco Sale.
Images: Aaron Summerfield courtesy of RM Auctions
Lola built two cars for L&M’s 1971 Can-Am campaign to dethrone the dominant McLaren, and delivered them to Carl Haas Racing, who had just signed Jackie Stewart for the season. The first car, T260-HU1, was so consistent that this car, T260-HU2, the backup car, wasn’t needed and remained unraced until 1972.
Its racing career heated up in 1972, when it moved on from L&M into the hands of Tom Heyser, and finally hit the track in anger with Heyser and John Gunn at the wheel, and a cameo by Formula 1 racer Reine Wisell.
1974 was its most successful season, claiming 5th at Road Atlanta and third overall in the final round at Elkhart Lake to take John Gunn to 5th in the drivers’ championship.
Bucking Lola’s traditionally-lovely lines with its stub-nosed design, the T260 was designed to slip gracefully through the air, but retain high speed stability using the rounded nose filled with small round holes.
To help it get to those high speeds it has a 750+ horsepower 496 cubic inch overehead-valve Lucas-injected Chev V8, with independent front and rear suspension with Bilstein dampers and coil springs keeping it stable there, and everywhere inbetween.
After its racing career it was acquired by German collector Peter Kaus, who restored it to its original L&M/Jackie Stewart livery and exhibited it in the Rosso-Bianco Museum. In 2006 it was bought by Andrew Hauck, who raced it in historics until it was purchased by its current owner in 2009.
It has been well maintained and documented and includes an impressive file full of period photographs, correspondence, articles and service records. It is offered with an extensive spare part collection, including spare BBS wheels, original Goodyear rain tyres, original rear suspension and more. The winning bidder will also be offered the opportunity to purchase the completely rebuilt original engine from the historic sister car.
For more information please head to RM Auctions’ official website here and consider contacting an RM Auctions specialist.
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Images: Aaron Summerfield courtesy of RM Auctions
