The 1968 Japan Grand Prix, held 55 years ago yesterday, saw a quartet of Lola T70's entered. Two of these were GT's imported by Shintaro Taki for his racing team, and two were MKII spyders, already present in Japan since 1967.
SL71/44 - Ginji Yasuda (Team Daiyko Chen)
Ginji Yasuda bought this car from Don Nichols in early 1967 and ran it with an improvised hardtop at the 1967 Japan Grand Prix. It famously spun off on the opening lap after a mad dash to the lead, and retired not long after. Yasuda kept racing SL71/44 throughout 1967 with many podiums to his name. By the time it ran the 1968 Grand Prix it had already worn out from the many races it ran. After starting 16th on the grid, Yasuda retired on lap 56 after overheating.
(Gold colour seems to change per photo source, this is a decent middle ground imo)
SL71/24 - Tadashi Sakai (Taki Racing Team)
Tadashi Sakai bought this car from Don Nichols as well, who imported SL71/44 at the same time as this chassis. He aimed to run both chassis at the 1967 Japan Grand Prix but couldn't find a driver for this car. He eventually decided to run the car himself under a faked identity (Roger Clarke). He repeatedly spun the car but did finish the 1967 Grand Prix only 3 laps down from the winning Porsche 906. The car was sold to Sakai in early 1968 who joined forces with Taki Racing Team. Despite qualifying 4th (front row) on the grid, Sakai became the first to retire following brake issues on lap 18.
>4K liveries
>historically accurate (I suppose so)
>fast
>cool?
Images and information all gathered by my main project, the JGT Archive. Join this archive full of Japanese racing photos accurately dated and explained from the 1930s to the 1970s: https://discord.gg/eTsX42m8h3
