1978 Lola T622 Formula Libre

Background

The Lola T620 was developed in the late 1970s for Formula 3 and Super Vee competition, featuring a lightweight aluminium monocoque chassis and fibreglass bodywork by Lola Composites. This particular example was built for Andrew Broadley and appears in the Lola Heritage Archives under the title “T622”, although no chassis log officially records such a designation. A signed photo from Andrew describes it as “T622 Super Vee – Fitted with 1600 Kent engine – 1985 Monoposto Championship – 1978 – 1979”. but its identity is clearly linked to the Broadley family and the works operation.

The Car

The car was fully dismantled into major subassemblies and subjected to a thorough inspection. The chassis, suspension components, and structural hardware were stripped, crack-tested, and carefully checked before being refinished to a high standard. Components were re-nickel plated where appropriate, and the chassis itself was hand-finished to its original appearance.

A new FIA-compliant bag tank was fabricated as a direct replacement for the original, housed within a newly built enclosure that doubles as the seat back and seals the tank within the tub. A fresh wiring harness was constructed to original specification, while the rev counter remains the original, tested item. The oil pressure and water temperature gauges were replaced with new, visually identical units.

The safety equipment includes an FIA-approved fire extinguisher system, new harnesses, and a new battery. All safety elements are in date and meet current regulations. The pedal box was crack-tested, re-plated, and rebuilt, while both the brake and clutch master cylinders were rebuilt and pressure-tested. All hard lines for the brakes and clutch were replaced with HEL Performance items.

The braking system was fully refurbished, including AP Racing calipers. The original Bilstein dampers were returned to the factory for a full rebuild and dyno test. Both front and rear suspension assemblies were reassembled using new bearings and service components. Cooling was renewed with newly fabricated water lines built in-house to match original spec, and the radiator was remanufactured by SERKS using the original factory drawings.

The drivetrain includes a five-speed gearbox and differential, both of which were fully stripped, cleaned, crack-tested, and rebuilt. The original driveshafts were retained, confirmed as serviceable, and rebuilt with new CV joints and boots. The car retains its original fibreglass bodywork, which has been carefully repaired and refinished in the correct factory blue. The original wheels were beyond use, so two new sets were manufactured to the original design and fitted with new tyres.

Under the engine cover is the original Minster Power-built 711M Kent unit. The block and head were pressure- and crack-tested and found suitable for reuse. The engine was then rebuilt to Formula Ford specification using all new internals. A new carburettor, clutch, flywheel, and electronic ignition system were installed. The exhaust is a bespoke system fabricated by Alpha Performance Fabrication to comply with current Formula Ford regulations. Following installation, the engine was run in and tuned in-house.

The restoration was completed over several years by Andre at Sam’s Boyz Racing, with the car only recently finished. The car is accompanied by extensive documentation, including component drawings, and photographic records. Two newly manufactured sets of wheels were fitted with fresh tyres at the conclusion of the rebuild.

This T622 is ready for hillclimb or sprint use and may be converted to F3 specification if desired. With its confirmed Broadley family provenance and unusual archive reference, it offers both competitive potential and historical interest.

Location: Northamptonshire

Seller: Private

Photography: Professional