1963 Lotus 23B Sports Racer

Lot details
Registration No: N/A
Chassis No: 56
Mot Expiry: N/A

In the 1960s, the genius of Colin Chapman new few bounds, leading to success in countless classes of motor racing from Formula Ford to Formula One and Saloons to Indy cars. Sports Car Racing was yet another branch of motorsport in which Lotus left an indelible mark, though it has to be said not all the company's two-seater designs hit the sweet spot. The V8-powered Lotus 30, for example was a recalcitrant beast that even the immortal Jimmy Clark had trouble taming, while its successor, the Lotus 40, was described by the lugubrious Californian racer Richie Ginther as 'a Lotus 30 with 10 more mistakes'. The smaller-engined 19 and 23 models were, however, the class of their day, and while the 19 achieved success out of all proportion to its volumes (a mere 17 were produced between 1960 and 1962), its successor, the 23, is as ubiquitous in today's historic racing as it was in period, when 131 examples are understood to have been manufactured between 1962 and 1964.

Launched at the 1962 London Racing Car Show, the 23 immediately drew praise for its neat, sleek design. Apparently confirming the frequently voiced view that 'if a race car looks good, it goes good' it then made an astounding debut in the ADAC 1000km World Sportscar Championship round at the Nürburgring. With a twin-cam headed version of Ford's 1498cc engine in the rear, Jim Clark at the wheel and a wet track below, the little Lotus emerged 27 seconds ahead of Dan Gurney's far more powerful Porsche after just one lap. Rubbing salt into the wounds, Clark extended his lead lap on lap until the circuit began to dry, but it was the car's exhaust not the conditions that cost the model it inaugural victory - leaking fumes causing the poor driver to crash out of the race on lap 12. The potential of the Chapman's latest masterpiece had, however, been duly noted by all.

A month later a pair of 23s were entered for the Le Mans 24 Hour race - one with 745cc engine and the other with a 997cc unit. However they were disallowed by the scrutineers on a technicality. Having apparently overcome the problem, Chapman's team was then rebuffed a second time. Reasoning the organisers were therefore favouring their national entries he vowed never to return to La Sarthe, and neither did he. The episode did nothing to deflect the 23's path to success, though. Effectively a widened version of the company's 20/22 Formula Junior models, the newcomer was 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. It was equipped with all-round independent suspension, front/rear anti-roll bars and four-wheel disc brakes. Already successful, the concept was further enhanced by the 23B model that was introduced in time for the 1963 season. Featuring a strengthened spaceframe and uprated running gear, and typically specified with the Lotus-Ford 1558cc Twin-Cam engine mated to a Hewland five-speed box, it proved to be one of the sport's greatest giant killers of all time. Equally competitive in 1,000, 1100 and 1600cc classes, the model was 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. It was also a familiar sight in various European Hillclimb championships. As one would expect, it is as much of a tour de force today as it was in period, and is undoubtedly the mount to have for a whole array of championships and range of disciplines.

The chassis of the well presented 23B on offer is stamped AM31. Factory records relate this designation to car 23B-S-56, which started life with British Racing Green fibreglass bodywork and was sold new to an R D Irish of Oklahoma, USA, in March 1963. The exact history of the sale car is unknown until the mid to late '70s when, according to the Lotus 23 Registrar, Nick Adams, it is thought to have resided in the UK in the care of the late Reg Skeels. He is known to have sold the Lotus to Jim Gathercole as a collection of parts and apparently at this stage the chassis carried modifications to allow the fitment of a Hewland FT200 gearbox.

The 23B is then understood to have crossed the channel to Germany and been owned in turn by Jost Kalisch and Rolf Peter Voss before returning to these shores and into the hands of Duncan McKay, and the car's file includes race results in McKay's name for 2001 and 2002. It is understood the Lotus was crashed at Le Mans during this period and restored by marque specialist Peter Denty; during which the FT200 modifications were removed. The vendor acquired the car in 2007, since when it has apparently seen little use, but has nevertheless been extensively overhauled with: new fuel tanks, magnesium alloy suspension uprights, front wishbones, wheels, driveshafts, brake calipers, and dashboard / instruments to period correct 23B specification. All appropriate parts were crack tested and the FIA specification 1600cc Lotus Twin-Cam engine refurbished with an all-steel bottom end, Omega pistons etc.

This very pretty little Lotus comes complete with FIA papers and MSA Technical Passport, plus the aforementioned history items. It carries the newly issued identity plate 23-S-56.