Beschreibung:

From the early 1960s until the early 1970s Lotus reigned supreme, accumulating no fewer than seven Formula One Constructors' World Championship titles and a succession of race-winning designs for all single-seat formulae including Junior, Formula 2, 3 and Ford. They had also even won the 1965 Indianapolis '500'. At Lotus, Colin Chapman was the "Guv'nor" and his passion for motor racing and the brilliant designs that left his Cheshunt and Hethel works are legendary. Some of the greatest drivers of this golden age of Formula racing cut their teeth with the British outfit; including perhaps the greatest Formula 1 racing driver of all time—the great Jim Clark. Others represent a who's who of motor racing during this period: Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jack Brabham, Graham Hill, Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi and Jochen Rindt. Even Sir Jackie Stewart was touched by Lotus magic, deputizing for Jimmy Clark to make his Formula 1 debut in a works Lotus at Kyalami late in 1964... In the 'feeder' Formula Junior, driving a Lotus Type 22 chassis, Peter Arundell was the man to beat in 1963, with 18 victories from 25 starts. Subsequently in a Formula 3 Lotus Type 69, the Australian Dave Walker won 25 times from 32 starts. The Lotus 69 was another brilliant Lotus design by engineer Dave Baldwin and in Formula 2 guise it would be most closely associated with eventual Formula 1 Champions Jochen Rindt and Emerson Fittipaldi. In a Formula Ford Lotus 69 driver Mo Harness took the Johnson Wax Euro Trophy Championship for the Jim Russell team. The Lotus 69 offered here today was acquired by the vendor in race-worn but incredibly sound condition, less motor. Jon Fossi of Portland, Oregon carried out a chassis-up restoration, installing a new motor prepared by Arnie Loyning's Portland-based race shop. Peter Denty in the UK supplied new bodywork and fittings. The attention to detail during the restoration has produced what is arguably the finest Type 69 in the United States today. Jon Fossi states that "chassis number '4' is the most original example of the type that I have seen." Since the rebuild chassis number '4' has had only two 20-minute sessions on the race track for set-up purposes, and with the usual pedal adjustments and final check it is ready to compete again. Lotus 69 chassis number '4' is a member of the small but illustrious group of period race-winning chassis as its second period SCCA logbook (included with this Lot) confirms victory at Bridgehampton in August 1973. The Lotus 69 is a thoroughbred single-seater from a legendary constructor at the height of its contemporary powers, and global fame. It is not just a winning design but also – surely—Lotus's ultimate historic Formula Ford.