1968 Lola T160 Can Am

History

This is Lola T160 chassis number 6, the ex-Sam Posey/Autodynamics Racing Team Lola T160 Can Am car. Chassis SL.160/6 is one of two Lola T160s raced by the Autodynamics Racing Team from Marblehead Massachusetts in 1968. Chassis SL.160/6 is the car raced exclusively by Sam Posey except for the car’s first race with Brett Lunger. The chassis tag is on the tub. 

The Autodynamics team began the 1968 USRRC racing season with their own Caldwell D7, Group 7, car. The team drivers were Sam Posey, Brett Lunger, and Ray Caldwell. Although Posey scored a podium at the second USRRC race of the season at Riverside, the writing was on the wall. The D7’s front and rear solid axle design hampered the car’s performance on tracks that were not super smooth, and contributed to difficulties in chassis adjustment and development compared to the independently sprung cars. In addition, by 1968, aluminum powered big block cars were starting to dominate up front and the Caldwell was still running a 377cubic inch Chevy. It was at that point that the team decided to buy two new Lola T160 cars for Posey and Lunger.

RacingSportsCars reports that chassis SL.160/6 debuted at the first Can Am race of the season at Road America. The Lola was powered by a small block Chevy. Lunger drove the car and finished 12th in a race won by Denny Hulme followed by Bruce McLaren in their new M8 McLarens with 

At the next round of the Can Am, at Bridgehampton, Posey was behind the wheel of SL.160/6, the same T160 he would race for the rest of the season. He finished 8th.

At the third round, Edmonton, Posey brought SL.160/6 home a very impressive 4th overall, and the first small block car behind the big block cars of Hulme, McLaren, and Donohue.

By the next Can Am race, the Monterey Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, October 13, 1968, Posey’s T160 had finally been fitted with a big block, 427 ci Traco Chevy. Here Posey would bring SL.160/6 home in 9th.

At the Los Angeles Times Grand Prix Can Am race at Riverside, Posey and the T160 suffered their only DNF when the mighty 427 ci Traco sucked in and swallowed an injector screen. 

The final Can Am race of the season was the Stardust Grand Prix in Las Vegas. Posey and the Lola finished 5th out of 36 cars. 

Posey’s final race in the Lola was at the Annual World Challenge Cup Fuji 200 in Japan. There they would finish 2nd, behind Peter Revson in the Shelby entered McLaren M6B. That McLaren M6B recently sold on BringATrailer for $365,000, over $100,000 more than the price of this Sam Posey Lola T160 that finished right behind it.

In 1969, the Lola’s story took a sharp turn, actually several in rapid succession, before crashing into the trees during a Car and Driver magazine test at Virginia International Raceway. We think the best way to appreciate this moment is to experience it directly from the Car and Driver writer who crashed the car. The accident occurred moments after Sam Posey took the author around the track to familiarize him with the car and the track.  The article, complete with photos, can be seen at How We Wrecked a Lola T160 at Virginia International Raceway.

After the accident we currently do not know where the Lola went, and what was/was not done to it. The next reference we found is the car racing at Philip Island in 2013 with Lilo Zicron. If you go to this link and scroll down, The Roaring Season, you will find a photo of the car returning to the course after a spin. Zircon reportedly owned Toluca Lake Historics at that time. That was a race prep shop in Southern California that restored Lola T70’s and other similar cars. It is possible that the Lola was restored there, but we do not know that for certain. It appears Toluca Lake Historics is no longer in business and the current owner has not been able to obtain records for the car from that time.

At some point between Zicron’s race at Phillip Island in 2013, and when the car was purchased by its current owner in 2015, the car was sold to its next owner, who resided in Simi Valley, California. It is believed this owner never raced the car. In 2015 that owner advertised the Lola on Craigslist and also on RaceCarsDirect – Lola T160. That is when the current owner purchased it.

Since that time the car has been raced several times, including twice at the Rolex Monterey Reunion. In 2016, the engine blew up, and the car was taken to RM Motorsports for a full rebuild. Since then, in 2018, the Lola successfully completed the Rolex Monterey Reunion. The Lola has just been used for testing days since then. 

For more on the most recent restoration work, testing and subsequent racing history of the T160, including the Rolex Monterey Reunion, see the links to the videos below in the Description section.  

Description

The Lola is powered by an ex-Shadow Can-Am all aluminum big block engine. During its most recent rebuild, the engine received new pistons, rings, valves, a roller camshaft, and Jessel type rocker arms. The engine was installed on March 29, 2018 by RM Motorsports.

The current output is 801 horsepower and 790 lb-ft of torque. The engine is conservatively tuned for reliability and drivability. A build sheet and dyno report are being obtained. Power is driven through a Hewland LG 600 gearbox.

Here is a list of the engine run time since installation: 

• Testing with Bud Bennett – 4/22/2018 (1–2 hours)
• Testing with Bud Bennett – 6/4/2018 (1–2 hours)
• Historic Races, Monterey – August 17–25, 2018 (1.5 hours)
• Willow Springs Track Day – 10/24/2019 (2–3 hours)
• Willow Springs Track Day – 2/15/2022 (2–3 hours)
• Willow Springs Track Day – 12/5/2024 (2–3 hours)
• Kick Off Car Show – 8/15/2025 (1 hour)

The history of the Lola since it was restored, and then again after its newest engine was installed in 2018, can be seen by clicking on the following links. 

Concept Cars, T160

Bud Bennett & John 2018 testing at Willow Springs and 2018 Successful Monterey Reunion 

Willow Springs testing and 2016 Can Am 50th anniversary at Monterey Reunion

The Lola remains professionally maintained and is ready to go. Be part of the 60th Anniversary of Can Am celebration events and races. Race in the 2026 Rolex Monterey Reunion Bruce McLaren Trophy Can Am feature race.  Stretch the Lola’s legs at the Weathertech Vintage Weekend at Road America, and at other races across the U.S. 

If you’ve ever thought about getting a Can Am car, this is the year to have one, for sure. 

All vehicle descriptions are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. Corrections, and supplemental information, are always welcome. Buyers are responsible for confirming vehicle histories, condition, and authenticity to their own satisfaction prior to purchase. Motorsports Market is not the owner of the vehicle and assumes no liability for errors and omissions.

(c) 1996-2026 Motorsports Market. All Rights Reserved

Photos

Questions, Comments, Offers?

Please Contact Us if you have any questions or comments, 

or would like to make a non-binding offer.