One of the wildest and most successful racing cars of the 1960s, the Lola T70 was the answer for hungry privateers who wanted to fight Ferrari and Porsche. While light and powerful, it was no where near as complicated as the prevailing 512s and 917s of the day, and as such, made it accessible for well-heeled racers.

Though the original T70s fetch a pretty penny these days, there’s an alternative for vintage racers who aren’t moguls or sheikhs. The T70 has been reincarnated for those who want a little bit of brutality to challenge the overly-refined sports cars of today. ‘Reincarnated’ hasn’t been used lightly, either: the Broadley T76 is an exact recreation of the famous Lola, but offers its driver comfort in knowing that the components are up to the task at hand; no rusted bolts shearing off in the middle of a quick corner.

Image credit: LS1tech.com

While that might be relieving, any feelings of apprehension quickly return after looking over the Broadley’s stats: 520 horsepower, 620 lb/ft of torque, and just 1,800 pounds to push around. That grunt comes from a snarling, 5.0-liter V8  pushing 7,900rpm, driven through a five-speed Hewland LG 600 with a dog-leg first. Simplicity is the prevailing theme here.

The chassis is classic, riveted aluminum, and the classic Koni two-way shocks decorate all four corners. No traction control and little downforce means it’s a basic and robust machine, really, but that kerbweight and a ferocious powerplant make for a colorful experience.

The ergonomics only help add to the theater of the low-flung sports racer: a large, unassisted steering wheel makes steering corrections a bit like swimming butterfly, and the reclined seating position and surprising amount of room give the machine the appearance of civility.

Image credit: carbuildindex.com

Rest assured, there’s little that’s genuinely civil about the Broadley. It’s a real fire-breather, and when the Chevy small block comes on cam at 4,000 rpm, you ought to try and have the car as straight as possible; even with a locking differential, it’s happy to turn the treaded tires into a plume of grey smoke.

The incredibly long throttle travel is intended to try and harness the vicious motor’s output, but even still, the Broadley still requires a delicate right foot. It’s for that reason that Franchitti short-shifts to keep the tires underneath him and ensure a clean drive off the corner (2:23), and even then the rear yaws slightly. Fortunately, the torque allows a talented driver to bring a wide-pushing nose back in line.

For all its ferocity, the Broadley seems approachable, almost welcoming. Sure, the car is remarkably quick and the treaded tires can’t quite handle the full fury of the motor, but according to Franchitti, it offers plenty of feedback. The stiffness of the chassis and the surprisingly stiff tires are complemented by a motor with a strong mid-range so the performance is exploitable. As the day went on, the Scot found himself learning “more and more” with every lap, and by the glimmer seen in his eye when he reports on the experience, it’s likely he was smiling the whole time under his helmet.