MUNCLE MIKES · CASTING GUIDE
Lola GT70Green enamel and a delicate rear cover
Lola GT70’s low roof and enclosed body give it a different feel from the open-wheel Grand Prix cars. The large rear cover is its main moving feature, and its hinge deserves more attention than the shine of the paint.
Green enamel is an original finish
The 1969 Grand Prix Lola GT70 was produced in the United States and Hong Kong. British Racing Green enamel and Spectraflame finishes are documented, with black interiors.
US cars have clear glazing and a solid base. Hong Kong cars have blue glazing and four rectangular base openings. The bodies are very similar, so the underside is more useful than a guess based on overall shape.
The transmission detail changed with the hatch stop
Early US examples have a transmission detail behind the engine. Later versions replace it with a peg that limits how far the rear cover opens.
Check which arrangement is present before moving the cover. A later hatch stopping sooner is not necessarily faulty. Do not push against the peg or bend the cover back for a wider engine photograph.
Closed and gently opened views show different things: the first reveals fit, while the second helps show the hinge and any glue repair.
Look for the yellow sticker sheet
The supplied racing stripes and number 10 stickers were yellow, unlike the white sheets used with several other Grand Prix cars. US and Hong Kong printings use different lettering.
Record applied, missing and reproduced stickers separately. An unused sheet supplied beside a loose car does not by itself establish that they have always been together.
Check the long nose, roof edges and rear-cover corners for touch-ups. The McLaren M6A guide covers another Grand Prix casting whose hatch design changed during production.
