Description
Genuine 1966 right-hand drive late airflow car, with authentic original Lotus body shell and chassis plate. Features period/ model correct leaf springs and other original notable Lotus features (e. g. boot floor diff hump). Good documented history. Rescued from the rear yard of the Cambridge Lotus dealer Daytune in 1998, where it had been stored in the open for about twenty years. Originally registered STW 638D at that time, the Lotus then underwent a major restoration by Cambridge based rally preparation expert Parkside Motors, during which time it was transformed into a top specification historic stage rally car and given the cherished (& included) number plate of BNX 1B for Parkside Motors owner Paul Merryweather to use in historic stage rallies. The bodyshell was seam welded, reinforced, strengthened in all the right places, fitted with an FIA spec roll cage and the suspension mountings braced. The engine is an FIA specification 1558cc Racing Fabrications 172bhp (dyno sheet available) Lotus twin-cam unit with twin 40 DCOE Webbers. It drives through a recently rebuilt 2000E semi-close ratio, all synchro gearbox via a two piece propshaft to a 4. 7:1 limited slip differential, linked to heavy duty half shafts and bearings. The engine was refreshed in 2005/ 6, and the car has only run at two single venue events since, and few road miles in the meantime.
The extensive specification includes:
• Seam welded, strengthened and gusseted shell with fully attached Rollcentre FIA certified roll cage.
• All glass windows (no perspex)
• Internal fuel and brake lines
• Sump guard
• Heavy duty alternator
• Switchable electric cooling fan
• Twin ignition coils
• Dual circuit brakes with balance bar and dual servo’s
• Switched twin Facet solid state fuel pumps
• Filter King fuel filter & regulator
• Long range 85L fuel bag tank in alum. case (out of date for stage rally – ok regularity/ endurance rally)
• Hand held & plumbed-in fire extinguisher system with FIA spec internal and external switches
• FIA spec internal and external electrical isolation switches
• Adjustable rev limiter (peak power 7250 RPM, engine ok to 8000)
• Up-rated radiator (Anglia Radiators)
• Adjustable Leda dampers (tarmac/ gravel)
• Heavy duty & strengthened front cross member
• Heavy duty (1” diam.) front anti roll bar.
• Suspension polybushed.
• Minilite wheels
• Passenger footplate with horn button
• Extended fly-off handbrake
• Fully accessible fuse panel and relay’s on dash
• Professional motorsport standard wiring loom
• Switched under-bonnet light
• Switched force adjustable electric power steering
• Helmet hammock
• Halda Twinmaster
• Map reading light
• Aircraft switches
• Wiring for intercom
• Hella (2) and Cibie (2) relayed spot lamps
• Switched Lucas reversing light
• Wheel arch and underbody mud guards
• OMP TRS seats and full harness seat belts. (out of date stage, ok regularity/ endurance)
Originally built and used for historic stage rallying in the 2000’s (including an outright win on the Premier Stages event) and supplied with earlier MSA Rally Vehicle Identity document and MSA Stage Log Book. Because of the period correct current spec and excellent condition, updating the Historic Rally Vehicle Identity Form to use the the car for historic stage rallying would be no problem. Alternatively, being a very well built car with a strong shell, and with all the right competition parts and mods it would make a very good historic endurance or regularity rally car with lots of eligibility possibilities. Very easy to convert to an entertaining, fast classic road car (road registered historic vehicle - road tax and MOT excempt).
Recently serviced and all fluids changed.
Part of ex-Lotus F1 engineer collection. Now for sale due to change of circumstances.
Priced to sell at £44, 000 or near offer
