Withdrawn
- Withdrawn
Lot details
Registration No: WVS 299
Chassis No: NH0378
Mot Expiry: None
Another of Lotus founder Colin Chapman's strokes of genius, the Eleven extracted maximum performance from modest power thanks to light weight and a slippery, all-enveloping body designed, with some stressed aluminium panels, by master aerodynamicist Frank Costin. In the first year of production, 1956, three Elevens were entered in the Le Mans 24 Hours with the lead car finishing seventh overall and first in class. What held good more than 50 years ago still works to marvellous effect now, and Elevens remain popular and successful in historic racing - plus they are seriously fabulous to drive. If you've had the privilege to pilot a Lotus Caterham Seven, multiply that experience by a factor of about two, as the Eleven deploys 'added lightness' to offer razor-sharp responses - from a time when Chapman's art was at its purest. The Eleven uses a tubular spaceframe with simple independent front suspension by swinging beam axles, travel-constrained to keep camber change to a minimum. At the back, there was a choice of live axle with drum brakes (Club) or a de Dion set-up with discs all round (Le Mans). Power was from either a Ford sidevalve 'four' (in which case the model became the 'Sport') or Coventry Climax in a variety of sizes, the smallest of which, a special 743cc unit, won the Eleven the Index of Performance in the 1957 Le Mans 24 hours driven by Cliff Allison and Keith Hall. Series 2 Elevens built from 1957, used a double-wishbone front suspension like that of the Lotus12 single-seater, and by the time production finished in 1958, around 270 Elevens had been built.
Believed built as a Club car and exported to America, this car was reimported to the UK by MG guru Ron Gammons in 1984. The chassis had to be remade from the bulkhead forward, due to the fitment of a Saab engine, though the original front suspension had survived. During the restoration de Dion rear suspension and disc brakes were sourced and fitted, bringing the car to Le Mans specification, as so many Club spec cars were after leaving the factory. A 1460cc FWB Climax engine was sourced, and a new body built by Shapecraft. At the end of restoration in this form in 1994 the car was authenticated by Vic Thomas of the Historic Lotus Register and Alan Batt of the Monoposto Racing Club, and granted an HLR chassis number 11-ILM010, plus FIA papers dated 1994. It also has an MSA Historic Technical Passport issued at the beginning of 2008. Ron Gammons raced it at both Monaco and Goodwood, and sold it to the present owner in 2000, since when it has led an active racing life in the UK in the Gentlemen Drivers series, BRDC Historic Sports Cars and the GT and Sports Cars Cup, collecting a few knocks and scratches on the way.
It has been maintained personally by Denis Welch, but the recent (2007) engine overhaul with new cylinder head was by his son, the highly-regarded racing expert Jeremy Welch, and the car has run less than 20 hours since. The correct BMC four-speed gearbox has been refurbished, but not raced since, and there is a rollbar discreetly hidden in the tail. Twin foam-filled fuel tanks total 80 litres capacity and allow three hours running, supplying via Facet pumps. It wears a quick-release small steering wheel in the style of the original, but the original comes with the car, along with a spares package that includes a refurbished and unused gearbox with upgraded main shaft, differential, set of four wheels and tyres, new tubular exhaust manifold, and a set of used rear hubs. The propshaft and differential were also overhauled in 2007 and the front suspension crack tested at the same time. The vendor says the car has only done seven races since the engine refresh, with 125bhp showing on the dyno, "excellent torque from 4000 revs and absolutely oil and water tight". The transmission has zero miles, "as yet unraced", though he accepts that the body, though new in 1994, now has "racing patina". This is a genuine and historic Eleven with accepted and documented modifications to the ultimate Le Mans S1 spec, recently refurbished and tested, and therefore with the chance to do well in any of the above championships. A serious motor car.
Registration No: WVS 299
Chassis No: NH0378
Mot Expiry: None
Another of Lotus founder Colin Chapman's strokes of genius, the Eleven extracted maximum performance from modest power thanks to light weight and a slippery, all-enveloping body designed, with some stressed aluminium panels, by master aerodynamicist Frank Costin. In the first year of production, 1956, three Elevens were entered in the Le Mans 24 Hours with the lead car finishing seventh overall and first in class. What held good more than 50 years ago still works to marvellous effect now, and Elevens remain popular and successful in historic racing - plus they are seriously fabulous to drive. If you've had the privilege to pilot a Lotus Caterham Seven, multiply that experience by a factor of about two, as the Eleven deploys 'added lightness' to offer razor-sharp responses - from a time when Chapman's art was at its purest. The Eleven uses a tubular spaceframe with simple independent front suspension by swinging beam axles, travel-constrained to keep camber change to a minimum. At the back, there was a choice of live axle with drum brakes (Club) or a de Dion set-up with discs all round (Le Mans). Power was from either a Ford sidevalve 'four' (in which case the model became the 'Sport') or Coventry Climax in a variety of sizes, the smallest of which, a special 743cc unit, won the Eleven the Index of Performance in the 1957 Le Mans 24 hours driven by Cliff Allison and Keith Hall. Series 2 Elevens built from 1957, used a double-wishbone front suspension like that of the Lotus12 single-seater, and by the time production finished in 1958, around 270 Elevens had been built.
Believed built as a Club car and exported to America, this car was reimported to the UK by MG guru Ron Gammons in 1984. The chassis had to be remade from the bulkhead forward, due to the fitment of a Saab engine, though the original front suspension had survived. During the restoration de Dion rear suspension and disc brakes were sourced and fitted, bringing the car to Le Mans specification, as so many Club spec cars were after leaving the factory. A 1460cc FWB Climax engine was sourced, and a new body built by Shapecraft. At the end of restoration in this form in 1994 the car was authenticated by Vic Thomas of the Historic Lotus Register and Alan Batt of the Monoposto Racing Club, and granted an HLR chassis number 11-ILM010, plus FIA papers dated 1994. It also has an MSA Historic Technical Passport issued at the beginning of 2008. Ron Gammons raced it at both Monaco and Goodwood, and sold it to the present owner in 2000, since when it has led an active racing life in the UK in the Gentlemen Drivers series, BRDC Historic Sports Cars and the GT and Sports Cars Cup, collecting a few knocks and scratches on the way.
It has been maintained personally by Denis Welch, but the recent (2007) engine overhaul with new cylinder head was by his son, the highly-regarded racing expert Jeremy Welch, and the car has run less than 20 hours since. The correct BMC four-speed gearbox has been refurbished, but not raced since, and there is a rollbar discreetly hidden in the tail. Twin foam-filled fuel tanks total 80 litres capacity and allow three hours running, supplying via Facet pumps. It wears a quick-release small steering wheel in the style of the original, but the original comes with the car, along with a spares package that includes a refurbished and unused gearbox with upgraded main shaft, differential, set of four wheels and tyres, new tubular exhaust manifold, and a set of used rear hubs. The propshaft and differential were also overhauled in 2007 and the front suspension crack tested at the same time. The vendor says the car has only done seven races since the engine refresh, with 125bhp showing on the dyno, "excellent torque from 4000 revs and absolutely oil and water tight". The transmission has zero miles, "as yet unraced", though he accepts that the body, though new in 1994, now has "racing patina". This is a genuine and historic Eleven with accepted and documented modifications to the ultimate Le Mans S1 spec, recently refurbished and tested, and therefore with the chance to do well in any of the above championships. A serious motor car.
