1963 Lotus 23B Sports Racer

Lot details
Registration No: N/A
Chassis No: 23-S-90
Mot Expiry: N/A

Introduced at the 1962 Racing Car Show, the 23 was arguably the most successful sports racer ever to wear a Lotus badge. Another typically brilliant Colin Chapman design, the nominal two-seater owed much to its 20 / 22 Formula Junior siblings. Based around a multi-tubular spaceframe chassis, the main longitudinal members of which acted as oil / water conduits between the nose-located radiators and mid-mounted engine, the newcomer was equipped with all-round independent suspension, front / rear anti-roll bars and four-wheel disc brakes.

Deceptively simple yet aerodynamically sound, its lightweight bodywork housed a sparse cockpit featuring the semi-recumbent driving position then coming into vogue. While, the earliest cars were powered by a 1097cc Cosworth-Ford engine allied to a Renault four-speed gearbox, a whole host of drivetrain combinations subsequently found their way under the 23's fibreglass skin. Coming on stream for the 1963 season, the 23B featured a strengthened spaceframe and uprated running gear. Typically specified with the famous Lotus-Ford 1558cc 'Twin Cam' engine mated to a Hewland five-speed box, it proved a real giant killer.

Though, ever since the May 1962 Nurburgring 1000km when Jim Clark had decimated Ferrari 246SP, Porsche 718 WRS and Aston Martin DBR1 opposition before blacking out due to an exhaust leak, the world had been only too aware of the model's potential. A winner at club, national and international levels of circuit racing on both sides of the Atlantic and as far afield as South Africa and Australia, the Lotus was also a familiar sight in various European Hillclimb Championships. Attracting thirty orders almost as soon as it was announced, total 23 / 23B production is thought to have amounted to 131 cars.

According to the accompanying FIA Historic Vehicle Identity Form (dated 20th July 1999), this particular example - chassis number 23-S-90 - was supplied new to French racing driver, Regis Fraissinet. Originally Abarth powered, the Lotus is reputed to have helped its first owner win the 1964 and 1965 French Hillclimb Championships (the pair apparently finishing second in 1963). Sold to fellow hillclimber Daniel Rouveyran during 1966, the sports racer then passed through the hands of Pierre Mallett (1969 - 1979), Daniel Pouteau (1979 - 1989) and Hubert Ravier (1989 - 1998) before being repatriated to the UK via historic racer and restorer, David Ham.

Currently fitted with a Lotus-Ford 'Twin-Cam' engine and Hewland five-speed gearbox, the 23B has reportedly done just two races since the former was overhauled and none since the latter was refurbished. Further benefiting from fresh blue paint, stickers attest to its participation in the Masters Racing Series and at the 36 AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix meeting earlier this year. A potential front runner, this well presented sports racer is worthy of close inspection. Judged by the seller to be among the more original Lotus 23Bs out there, it is accompanied by FIA HTP papers.