1961/1962 Lazenby Lotus 17 Special

Lot details
Registration No: 9584 UR
Chassis No: DL-02-62-SP
Mot Expiry: April 2008

Having created his first Special while training as a mechanic with the RAF, it was perhaps inevitable that David Lazenby would embark upon a similar project once he began working for Lotus in 1961. Although, he was destined to become Jim Clark's F1 / Indy 500 mechanic and later Lotus Components' Manager, Lazenby's initial salary of circa £16 per week would not even stretch to a Lotus Seven kit. Determined to build an exciting road car, he convinced Works Manager 'Nobby' Clark to part with a surplus Lotus 17 bodyshell and then set about fabricating a suitable spaceframe chassis to underpin it. Although, influenced by the Lotus 17's overall dimensions, the resultant design was notably stronger being constructed from 1-inch diameter round tubing (as opposed to 5/8-inch and 3/4-inch tubing). Taking full advantage of his Cheshunt surroundings, Lazenby fitted a Lotus 23-style swaged bulkhead, Lotus 23-style front suspension (Triumph Herald uprights, double wishbones), Lotus 22 FJ-style rear suspension (bespoke uprights, single top / bottom wishbones, twin radius rods), disc brakes (inboard at the rear), Lotus Elite hubs / 45-spoke wire wheels, Lotus 23 seats, rack and pinion steering and the differential from a crashed Elite (complete with a welding repair which remains visible to this day). Powered by a pre-crossflow Ford Cosworth engine allied to a MGA four-speed manual gearbox, the Special was painted bright red and road registered as '9584 UR' in Spring 1962.

Some two years later, Lazenby sold the two-seater to Bob Sparshott who was then part of the Lotus Cortina programme. When racing commitments took Sparshott to the USA, the Special passed through several friends' hands before winding-up in London with motor racing photographer Roger Simpson. Spotting '9584 UR' outside The Chelsea Potter pub during 1970, Lotus aficionado Alan Brownlee lost little time in acquiring it. Rechristened the 'Brownlee 17', the Special became a familiar sight during the 1971, 1972 and 1973 JCB Sports Car Series at circuits like Brands Hatch and Mallory Park etc. Advertised for sale in the Christmas 1975 Historic Lotus Register magazine, it attracted the attention of Belgian doctor, Pierre Haverland. As well as the Special, Haverland reputedly persuaded Brownlee to part with the Coventry-Climax FWE engine and gearbox from its then stablemate, the famous racing Elite 'DAD10'. Performed by Willy Widar, the subsequent 'transplant' had only seen hillclimb use when a con-rod cracked the block. Suitably repaired, '9584 UR' returned to England only to encounter head gasket problems while being raced by Reg and Alf Skeels and later Richard Black. Treated to an engine overhaul by Horst Auer, the Special underwent further development at the hands of fellow German Dieter Berg who raced it for eight years or so at numerous European historic sports car events (including the Nurburgring, Zolder, Zandvoort etc).

Sporting a replacement body (which was moulded from the original but boasted flared wheelarches), wider offset rims, altered rollbar, oil cooler and electric fan, the car appeared for sale as a 'Lotus 17' complete with supporting Continental FIA papers at the Nurburgring in 1997. Bought by Tony Noble, the two-seater was dispatched to Ian Nuttall's IN Racing outfit for set-up. Briefly raced, it then came into the possession of Richard Black for a second time before entering the current ownership in 2001. Puzzling on the origins of the 'Brownlee 17' (accompanying paperwork only went back as far as 1970), the vendor happened to be reading through his old Autosports one evening when he came across an advert in the February 28th 1964 issue for a car that sounded suspiciously like the Special. Making contact with David Lazenby confirmed his suspicions and determined to bring things full circle, he set about making '9584 UR' road legal again. Describing the Coventry-Climax engine and MGA four-speed gearbox as "raced but OK", he feels that the rest of the car is in "good overall" condition (though, the upholstery is a little battered). Repainted so as to evoke the "bright red noisy sportscar" that Lazenby created, this historic Special is offered for sale with two large files of paperwork (including race results), original Lotus 17 bodywork and MOT certificate valid until April 2008.

PLEASE NOTE: Since the catalogue went to press we have been contacted by the Competitions Manager of the Historic Lotus Register who has suggested that the Lazenby 'Lotus 17' Special might be potentially eligible for the following:
(1) The HSCC GT & Sports Racing Championship which covers periods E, F and G (1947 - 1968).
(2) The CSSC's 'Swinging 60s' Series as an entrant in Class H (All Lotus Cars) or I (Invitation)
(3) If left as a road car then it might be more at home in a Sprint or Hillclimb series such as that run by Paul Matty.
However, prospective purchasers are asked to make their own enquiries with the HSCC, CSSC and Paul Matty etc to confirm any eligibility issues.