Following the success of the T70 that had been discontinued after the 1969 season, Lola produced the T280 for the start of the 1972 season, which was based on the successful 2 litre designs of the 210 and 212, but incorporated the Cosworth DFV 3.0L engine which would take the fight to the Ferrari 512s and 312s as well as the Porsche 917.

Designed by Bob Marston who was aided by two young designers called John Barnard and Patrick Head, Lola produced the T280 which utilised a lightweight aluminium chassis with the Cosworth DFV engine as a stressed member of the chassis as well as in board rear brakes, allowing space for the larger rear wheels needed for the extra power.

The first cars were delivered to Jo Bonnier for competition in the World Championship where they faced strong opposition from Matra, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and fellow DFV powered Mirage.

A victory in the 4 Hours of Le Mans in March of 1972 proved the speed of the Lola 280. In all 5 examples of the 280 were built in 1972.

Built up late in 1972, chassis HU5 served as a replacement for HU2 that was badly damaged at Le Mans earlier in the year. The new car was ready in time for the Paris 1000 km at Montlhéry. It as driven to a debut victory by Gérard Larrousse and Jean-Pierre Beltoise. Chassis HU5 was then entered for the Kyalami for Jean-Louis Lafosse. Unfortunately, a heavy accident in practice meant that the car could not start the race. It was not rebuilt in period as Lafosse switched to the newer T282 from the start of the 1973 season.

Eventually, it is believed both the T282 and the wrecked HU5 were acquired by Belgian collector Jean Blaton, who raced under the pseudonym 'Beurlys'. Blaton looked at rebuilding and racing the earlier T280 but instead of restoring the damaged remains had Chris Fox built up a new and stronger honeycomb aluminum monocoque. The crashed chassis was bought by Fox in the 1990s, and, long after Blaton sold his T282 and the honeycomb monocoque car, he set about restoring the car. While most of the sheet aluminum had to be replaced, the bulkheads could be used once again. The rebuilt HU5 features new suspension components and body. Liveried in the colours used by Lafosse at Kyalami, it was first raced again at the 2019 Espiritu de Montjuic, and has been raced in Masters Sportscars, and Peter Auto CER2 as well as Le Mans Classic by its current owner. Most recently in October 2023 the T280 raced at Estoril in Peter Auto CER2 and achieved a podium finish.

Included with the car are various invoices and paperwork that tie the history of the car back to its sale to the Bonnier Racing Team in 1972, where it was sold as a rolling chassis to replace chassis HU2, as well as various documents when under the ownership of Jean Blaton.

Today chassis HU5 is offered for sale in excellent running condition, and benefits from the following: Geoff Richardson built Cosworth DFV engine with 453 miles since rebuild, a gearbox with only 106 miles since rebuild last year, and a chassis with only 1600 miles since new, when all running gear (suspension, brakes, wiring loom, oil and water systems) were also renewed. The car comes complete with current FIA HTP valid until 2029, a spares package that includes spare set of wheels, some bodywork as well as parts life matrix for engine, gearbox and chassis. The car was crack tested in Jan 2023 and the fuel cell is valid until 9/2025.

This car provides an excellent opportunity to race at the front of the Masters Sportscars grid with the series increased rev limit of 9500rpm this year, as well as CER2 and Le Mans Classic where the car is capable of winning, and an entry into the golden age of world sportscar racing where Lola challenged Matra Ferrari and Alfa for victory.

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