Estoril Classics always brings together great cars that make fans thrill, but also captivates some less known, rare and, some of them, strange. In the sixth edition of the event, we introduce you to six machines that are only part of the connoisseurs' imagination.
Foto: Eduardo Fernandes
EMBASSY LOLA T370
This F1 car was commissioned by Graham Hill for his team, Embassy, after a disappointing 1973 season with Shadow cars.
The Lola was designed under the direction of Andy Smallman for the 1974 season, but the Ford DFV Cosworth-powered chassis showed no improvement in results over its predecessor, scoring just one point in the hands of the two-time World Champion Graham Hill.
At Classic GP by Portugal Sotheby's Realty you can watch one of these cars. It is a very easy one to spot thanks to its huge air intake.
MORGAN SLR
This car was designed and built in 1961 by Sprintzel Lawrence Racing (SLR), led by Chris Lawrence, who wanted a high performance GT car based on the mechanics of the Morgan +4.
Only three units were built, but the SLR showed some competitiveness in the mid-1960s, and was still noticed for its elegant lines and completely different from what the brand had been used to.
One of these very rare cars is competing in the Sixties' Endurance.
Foto: Jorge Girão
ALFA ROMEO TZ
In the mid 1960s Alfa Romeo wanted to compete in the low displacement prototypes and designed the TZ under Carlo Chiti, who years earlier had left Ferrari on a collision course with Enzo Ferrari.
The Italian engineer created a tubular chassis (T) on which he placed an aluminium body built by Zagato (Z), which allowed him to ensure a low weight, 580kg, to take advantage of the Giulia Sprint GTA's excellent 1600c.c. inline four-cylinder engine.
The car was a success, taking the top four places in its class in its debut race - Monza Cup 1964 - and achieving countless victories in Europe and the United States of America.
Two of these car are taking part in this year's edition of Estoril Classics entered in the The Greatest Trophy.
Foto: Jorge Girão
OLMAS GLT 200
Group C cars have left an indelible mark on the history of world motor racing. And while some cars are still remembered today, such as the Porsche 962C or the Peugeot 905, others, such as the Olmas GLT 200, which can be seen this weekend in action in the Endurance Racing Legends squad, were not so lucky.
Designed by Italian Gianni Lo Bartolo, this small prototype powered by a V8 Ford Cosworth DFL block was short lived in its day. Of the three races it contested in 1988, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it had three retirements, all due to its poor reliability. Disappointed with the results, its owner sold it and it was given a new life in the Italian hillclimb series. The unique Olmas GLT 200 made its post restoration debut at the 2019 Dix Mille Tours.
Foto: Jorge Girão
CANNIBAL-CHEVROLET WSC
Perhaps one of the strangest cars ever in endurance racing from the transitional era between Group C prototypes and WSC and LMP.
This American front-engined V8 Chevrolet prototype is based on a 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Trans-Am. Bruce Trenery makes no secret of the fact that when he saw the car he commissioned for the 1995 season he thought it was "the ugliest thing he had ever seen".
"The Cannibal's" best result was a 40th place at the 24 Hours of Daytona, but despite its fragile appearance, this car completed the other nine races it contested in the IMSA World SportsCar Championship between 1995 and 1998.
Foto: David Maçano
TOJ
Toj was a German constructor - Team Obermoser Jörg - that operated throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.
During Estoril Classics it will be represented with three different models - the SC205, SC303, and SC 304 - all entered in Classic Endurance Racing II.
The first was a Group 6 FIA, having participated in the European 2-litre Sports Car Championship. Powered by a BMW inline four-cylinder engine it claimed a number of wins and pole-positions.
The SC303 and SC304 followed the same regulations, but with a three litre engine - the V8 DFV Cosworth. The former was not very successful, failing to qualify for the 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours, but the latter took a victory and a pole position.
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