THE LOLA T340
All pictures copyright Lola Heritage unless otherwise stated.
T340 at the Lola factory.
The T340 was Lola's Formula Ford 1600 design for 1973 and it followed the T200/T202/T204 series that had had mixed success, the T200 being successful but the two follow-ups less so. The T340 looked very different from its predecessors, it now used twin side water radiators allowing for a lower, sleeker body and featured a prominent "periscope" airbox.
The front of the car was narrow and the pick-up points for the upper wishbones and top of the dampers were on unusual brackets projecting out from the spaceframe. Otherwise the suspension was standard Lola, outboard springs/dampers all round, at the front twin wishbones and a top link, reversed lower wishbone and twin radius rods at the rear.
The T340 proved to be Lola's most popular type, as regards numbers sold, with 128 built over two years of which over 70 went to the USA/Canada. In an age when there was a lot of competition, with numerous F Ford manufacturers, the T340 went well, winning two major Championships, the STP Formula Ford Championship with Belgian Patrick Neve and the SCCA Formula F Championship with Eddie Miller.
Year(s) of Construction: 1973-1974
Total Built: 128
T340 HU91 owner Richard Phillip has owned the car since 1976. (Picture courtesy of Richard Philip)
T340 CHAMPIONSHIP WINS
YEAR |
CHAMPIONSHIP |
WINNER(S) |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | STP Formula Ford Championship | Patrick Neve | Lola T340-Ford |
| 1974 | SCCA Formula F Championship | Eddie Miller | Lola T340-Ford |
| 1979 | Mid-Am Championship Formula Ford | Danny Edwards | Lola T340-Ford |
(Picture courtesy of Richard Philip)
T340 SIGNIFICANT RACE WINS
1974
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15th April | Silverstone - BRDC | Mike King | Round of the STP Formula Ford Championship - Heat 1 |
| 15th April | Mallory Park - BRSCC | Patrick Neve | Round of the BOC Golden Helmet Formula Ford Championship - Heat 3 |
| 15th April | Mallory Park - BRSCC | Patrick Neve | Round of the BOC Golden Helmet Formula Ford Championship - Final |
| 5th May | Oulton Park - Mid-Cheshire MRC | Patrick Neve | Round of the BOC Golden Helmet Formula Ford Championship - Heat 1 |
| 12th May | Silverstone - Martini International Super Sport | Patrick Neve | Round of the STP Formula Ford Championship |
| 27th May | Silverstone - BRDC | Mike King | Round of the STP Formula Ford Championship - Heat 2 |
| 27th May | Silverstone - BRDC | Mike King | Round of the STP Formula Ford Championship - Final |
| 11th August | Mallory Park - Hagley & DLCC | Patrick Neve | Round of the BOC Golden Helmet Formula Ford Championship - Heat 2 |
| 11th August | Mallory Park - Hagley & DLCC | Patrick Neve | Round of the BOC Golden Helmet Formula Ford Championship - Final |
| 25th August | Mallory Park - BRSCC (Midland Centre) | Patrick Neve | Round of the BOC Golden Helmet Formula Ford Championship - Heat 1 |
| 25th August | Mallory Park - BRSCC (Midland Centre) | Robert Joubert | Round of the BOC Golden Helmet Formula Ford Championship - Heat 2 |
| 26th August | Silverstone - BRDC | Patrick Neve | Round of the STP Formula Ford Championship - Heat 1 |
| 26th August | Silverstone - BRDC | Patrick Neve | Round of the STP Formula Ford Championship - Final |
| 8th September | Oulton Park - 21st International Gold Cup | Patrick Neve | Round of the BOC Golden Helmet Formula Ford Championship - Heat 1 |
| 29th September | Oulton Park - BRSCC | Patrick Neve | Round of the BOC Golden Helmet Formula Ford Championship - Heat 1 |
Note the stickers for the "Esso Formula Ford Championship" and "Tate Trophy Formula Ford". (Picture courtesy of Richard Philip)
1977
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26th June | Croft | Richard Philip | Formula Ford Race |
1978
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30th July | Croft - NSCC | Richard Philip | FF1600 - Heat 1 |
| 30th July | Croft - NSCC | Richard Philip | FF1600 - Final |
| 1st October | Croft - NSCC | Richard Philip | FF1600 Championship |
This modified nosecone was popular in the US. (Picture courtesy of Jerry Lampkin)
A T340 spaceframe awaiting restoration. (Picture courtesy of Jerry Lampkin)
T340 front suspension. (Car-From-UK.com)
The brackets for the top wishbone can be seen. (Car-From-UK.com)
T340 Data sheet, apologies for low resolution.