Description
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1962 Lotus 23B Historic Racing Car. (Chassis 23-S-19, FIA Registration 20474)
Now being sold from my private collection of Continental and Classic cars, I have ultimately made the decision to sell off my entire collection inventory, including my Lotus 23B.
The subject car, a 1962 Lotus 23B, chassis number 23-S-19, now comes to the market for the first time since being acquired in 1978, by the late Mr John Banks, of Kensington, Johannesburg.
Chassis 23-S-19 has full provenance, with a detailed and documented racing history.
FIA Registered and eligible for historic events. (All supporting documents are available in PDF format)
A remarkable piece of 1960’s racing heritage, benefitting from a recent restoration by local marque specialists, the restoration aimed at retaining the unique characteristics of this historic racer.
The Lotus 23 was for its era, a hugely advanced and superior creation, specifically designed for FIA Group 4 racing. It had an incredible power to weight ratio, weighing in at only 400 Kilograms. The 23B was further developed version, and numerous inline four-cylinder configuration options were available in period; Ford Twin Cam, Coventry Climax and Alfa Romeo.
So successful was the Lotus 23, that it is to this day considered by many as one of Colin Chapman’s crowning achievements, a giant slayer and a car that punched well above its own weight.
Having been an actively campaigned race car for the better part of three decades, the 60’s 70’s and 80’s. Proper repairs and functional maintenance were necessitated and carried out to ensure that the Lotus was always a safe and competitive car, securing it many overall first place finishes.
Apart from a comprehensive revision and restoration, the 23B is today, exactly as it was as when last raced in 1988.
Imported to South Africa in mid-1962, by Formula One driver, the late Mr Doug Serrurier, for the local industrialist and motorsport fanatic, Mr Jack Nucci. It first raced under Nucci’s Libre Cars racing team banner.
Chassis 23-S-19 was supplied on the 26th of September 1962, to Libre Cars / Serrurier by Lotus Works as a rolling chassis, sans engine, fitted with Hewland transaxle, and bodywork factory painted in Lotus Red.
Serrurier, well known for his class winning LDS Alfa Romeo powered cars, now endorsed by Nucci’s Libre Cars, decided that the Lotus was to be powered by an Alfa Romeo Twin-Cam, light weight aluminium alloy motor, mated to the Hewland transaxle.
The Lotus first ran competitively on the 3rd of November 1962, in The Rand Daily Mail 9 hours of Kyalami. Piloted by Doug Serrurier and Peter De Klerk.
(As recorded in the book “Sun on The Grid” by Ken Stewart)
Serrurier and De Klerk, competed with much success in the Lotus for the most of the 1963 race season.
The SA Grand Prix Champion, Neville Lederle, was to be the next driver of the 23B. Lederle, hailed by Sir Stirling Moss as a “natural racing driver” was perfectly suited to the fast Lotus. Lederle was to run the 23B in the 9 Hour event at Kyalami at the end of 1963, sadly during a final practice run, Lederle landed the car up against an embankment, when his leg jammed between the pedals, and he had to retire.
In 1964 the Thompson Brothers Racing Team purchased the Lotus and fully rebuilt it. It was campaigned with a high degree of success for three full seasons by Keith Berrington-Smith under the Thomson Motors name. The Lotus was next raced by John Truter’s Bramhill Motors team.
Bramhill later sold to the Lotus to Mr Brian Bork, Bork never used or campaigned the Lotus, rather laying it up for future use.
In 1976, the then Chaiman of The SA Lotus Register, Mr Howard Robinson, discovered the 23B sitting in a hangar at the Baragwanath Airfield, after a brief negotiation, Howard Robinson and Harry Hausler purchased the 23B from Brian Bork.
In 1978 Harry Hausler sold the 23B to its long-term owner, Mr John Banks.
John Banks had managed to, in record time, get the Lotus back to perfect shape. And started racing the it competitively from 1978. Banks had raced intensively at the most major events in SA, making the Red Lotus a well-known feature car, beating many a Lola and Chevron B8.
By 1980 Banks had established a firm reputation for both himself as driver, and for the Lotus as being a superbly prepped vehicle, racking up the pole positions along the way.
As few cars look prettier on the track than a 23, Banks soon drew the attention of the internationally acclaimed, F1 Speaker and former Benneton F1 Team Manager, Mr Brian Sims.
Brian Sims was at the time the GM of the Kyalami Race Circuit. Being an avid racer himself, and the leading figure behind driver sponsorships, Sims got “the pretty Lotus” a massive sponsorship deal with Churchill Personnel for the 1981 Castrol 9 Hour at Kyalami.
For the 9 Hour the Lotus was prepared by the late Mr Maurice Rosenberg. The 23B was now blisteringly quick. The Alfa Romeo motor had been balanced and blue printed, a high octane, high compression machine, breathing through two massive Dellorto 48MM side draft carburettors.
Images of the Lotus in this race are featured in the book, “Kyalami, by Andre Laubscher”
After a decade of competitive racing, in 1988 the Lotus and its driver retired from competitive racing.
During the summer of 2020 I came to hear of the Lotus, quietly sitting in a suburban shed in Johannesburg.
After some initial contact with John Banks, came the sad news of his untimely passing, I subsequently purchased the Lotus from late John Banks estate.
After a flight up to Johannesburg, I arrived at the now deserted property of the late Mr Banks, behind the house was a small shed, locked up with a chain and padlock, behind its doors was a sight that I will never forget, hoisted to the rafters of the roof, there was the Lotus 23B, just as John had left it, his spanners still rested on the engine, as he had started the restoration of the Lotus.
Today the Lotus has a new lease on life, it is resplendent in its condition, and is absolutely rearing to hit the tarmac again.
The following remedial work has just been completed;
• Full professional paint work refresh in the original Lotus Red.
• Full retrim of the interior in high grade UV resistant marine vinyl.
• New rubber seals and sealing gaskets.
• Full revision of all major operating systems of the engine and transaxle.
• Dry sump lubrication system upgrade.
• Full refresh of the fuel feed system and carburation.
• Refresh of the cooling system.
• Hydraulic system refresh.
• Four brand new original 1960’s Dunlop D1 alloy wheels (date stamped 1968, new old stock, not replicas)
• New Dunlop semi slick tyres fitted and high speed balanced (tyres dated 2024)
Included in the portfolio of the Lotus 23B are several articles on the 23B from the SA Historic Racing Car Register and SA Lotus Register. Letters and affidavits, from the original importer, drivers, owners, and experts, regarding the authenticity and accuracy of the Lotus. Chassis 23-S-19 also comes with a folder with a fully recorded history dating back to 1962.
The FIA Technical Passport, all cups, trophies, medals, and images which the Lotus gathered over its career in South Africa and in Rhodesia are also included in the sale, and are considered as historically significant.
I would love to see Lotus again being raced, it is both deserving and eligible for historic race events at Brands Hatch and Goodwood. The prospective owner will be treated to an almost haloed position in historic race fraternity. This is a special piece of automotive history and should commanding much attention.
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