Description
LOTUS 6
The 6 is an important car in the early history of Lotus as it was the first commercial production Lotus, some 110 were built between 1953-55 and about 70 are known to still exist. They were instantly successful in various forms of motorsport, particularly circuit racing due to the advanced design compared to other cars of the day, having a very lightweight space frame chassis and aluminium aerodynamic bodywork and independent front suspension. They were however designed as road/ race cars and many would have been built for road use only with full weather equipment available.
They were designed to accept a number of different contemporary engines for the different race classes and uses with the majority having 1172cc Ford side valve engines , but SNX 640 was very original in having a highly modified 2 litre BMW 328 engine fitted by experienced hillclimber Bill Perkins who competed successfully in it until selling it in 1959 and is shown in the early Lotus books with it’s distinctive bonnet bulge to accommodate the tall engine.
After 49 years of ownership I have reluctantly decided to sell SNX with full documented history, photographic record and large file of paperwork gathered during my ownership whilst tracing it’s history. It has had a recent chassis up restoration by Mike Brotherwood with many new parts, Williams and Pritchard bodywork and newly rebuilt, balanced and tuned 100E engine by Bob Dove producing 60 bhp, rebuilt gearbox with Buckler close-ratio gears, A series back axle, wire wheels, hydraulic brakes, rebuilt seats with original leather facings and full weather equipment.
