History of a Lola T492 Sports 2000 chassis?

911thillclimber · 24 May 2008, 20:40 (Ref:2210761)

I have just bought a Lola T 492, 1978 sports 2000 racer. This car has a colourful history, and I'm keen to find more details, and need some help!

About 5 years ago the previous owner bought it with a Karmann Ghia fibreglass body on it when it ran in Silhouette / Thundersport in the UK.

I think the car then was from Kent.

Now; that is all I know.

Do you know better? (please)

Graham.

petestenning · 25 May 2008, 08:31 (Ref:2211046)

If the body was Black it may have been David Enderby's Special Saloon ?
As its the only VW Karmann Ghia i remember seeing.

Pete

911thillclimber · 25 May 2008, 11:52 (Ref:2211183)

Thank you for the reply Pete, it starts the ball rolling.
No idea (yet) of the colour, but a Karmann Ghia racing must have been a very unusual sight, yet I cannot find anything on it.
Can you recall when and where at all?

Here is the chassis:

Graham.

JimW · 25 May 2008, 12:14 (Ref:2211196)

Delving around other places, the only references I can find are to David Enderby's Karmann Ghia being a Tiga.

Regards

Jim

Nordic · 25 May 2008, 14:49 (Ref:2211364)

If it is the same car, I took this photo at Brands in the early 80's
Karmann Ghia

911thillclimber · 25 May 2008, 15:11 (Ref:2211408)

Thanks for the info!
The 'Doc' looks to be in the centre or even LHD in the Ghia(?)

I have found a name of his long serving mechanic, Tony Harman who, has written that in 2003 the Doc still had the Ghia.
I must try to contact him.

I am trying to find the car's history and the Lola Chassis number, assuming the Doc's car was on a lola.

Graham.

911thillclimber · 25 May 2008, 16:18 (Ref:2211504)

If you are looking Tony, I am trying to find out more about a Karmann Ghia Silhouette racer based on a Lola T 492 spaceframe and tub.
I believe Dr David Enderby built one. The Lola was sold in 2005 with a Ghia plastic body in place from someone in Kent.

I have just bought this Lola (less body), and I'm looking to find the Chassis number which is not on the car (or at least I can't find it!)
Is this the car?
http://rupert8766.fotopic.net/p3155412.html

Hope you can help Tony.

Graham.

Thundersports · 26 May 2008, 15:53 (Ref:2212314)

Remember the Karmann well can't recall the base chassis though, I don't think it ran in Thundersports only special GT.

911thillclimber · 26 May 2008, 21:58 (Ref:2212581)

I'm not at all convinced that my chassis was under the Ghia. There are so few 'marks' of adding extra bodywork at all.
Thanks for the replt though. It all adds to the plot!

Anymore from anyone?

Dan Rear · 27 May 2008, 09:02 (Ref:2212829)

I'm fairly sure the Enderby Karmann Ghia GT car, from about 1980-81ish, was reportedly built on a Tiga SC79 S2000 car.

David Auger built a 1300cc Skoda Donny GT car on a T492 chassis, there may well have been other similar hybrids built, but the Enderby car was the only Karmann Ghia I think.

911thillclimber · 27 May 2008, 16:49 (Ref:2213225)

The previous owner of my 492 said it had a Ghia body, in fibreglass which was well shot when he got the car. He had done a lot to the chassis (after disposing of the body) to the state I now have.
This guy knows cars, and I'm sure he is not mistaken. He said the car was very quick with a monster engine, so I would have thought it would be remembered and pictured well enough to be 'found' in history.

Thanks for the replys, the search goes on.
Graham

911thillclimber · 27 May 2008, 16:58 (Ref:2213234)

I have just bought a Lola T 492 chassis.
I understand the car was converted to a Karmann Ghia Silhouette racer with ''500bhp'' and was sold with the body on in 2005 to the guy I bought it off last weekend, but not with the Ghia body.

I am trying to find the car's history with a view to learning more and also to try to find the Lola chassis number it originally had.
Here is the chassis as of today:

Any info of the history appreciated.

I know a 'Doc' Dr David Enderby raced a Ghia bodied sports 2000 (a Tiga I think) and a David Auger raced a T 492 Skoda Special in the 80's.

Graham.

MGDavid · 27 May 2008, 18:38 (Ref:2213316)

...just for clarity did he say 'ghia' or 'kharmann ghia' ?

911thillclimber · 27 May 2008, 19:31 (Ref:2213367)

Karmann Ghia, as in the VW based sleek Coupe, not the rag-top VW beetle.
Bet it looked quite good!

petestenning · 27 May 2008, 20:01 (Ref:2213396)

The only VW Karmann Ghia i have ever seen is David Enderby's as that is alleged to be a Tiga this makes it rather interesting. Now you said monster engine as in what ?

The only other VW s i know of are Colin Hawkers VW Variant with a DFV in the back, or the various beetles which were either Lola T70 based as in Mick Hills or single seater based .

Does anyone know if it was used on the hills hence we dont know of it ?

Pete

911thillclimber · 27 May 2008, 21:23 (Ref:2213472)

I've been hillclimbing as a competitor for 19 years and 6 before that as a spectator, never seen a Karmann Ghia at all.
Can't find the email with engine details, but I am told it ran in Silhouette series at Brands Hatch for instance.
The rear frame on the car is not butchered at all, so i can only suspect the engine was a big 4 cylinder, Ford based (as in Pinto type block) so must be a cosworth 'something'?

Mystery continues...

Steve Wilkinson · 28 May 2008, 08:43 (Ref:2213710)

Above: Colin Hawker in the VW DFV

Could this be the Lola with the big engine, after all it is a VW!

Steve Wilkinson · 28 May 2008, 08:47 (Ref:2213714)

See my reply in the other thread you started!

Dan Rear · 28 May 2008, 08:53 (Ref:2213720)

Steve, the DFVW was based around the 'Duckhams Special' de Cadenet Le Mans car.

petestenning · 28 May 2008, 09:52 (Ref:2213781)

In period known as the DFVW.

Pete

Steve Wilkinson · 28 May 2008, 14:05 (Ref:2213936)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Rear

Steve, the DFVW was based around the 'Duckhams Special' de Cadenet Le Mans car.

Dan, wasn't the De Cadenet Le Mans car originally based on a Lola?

Were Sports 2000 monocoque or semi-monocoque? I thought they were spaceframes.

Dan Rear · 28 May 2008, 14:40 (Ref:2213960)

No Steve, the original and 1st de Cadenet, was designed by Gordon Murray around Brabham BT33 bits I think. Later ones were 'Lola influenced'.

As for spaceframe/monococque/semi, I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about......

911thillclimber · 28 May 2008, 21:07 (Ref:2214189)

Aluminium alloy sheet tub/front end with a steel back bulkhead and tube rear frame = spaceframe/mono/semi!
Oddly, my Lola has rear wheels just like the VW above...

911thillclimber · 28 May 2008, 21:10 (Ref:2214194)

I'm trying every avenue i can to find the history, and have just read the other thread. Thanks for the additional info.
Interesting, but the guy I bought it from was very sure the car was a Karmann Ghia shell in fibreglass.

911thillclimber · 29 May 2008, 20:34 (Ref:2214904)

From a very knowledgable source: This car might be a 'one of the first 10' Lola 490's made, and the first cars had front rad, 492's the rad in the side pod. Not sure if that helps any!
Graham.

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