Reengineering an Icon: The Engineering Mastery Behind the Lola T70S Revival
Few names in motorsport history evoke the raw, mechanical purity of the 1960s sports car racing era quite like Lola Cars. As a boutique chassis builder operating out of England, Lola consistently punched above its weight class, engineering machines that captured victories at Daytona, Indianapolis, and legendary endurance runs across the globe. Major auto manufacturers routinely relied on Lolaβs chassis architecture to form the winning backbone of their factory racing efforts.
However, even the most prestigious pedigree doesn’t make an enterprise immune to financial turbulence. Following its collapse in 2012, many assumed the legendary brand had crossed its final finish line. The company’s 2022 revival signaled a dramatic shift in directionβa resurrection anchored not by nostalgic repetition, but by advanced, sustainable manufacturing techniques.
Leading this technological renaissance is the Lola T70S. While retaining the captivating silhouette of the classic T70, this modern continuation model introduces cutting-edge material science, sophisticated sustainable composites, and refined chassis dynamics. Guided by three-time Formula 1 race winner Johnny Herbert, an inside look at the T70S reveals how contemporary race engineering is breathing new life into an iconic classic.
A Legacy Built on Structural Innovation
To understand the significance of the T70S, one must first recognize the structural legacy of the original Lola T70. Introduced in the mid-1960s, the T70 became a benchmark in sports car prototype design. It combined lightweight chassis construction with high-output American V8 powertrain options, earning a formidable reputation across the Can-Am and World Sportscar Championship circuits.
Lolaβs original success was largely driven by its early adoption of advanced materials. Long before carbon fiber became the industry standard for motorsport monocoques, Lola was pioneering the structural application of fiberglass, specialized aluminum alloys, and hybrid tubular spaceframes.
HISTORICAL T70 vs. MODERN T70S
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β Feature β Original Lola T70 β Modern Lola T70S β
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β Bodywork Material β Traditional Fiberglassβ Bio-based Natural β
β β β Fiber Composite β
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β Chassis Protection β Standard Anodizing / β Eco-Friendly Sea Salt β
β β Chemical Coatings β Residue Barrier β
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β Dual Variant Options β Dedicated Competition β Homologated Road Car &β
β β Track Spec β Track-Only Spec β
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β Manufacturing Focus β Pure Mechanical Outputβ Sustainable High- β
β β β Performance Craft β
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The new Lola T70S honors this heritage of material experimentation while adapting it to meet modern automotive engineering standards. Rather than relying solely on legacy blueprints, the development team re-engineered the vehicle’s structural core, integrating eco-friendly composites without sacrificing rigidity, overall weight, or aerodynamic performance.
Sustainable Composite Engineering: Replacing Carbon Fiber
The defining feature of the Lola T70S is its bodywork. Historically, continuation cars faced a choice: stick with heavy, outdated fiberglass or switch to conventional carbon fiber. Carbon fiber offers exceptional strength-to-weight ratios, but its production and recycling present significant environmental challenges. Synthetic carbon weave requires energy-intensive manufacturing, and end-of-life recycling options remain limited.
COMPOSITE MATERIAL BREAKDOWN
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β β
β Traditional Fiberglass β
β [ β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β ] Heavy, Baseline Flex β
β β
β Conventional Carbon Fiber β
β [ β β β β β β β β β β ] Ultra-light, High Carbon Footprintβ
β β
β T70S Bio-Based Natural Fiber β
β [ β β β β β β β β β β β ] Lightweight, Low Environmental β
β Impact, High Strength β
β β
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To address this, Lola engineered a bio-based natural fiber composite body for the T70S. Visual inspection reveals a deep, dark weave that closely mirrors the aesthetic of woven carbon fiber, yet the material properties deliver distinct operational advantages:
Superior Tensile Strength: Outperforms conventional fiberglass in structural rigidity while offering improved energy absorption characteristics during impact.
Reduced Overall Mass: Keeps the vehicle’s wet weight low, enhancing power-to-weight ratios and sharp turn-in responses.
Closed-Loop Recyclability: Natural fibers decompose far more readily than synthetic carbon structures, drastically reducing manufacturing waste.
Vibration Damping: Natural fiber matrices inherently absorb high-frequency road vibrations, reducing fatigue on mechanical fasteners and cabin components.
This composite technology proves that sustainable manufacturing can meet the demands of high-performance race craft, setting a new benchmark for boutique automakers.
Advanced Corrosion Protection: Sea Salt Anti-Corrosion Treatments
Beyond its natural fiber bodywork, the Lola T70S incorporates bio-sourced protective treatments across its suspension and drivetrain components.
Magnesium alloy uprights, wheels, and gearbox casing sections are prized in race engineering for their extremely low density. However, untreated magnesium degrades rapidly when exposed to atmospheric moisture, road salt, and harsh track chemicals.
PROTECTIVE COATING MATRIX
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Magnesium Uprights & Suspension Alloys
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Coating Layer: Bio-derived Sea Salt Residue Barrier Film
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Substrate Protection: Prevents Oxidation, Galvanic Decay & Pitting
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Rather than applying toxic, volatile organic compound (VOC)-heavy chemical anodizing processes, Lola developed a surface treatment derived from sea salt residues.
This specialized coating creates an impermeable, bio-derived passivating barrier over magnesium and aluminum components. It shields susceptible metal alloys from oxidation, galvanic corrosion, and pitting without adding un-sprung weight. By solving magnesiumβs durability issues sustainably, the T70S maintains structural integrity under extreme track conditions.
Dual Variants: Road-Legal Luxury Meets Track Performance
The Lola T70S lineup caters to two distinct automotive markets by offering two distinct configurations: a track-focused specification and a fully homologated road-legal version.
T70S VARIANT CONFIGURATIONS
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β β
β TRACK-ONLY SPECIFICATION β
β – Stripped-down cockpit with sparse controls β
β – Stiffer spring rates and aggressive valving β
β – Maximum downforce aerodynamic setup β
β – Direct, unassisted mechanical feedback β
β β
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β β
β HOMOLOGATED ROAD CAR β
β – Supple hand-stitched suede cabin trim β
β – Acoustic damping and thermal barrier lining β
β – Compliant suspension valving for road usability β
β – Ergonomic seating tailored for longer drives β
β β
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While the track-only variant prioritizes raw weight savings, maximum downforce, and aggressive suspension damping, the road-going version bridges the gap between historical racing style and modern Gran Turismo comfort:
Refined Cabin Ergonomics: The interior features hand-trimmed suede surfaces covering the dash, door cards, and supportive bucket seats, creating a refined atmosphere without adding excessive weight.
Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Reduction: Acoustic insulation layers are strategically placed throughout the bulkhead to isolate passengers from engine noise without muting the exhaust note.
Adjustable Suspension Valving: Damping rates are tuned to absorb road imperfections while maintaining precise body control during spirited cornering.
The Market Context: Continuation Cars and Investment Value
The revival of Lola Cars comes at a time when the market for high-end continuation vehicles and specialized sports cars is expanding rapidly. Collector interest in historic endurance racers remains exceptionally strong, driving demand for modern reinterpretations built with authentic engineering principles.
MARKET DRIVERS FOR CONTINUATION CARS
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β Driver β Industry Impact β
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β Historic Event Eligibility β Modern safety updates allow participation in β
β β vintage racing events without risking historicβ
β β originals. β
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β Bespoke Manufacturing β Low production volumes preserve exclusivity β
β β and support long-term investment value. β
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β Advanced Material Integrationβ Eco-friendly composites attract modern, β
β β environmentally conscious collectors. β
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By pairing classic 1960s aesthetics with modern, eco-friendly materials, the Lola T70S occupies a unique space in the boutique sports car market. It offers collectors the raw, visceral driving experience of a classic prototype combined with the reliability, structural integrity, and sustainability of contemporary race engineering.
The Next Chapter in Precision Race Engineering
The Lola T70S demonstrates how legacy motorsport brands can reinvent themselves for the modern era. By blending iconic historical design with sustainable natural composites, bio-sourced protective coatings, and high-performance engineering, Lola has created a machine that honors its past while looking squarely toward the future.
Whether destined for private collections, vintage motorsport competition, or open-road touring, the T70S marks an impressive return for one of racing’s most respected constructors.
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