The MkII version of the T70 claims to be the most successful sports car of 1966, and rightly so since it won some of the most important UK races as well as the USSRC and Can-Am Championships in North America.
Eric Broadley's T70 sports prototype was
upgraded from the same successful formula as the Mk I by having an
American-sourced V8 engine in a small prototype chassis. Most of the successful
cars were run with the small-block Chevrolet engines, but one victory was
achieved with the Ford 333 and Penske tried the 427 Chevrolet with no success
whatsoever.
The MkII specification introduced much more
aluminum in the chassis which reduced the overall weight by 32 kg (70 lbs).
More weight was saved by using color-impregnated fiberglass. This resulted in a
289 Ford-powered T70 weighing just 726 kgs (1500 lbs) while the Chevrolet 327
was at 726 kgs (1600 lbs).
Other small changes that came with the Mk II
were wider wheels, consolidated radiators with one large cooling unit in the
nose and revised suspension points.
In total 33 MkII Spyders were built and
this series is the most successful of all the T70 variants. Denny Hulme
won 11 races in Europe driving SL71/31 for Sidney Taylor winning the first of
five races outright including the Tourist Trophy at Oulton Park.
The first Mk II was delivered to Team
Surtees and John won first time out at the Guards Trophy Meeting at Brands
Hatch. Drivers such as Graham Hill and David Hobbs drove for the Surtees team
with great success. Brian Redman also scored two victories for Red Rose Racing
in SL71/27.
In 1966 16 cars were delivered to the USA
and won the USSRC championship in both 1966 and 1967. Being the US agent, the
Mecom Racing Team was under great pressure to perform. They sold the cars to
private teams which used drivers such as George Follmer, Dan Gurney, Mark
Donohue, Roger Penske and Buck Fulp. T70s won the first two rounds of the CanAm
championship in 1966 which was eventually won by John Surtees.
Dimensions
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Length
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196" (4,978mm)
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Height
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37.4" (950mm)
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Width
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72" (1,830mm)
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Wheelbase
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95" (2,410mm)
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Front Track
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54" (1,372mm)
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Rear Track
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54" (1,372mm)
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Chassis
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Aluminium monocoque in L163, L72 and NS4 aircraft spec materials
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Monel solid rivets throughout, minimal use of blind/pop rivets
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Steel fabricated pick-up points for suspension and structural members
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One piece roll-over bar intergrated into chassis structure
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Fully epoxy-bonded throughout
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Bodywork
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Made from original Lola period moulds
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One-piece nose and tail sections
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Headlight, tail-lights and covers included
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Ancillaries - rear view mirrors, nose deflectors and adjustable rear gurneys
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Suspension
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Unequal length upper and lower wishbones
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Cast magnesium alloy uprights
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Coil-over adjustable Koni dampers
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Fully adjustable
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Adjustable anti-roll bars
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Brakes
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12" solid discs with Girling two piston hydraulic callipers
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Brake cooling ducts fitted
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Twin Girling master cylinders with cockpit adjustable brake balance
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Instrumentation and Electrical
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Stack tachometer/data display
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Smith gauges and waterproof aircraft spec switches
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Oil press; oil temp; water temp; fuel pressure displayed
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Rear gearbox driven alternator
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Complete fused circuits
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12v ignition system with high output coil
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Wheels and Tyres
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15" x 8" wide front magnesium alloy
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15" x 10" wide rear magnesium alloy
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Dunlop treaded tyres
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Engine/Transmission Installation
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Four into one stainless steel with collector and tailpipe
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V8 Chevrolet and Ford engines
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Setrab oil coolers and aluminum water radiator
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Aeroquip hoses and fittings
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Hewland LG600 gearbox, magnesium alloy, five speed and reverse
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Sliding universal joints
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Gearbox cooler
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