1960 Lola Mk 1

Bonhams  have this gorgeous 1960 Lola Mark 1 at Goodwood this weekend.

Registration no. TOY 914

Chassis no. BR-13

Engine no. FWE400308228

• One of the earliest Lola production cars

• Copies of original purchase paperwork on file

• Delivered new in road trim

• Only two owners from new (David Pratley since 1983)

• Raced 1986-1997 (no accidents)

• Recommissioned and return to road trim n 2011

From humble beginnings – the prototype Mark 1 sports-racer emerged in 1958 from a garage behind the Broadley family's tailoring shop in Bromley, Kent – Lola Cars quickly established a winning reputation and grew to become a major force in world motor sport. Eric Broadley, his cousin Graham and Rob Rushbrook, at whose garage the first customer production versions were made, were the architects of the early successes.

Chassis number 'BR-13' was first supplied as a road car and purchased by the vendor - David Pratley, author of Lola's First: Definitive History of the Mark 1 in 1983.

David bought the car from its first owner - Peter Gourlay of Guildford, Surrey - who was 75 at the time. Accompanying documentation includes a copy of the original order dated 27th October 1959, addressed to Eric Broadley, and Lola's acknowledgement. The car was to be supplied with a 1,220cc Coventry Climax engine; an MGA gearbox with close ratios; and an effective silencer. An extract from the Lola Heritage Scrapbook confirms that the 'BR-13' was built specifically as a road car with thicker fiberglass (sic) bodywork; further stating that Mr Gourlay covered nearly 55,000 miles in the Lola, mostly on the A272 very early on Sunday mornings. There is a photograph on file taken while in his ownership when the car was painted red.

Andreason Racing recommissioned and race prepared the Lola in 1985. The SU carburettors were replaced by Webers and the engine was built to race tune by Tony Mantle of Climax Engine Services. Between 1986 and 1997 David Pratley campaigned 'BR-13' in Historic racing both in the UK and in Europe (without any accidents) securing several in-class podium finishes and two class wins: at Zolder in 1989 and Zandvoort in 1990 (list of race results on file). The Lola was finished in British Racing Green at this time.

David raced 'BR-13' until 1997 when it got put to one side while he concentrated on his Mark 2 and Mark 3 single-seaters. When David finally retired from racing in 2009 he thought it would be appropriate to restore the car for road use again. This included recommissioning the electrics and fitting a horn, handbrake, and silencer together with a road-friendly clutch and brake linings. The car was also returned to its original colour scheme of red with contrasting grey stripes. This work was carried out in 2011 by Roach Manufacturing of Ower, Hampshire.

Now breathing via twin Weber carburettors, the car comes with the original twin SU carburettors and inlet manifolds; a differential, marked 9/41 (4.55:1); wheel 15x4.5J; Coventry Climax cast-alloy engine sump; 1986 USA (Connecticut) license plate, LOLA 13; and a simple aluminium choke plate for cold weather starting.

Additional documentation includes a V5C Registration Certificate; numerous invoices; old FIA papers; copy Lola workshop manual (with owner's notes); and copy Coventry Climax engine workshop manual (again annotated in parts).

#lola #lolamk1 #coventryclimax