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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  Collectors' Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia
• Sale Date:
  19 Jun 2016 ~ 3pm
• Lot #:
  35
• Lot Description:
  1960 LOTUS ELITE SERIES 1
  Chassis No: 1270; Engine No: FWB40093812738; This vehicle will be sold unregistered.
• Provenance:
  From the Estate of the Late John Calvert
• Notes:
  The Lotus 14, better known as the Elite, is Colin Chapman's legendary lightweight GT-the result of applying his skills as a racing car constructor to production sports cars together with the most significant racing engine of its time, the Coventry-Climax. Colin Chapman, a man of extraordinary influence and vision was known for his unshakable commitment to his design philosophy-the lightest possible weight and highest outright speed to win races-his fundamental objective. His inflexible determination resulted in Lotus win 72 Grands Prix and seven World Constructors' titles between 1960 and 1982 with five different drivers-including Graham Hill; Jim Clark; Yochen Rindt; Emerson Fittipaldi and Mario Andretti becoming World Champions. Even after his death in 1982 the vestiges of Chapman's influence remained with the team taking Ayrton Senna to win victories with Lotus. And so too, Coventry-Climax has propelled some of the fastest cars since WW2. The FW engine, standing for 'Feather Weight', was first displayed at the Earls Court Motor Show (following a Government requisition in 1950 for marine and truck makers Coventry-Climax to develop a portable fire-pump engine) and due to its 'Horsepower per pound of Weight' attracted the attention of aspiring car builders Cyril Kieft and a young Colin Chapman. The company concluded that success in competition would broaden the customer base and Coventry-Climax developed the FWA, a Feather Weight engine for Automobiles. The first racing engine appeared at Le Mans in 1954 in the Kieft 1100. In so doing, the FWA became popular in sports car racing followed by the 1.5-litre FWB. The 1.5-litre engine suited the new Formula 2 regulations dominating that category and subsequently in Grand Prix cars. Furthermore, the company produced the FWE engine for the Lotus Elite taking the Coventry-Climax to new heights in the sports car categories. The Feather Weight Elite was a single-overhead-cam, 1220cc engine producing 72bhp initially, (which evolved as a special build combining the larger bore of the FWB with the shorter stroke of the FWA, if Chapman agreed to a minimum order of 1000 units), and fitted with an close ratio MGA 4-speed manual gearbox with alloy casing and modified bell-housingÑsourced from BMC. Lotus released the Elite in 1958 featuring the world's first fiberglass monocoque body tub. Designed by Peter Kirwan-Taylor, John Frayling, and aerodynamicist Frank Costin, it produced a low co-efficient of drag and few creature comforts. But, for the typical sporting customer though, the 112mph top speed and excellent handling were more important. The prototype was first tested on May 10th 1958, driven at Silverstone by Ian Walker, where it won a production sports car race against 1600cc contestants. The Elite then won its class at Le Mans every year from 1959-1964 as well as the highly coveted Index of Thermal Efficiency. Production of the Type 14's innovative GRP (glass-reinforced polyester) monocoque was assigned to boat-builder Maximar, but transferred to the Bristol Aircraft company after the first 280 were made. The Lotus Elite offered, chassis no 1270, is a factory right hand drive as were all Series 1 cars, and originally delivered new to California in July, 1960, to Lotus Distributor, Jay Chamberlain and sold to a doctor. The car was imported into Australia by an Adelaide dealer and then bought by New South Welshman, Ed Holly, an experienced and dedicated Lotus enthusiast who undertook an exacting restoration some 16 years ago from 1998 to 2000 including a full body strip and rebuild, engine replacement, running-gear and interior refurbishment. It was then bought by the current owner in 2006 who has maintained the car well and it was awarded the Outright Winner of the 2009 National Lotus Concours'. This car is powered by the long and torquey crankshaft version of the FW series power unit of 1488cc engine with a close ratio gearbox. A dossier of comprehensive records and receipts accompany the car. The opportunity to acquire a Lotus 14 of this nature is an opportunity to own a legendary GT car that epitomises Colin Chapman's minimalist design ethos and racing pedigree.
• Estimate:
  A$100,000 - 120,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.