The Ex - Jo Bonnier, 1970 European 2-Litre Sportscar Championship Winning
1970 Lola T210 Cosworth
Chassis SL210/01, the prototype T210 and Lola’s first purpose-designed 2-litre Group 6 sports prototype, marking a decisive move away from the marque’s earlier V8 sports cars. The chassis that established Lola as a force in 2-litre prototype competition.
Raced by Jo Bonnier with factory support in the inaugural 1970 European 2-Litre Sportscar Championship, starring in a season-long battle between Lola and Chevron.
Scored five overall victories in 1970, all achieved by Bonnier, securing the European 2-Litre Drivers’ Championship and delivering Lola’s first triumph in the category.
Continuous, well-documented history from period international competition through long-term knowledgeable ownership in Europe and the United States, and active historic use.
Outstanding spares package, including a fresh spare Richardson Cosworth FVC engine, bodywork, multiple sets of wheels and more.
FIA HTPs valid through December 2035, with eligibility for the world’s leading historic sports-car events, including Peter Auto CER1, Masters Sports Car Legends, MRL 2-Litre Sports Cars, Daytona & Sebring Classics, and Le Mans Classic 2027.
Price: £POA
Chassis Number: SL210/01
When less became more: Lola’s T210
By the end of the 1960s, Lola Cars had established itself as one of the most adaptable and commercially astute racing constructors of the era under the watchful eye of founder Eric Broadley.
While Lola’s sports car racing reputation had been forged by its thundering, V8-powered T70 models, 2-litre sports cars began to establish themselves as a competitive and popular force within the World Championship for Makes, so the FIA introduced a dedicated European Championship for the category in 1970. Lola identified this new series as a natural arena for a purpose-built sports-prototype and responded accordingly.
Lola’s first 2-litre Group 6 prototype, the T210 was not an adaptation of an existing design, but a purpose-built response to the FIA’s new European Championship. In moving away from the brute-force approach of its V8 predecessors, Lola moved towards lightness, compact design and efficiency.
The engineering of the T210 reflected Lola’s characteristic pragmatism. A lightweight aluminium monocoque formed the basis of the design, paired with fully independent suspension. Power came from the 1.8-litre Ford-Cosworth FVC engine, whose combination of reliability, high-revving performance and accessibility made it particularly well suited to both works-supported and privateer machines.
The new T210 quickly proved its credentials – on its competitive debut it secured victory at Silverstone, and across the 1970 season it emerged as one of the leading contenders in the newly formed 2-litre category. Campaigned most notably by Jo Bonnier, the T210 achieved multiple wins and carried him to the 1970 European 2-Litre Drivers’ Championship, narrowly missing the manufacturers’ title by a single point to rival Chevron.
More than half a century later, the T210 is recognised as a pivotal design in the Lola’s racing lineage. It marked the manufacturer’s successful transition away from large-capacity sports cars and laid the foundations for subsequent 2-litre models, including the highly successful T212. As such, the T210 stands as a clear illustration of Lola’s ability to evolve with the sport – and to do so with enduring effectiveness.
This car, chassis SL210/01
Chassis SL210/01 occupies a uniquely important place in Lola’s history, being the first 2-litre Group 6 sports car built by the marque and the prototype upon which the entire T210 programme was founded, marking the beginning of a new and highly influential chapter for the company.
Completed in late 1969, the car was unveiled publicly at January’s Racing Car Show finished Jo Bonnier’s colours before being selected as the Swedish driver’s factory-supported prototype for the inaugural 1970 European 2-Litre Sportscar Championship. The series quickly developed into a closely fought contest between Lola and Chevron, with Bonnier and the T210 pitched directly against the Chevron B19 of Brian Redman.
From its very first outings, SL210/01 demonstrated the effectiveness of Lola’s new design. The car claimed the first competitive victory for a Lola T210, and went on to secure five overall wins during the 1970 season, all achieved by Bonnier at the wheel of SL210/01.
These results carried Bonnier to the Drivers’ Championship title, backing up Lola’s decision to enter the 2-litre prototype category. Although Lola narrowly missed out on the Manufacturers’ Championship – losing by just a single point after Bonnier spun on the last lap of the final round at Spa-Francorchamps – SL210/01 had already played a central role in establishing the T210’s reputation.
At the conclusion of its championship season, SL210/01 was sold in late October 1970 to French driver Daniel Rouveyran, and continued to campaign the car internationally. In 1971 the car appeared at the Buenos Aires 1000 Kilometres, before returning to Europe for further competition in France, including an unlikely outing on the Ronde Cévenole rally, demonstrating the adaptability and durability of the design beyond its proven circuit-racing success.
Over the following decades the car passed through a succession of knowledgeable custodians in Europe and the United States. Throughout this time SL210/01 retained its identity as the original prototype chassis, and in more recent years has been actively campaigned in historic competition, where its significance and competitiveness continue to be celebrated.
Today, SL210/01 is presented as a hugely significant 2-litre sports-prototype, benefitting from thorough preparation by Hall & Hall. Its Geoff Richardson built Cosworth FVC engine is unused since fitted in early 2025, the Hewland FT200 gearbox was rebuilt by JP Raceshop over the 2024/2025 winter and its fuel cell is valid to June 2026.
Accompanied by an exceptional spares package that includes a fresh Richardson Cosworth FVC engine, a set of bodywork, multiple sets of wheels, and a comprehensive flight case of running spares, SL210-01 is well placed to continue on track with a new owner.
Offered with FIA HTPs valid through December 2035, the car is eligible for the most prestigious historic sports car grids worldwide, including Peter Auto CER1, Masters Sports Car Legends, MRL 2-Litre Sports Cars, Daytona and Sebring Classics, and the Le Mans Classic 2027.
As the prototype T210, the first Lola to win in the European 2-Litre Championship, and the car that carried Jo Bonnier to the 1970 Drivers’ title, SL210/01 undoubtedly stands as one of the most important 2-litre sports cars of its era.
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