21st Feb, 2006 0:00
The Centaur
1981 Lotus 87 Formula 1 Racing Single Seater
Estimated at £250,000 - £275,000
Lot details
Registration No: N/A
Chassis No: 87/4
Mot Expiry: N/A
By 1980 it was becoming increasingly clear that Formula 1 design had reached an impasse. The new breed of 'ground-effect' cars demanded such unyielding suspension settings in order to cope with the huge aerodynamic loads they created that drivers were constantly complaining of blurred vision (and in some cases severe bruising). Ever the innovator, Colin Chapman's quasi-altruistic solution was a 'twin-chassis' car. Working on the theory that his human cargo could deal with even greater g-forces if they were properly insulated, the resultant Type 86 prototype featured two distinct platform structures (one to cocoon the driver / drivetrain, the other to withstand whatever cocktail of wings, venturi and sideskirts a circuit dictated). Designated the Type 88, the race-going version made extensive use of carbon composites (a Hethel first). Although, deemed legal by the FIA during pre-season testing, the new Lotus was banned from the inaugural round of the 1981 Championship amid rival teams' protests that its second chassis was an aerodynamic device acting directly on the wheel uprights. Creating the Type 87 as an 'acceptable' single-chassis derivative, Chapman refused to give up on its more radical sibling.
Confident that he had circumvented any technical objections, the mercurial team principal duly submitted three revised Type 88 'B' specification cars for scrutineering prior to the British GP at Silverstone one of which was chassis 88/B4. Predictably disqualified after 1st practice alongside the other two on the Friday night of race weekend, 88/B4 was subsequently converted into 87/4 (a sequence of events confirmed by Classic Team Lotus). Given its history 87-4 could be run as an startling twin body 88 if its new owner wished. Allocated to Nigel Mansell during his first full season in F1, 87/4 was driven by the great man in the German, Austrian, Dutch and Italian Grand Prix. Forced to retire from all four events, the distinctive JPS liveried machine nevertheless managed to clock up an impressive 2,307 miles while at Team Lotus (a figure relayed to us by Clive Chapman). Used by both Elio de Angelis and Mansell for a variety of test / practice session work, 87/4 was never actually raced by the Italian.
Purchased by the vendor from Graham Wilcox in January 2000, the carbon composite single-seater underwent a complete rebuild (BPA Engineering gearbox overhaul and fresh Geoff Richardson Cosworth 3000cc DFV V8 etc) with a view to participating in the prestigious Thoroughbred Grand Prix Championship. Running under the Lenham Racing banner for the 2000 and 2001 TGP seasons, 87/4 benefited from a new Geoff Richardson Cosworth DFV unit, fresh gearbox casing and replacement bulkheads in 2002. Returning to the TGP Series the following year with Martin Stretton Racing, the Lotus had its carbon fibre nose section repaired (a victim of ground wear rather than accident damage) and we are informed that the engine has covered approximately 400 miles since being rejuvenated by Nicholson McLaren in late 2003.
Enjoying a memorable reunion with its most famous pilot at the 2000 Silverstone Historic Festival, 87/4 has been demonstrated at the 2004 Lotus fiftieth anniversary and 2005 Shelsley Walsh centenary celebrations but otherwise little used since the 2003 TGP Series ended. As such, we are advised that the single-seater's "crack test certificates will probably need renewing" if a potential purchaser wishes to go racing but the seller envisages that this will present "no problems" given the car's inactivity of late.
Dating from a particularly interesting time in Lotus's history and bedecked in one of the most evocative liveries ever to grace a racing car (the car can run with or without the Essex additions to the JPS theme), the fact that 87/4 is inextricably linked to Nigel Mansell only enhances what was already a fantastic pedigree. A prize for any racing stable or museum, it is offered for sale with FIA papers, TGP documentation and a large quantity of spares (listed below).
3x Sets of race wheels (1 set wets, 2 sets dry)
1x Set of travel wheels
3x Wings Low, Medium, High downforce
1x Wing posts
1x Complete set spare bodywork (painted and decaled)
1x Nose
3x Front wings
1x Engine cover
2x Side panels (vertical)
2x Side panels (horizontal)
2x Skirts
2x Wing end plates
2x Front bulkheads
Oil cooler & various bearings, joints, brake pads etc
1x Rear rocker bar
1x Clutch (complete)
2x Brake discs
1x Front and rear inner wheel hub
1x Front outer rim
1x Air starter kit
1x Complete set of body moulds (comprising nose, engine deck, front wings, side panels, skirts and 'Naca' ducts).
Registration No: N/A
Chassis No: 87/4
Mot Expiry: N/A
By 1980 it was becoming increasingly clear that Formula 1 design had reached an impasse. The new breed of 'ground-effect' cars demanded such unyielding suspension settings in order to cope with the huge aerodynamic loads they created that drivers were constantly complaining of blurred vision (and in some cases severe bruising). Ever the innovator, Colin Chapman's quasi-altruistic solution was a 'twin-chassis' car. Working on the theory that his human cargo could deal with even greater g-forces if they were properly insulated, the resultant Type 86 prototype featured two distinct platform structures (one to cocoon the driver / drivetrain, the other to withstand whatever cocktail of wings, venturi and sideskirts a circuit dictated). Designated the Type 88, the race-going version made extensive use of carbon composites (a Hethel first). Although, deemed legal by the FIA during pre-season testing, the new Lotus was banned from the inaugural round of the 1981 Championship amid rival teams' protests that its second chassis was an aerodynamic device acting directly on the wheel uprights. Creating the Type 87 as an 'acceptable' single-chassis derivative, Chapman refused to give up on its more radical sibling.
Confident that he had circumvented any technical objections, the mercurial team principal duly submitted three revised Type 88 'B' specification cars for scrutineering prior to the British GP at Silverstone one of which was chassis 88/B4. Predictably disqualified after 1st practice alongside the other two on the Friday night of race weekend, 88/B4 was subsequently converted into 87/4 (a sequence of events confirmed by Classic Team Lotus). Given its history 87-4 could be run as an startling twin body 88 if its new owner wished. Allocated to Nigel Mansell during his first full season in F1, 87/4 was driven by the great man in the German, Austrian, Dutch and Italian Grand Prix. Forced to retire from all four events, the distinctive JPS liveried machine nevertheless managed to clock up an impressive 2,307 miles while at Team Lotus (a figure relayed to us by Clive Chapman). Used by both Elio de Angelis and Mansell for a variety of test / practice session work, 87/4 was never actually raced by the Italian.
Purchased by the vendor from Graham Wilcox in January 2000, the carbon composite single-seater underwent a complete rebuild (BPA Engineering gearbox overhaul and fresh Geoff Richardson Cosworth 3000cc DFV V8 etc) with a view to participating in the prestigious Thoroughbred Grand Prix Championship. Running under the Lenham Racing banner for the 2000 and 2001 TGP seasons, 87/4 benefited from a new Geoff Richardson Cosworth DFV unit, fresh gearbox casing and replacement bulkheads in 2002. Returning to the TGP Series the following year with Martin Stretton Racing, the Lotus had its carbon fibre nose section repaired (a victim of ground wear rather than accident damage) and we are informed that the engine has covered approximately 400 miles since being rejuvenated by Nicholson McLaren in late 2003.
Enjoying a memorable reunion with its most famous pilot at the 2000 Silverstone Historic Festival, 87/4 has been demonstrated at the 2004 Lotus fiftieth anniversary and 2005 Shelsley Walsh centenary celebrations but otherwise little used since the 2003 TGP Series ended. As such, we are advised that the single-seater's "crack test certificates will probably need renewing" if a potential purchaser wishes to go racing but the seller envisages that this will present "no problems" given the car's inactivity of late.
Dating from a particularly interesting time in Lotus's history and bedecked in one of the most evocative liveries ever to grace a racing car (the car can run with or without the Essex additions to the JPS theme), the fact that 87/4 is inextricably linked to Nigel Mansell only enhances what was already a fantastic pedigree. A prize for any racing stable or museum, it is offered for sale with FIA papers, TGP documentation and a large quantity of spares (listed below).
3x Sets of race wheels (1 set wets, 2 sets dry)
1x Set of travel wheels
3x Wings Low, Medium, High downforce
1x Wing posts
1x Complete set spare bodywork (painted and decaled)
1x Nose
3x Front wings
1x Engine cover
2x Side panels (vertical)
2x Side panels (horizontal)
2x Skirts
2x Wing end plates
2x Front bulkheads
Oil cooler & various bearings, joints, brake pads etc
1x Rear rocker bar
1x Clutch (complete)
2x Brake discs
1x Front and rear inner wheel hub
1x Front outer rim
1x Air starter kit
1x Complete set of body moulds (comprising nose, engine deck, front wings, side panels, skirts and 'Naca' ducts).
Auction: The Centaur, 21st Feb, 2006
All successful bids must be paid in full by midday the day after the auction at the latest.
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