I am sure readers and contributors to this thread may appreciate some clarity on the topic of Continuation cars, replicas and the FIA regulations.
For 2006 onwards the FIA have created a two tier system of recognition and eligibility for Historic Cars. Original cars will have their provenance and technical specification pronounced in a document entitled 'Heritage Certificate'. Only cars with documented history and original specification (?) are entitled to such accreditation. The second tier of eligibility is a 'Historic Technical Passport' (HTP). To qualify the car in question must be a precise replica of the original save only that the regulation provides for material changes where original specification is no longer available and Safety requirements (seat belts, fire extinguishers etc.) must comply with the current Appendix K .
Anyone with a working knowledge of historic / vintage racing will immediately spot the conundrum in the regulations; The Cars qualifying for an HTP are likely to be more akin to the original than many of the highly developed racers which will, by provenance, qualify for a Heritage Certificate.
I must of course admit my interest as being the person who has piloted the Lola T70 programme from a boardroom idea to a series of finished cars. I can assure any doubters that the cars currently available are indeed true replicas in all respects save that the material spec for the panelling has been revised as L72 is no longer readily available in the UK. I am very proud of the fact that much of the cars is made in the time honoured fashion and using jigs that have remained in use from 1969.
I attach some photos (
http://www.lolaheritage.co.uk//news/site_news/Continuation_T70/t70.htm) which I hope will be of interest.
On the topic of the last 'real' T70, if Marcos's car is numbered SL76/155 the Factory records indicate it was not built until 1980 at Huntingdon.
With this in mind I know that some of the opponents of replica and continuation cars own T70's built as part of the FIRST continuation series between 1979-82. These cars are now simply part of the T70 Family and to my knowledge are not pointed at from the banking at Road America or Silverstone and decried as replicas. In a few years the current continuation cars will have been absorbed into the Family in the same way and judging by the value of the 79-82 cars will make a sound investment for the buyer.
However what is a real T70 ? - Well in my view a car built by the Lola Factory. Any critics must always remember that the T70's are not replicas but a continuation of the original build by the original manufacturer.
Glyn Jones
Heritage Coordinator
Lola Cars International