Questions

Questions – Can you help?

Hi,
As I am an owner of a Lotus 47 (47GT21) and I’m starting to do a full 
restoration of my car, I’m looking for a copy of the original drawings of the lotus 47 chassis, suspension arms, takes, etc…

So I would like to know if you can help or tell me who can.

Thanks
Awaiting to hear from you soon
Regards

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Thank you very much for your latest newsletter, which I always find interesting.
 
You wrote about the Elan Sprint advert and it’s feature aircraft. Those advertising ‘flyers’ (quite appropriate!) were inserted into magazines of the time. They included not only some of the motoring magazines, but also lifestyle periodicals too, including some ladies titles. 
 
You wrote “The Sprint c 1966 was retailing for approximately £1686 and was available in component form. It’s believed taking information from “The Lotus Book” that an estimated figure between 900-1353 Sprints were built.”

In fact, the Sprint was available for sale from 1971 until 1973. Additionally, I have collected enough information over the years to say that 1409-1432 Sprints were manufactured. So far I can verify the 1409 figure. Please see my web site www.lotuselansprint.com and in particular the ‘Numbers Made’ page for a full explanation.
 
I have also written articles concerning the numbers of Elans, +2 s and Plus 2s manufactured in the Club Lotus News magazine editions of January 2014 and January 2015. The conclusions I reach overturn all the previous figures that have been published before in the usual Lotus books and classic magazines. Please let me know if you would like copies of the articles.
 
Please also keep up the good work; let’s hope we get a Chapman Museum sooner rather than later.
 
Best wishes

Tim

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Hi – I found your link on the Hornsey history site.

I was born some 400 yards from the Lotus factory site (in 1940)
That in mind I am totally familiar with Lotus / Railway Hotel (Chapman’s dad owned it) and my meetings with Colin Chapman – most as a youngster and up through the years as a car enthusiast.
If interested contact me.

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Hello,

I would be very grateful if you could advise me. I am writing about my father’s story of when he built a kit set Lotus Elan in1970 – it is for him to remember and also for an MA assignment. I would like to know the origin of the name Lotus? I have been told it’s after some toilet paper and I have read it is after his nickname for his wife “Lotus Blossom”. Many Thanks

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Dear Mr. Duncan,

I thought it might be of some interest to you that I am carrying on from where Colin Chapman left off in the development of his “twin chassis” concept, patented in 1979. It is an idea that has been largely forgotten, but one that I believe is ready to be exploited. I have added and patented a couple of capabilities to Chapman and Wright’s invention that make it truly usable in a road going car. I am now starting the process of finding an automaker interested in developing and integrating the idea.

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Hello
I have recently purchased a 1995 theodore f1 in bits , (I dont have all the bits !).. I am planning to remodel it as a lotus 95t.i have plentyof photographs, but no scale drawing to work off.Do you know where I could obtain a plan please, or do you have one ?.any help greatly appreciated.
best regards

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Looking for books on details related to type 23′s. I own serial number 27 and would like to gather some history. I live in the US and race both the 23 and a Brabham BT29 FB.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Yours,
R.Balsley

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Good afternoon Neil

I wonder if you have information to hand as to whether Lotus ever produced a “Black Edition” Lotus Eclat?

The only special edition I have found is the sprint. I only ask as I am looking to buy an Eclat and I’ve seen one in “black spec” that I fear is being mis-sold and I wanted to be pre-armed if I was to go and view it!
I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards
Paul

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Dear Mr. Duncan,

I thought it might be of some interest to you that I am carrying on from where Colin Chapman left off in the development of his “twin chassis” concept, patented in 1979. It is an idea that has been largely forgotten, but one that I believe is ready to be exploited. I have added and patented a couple of capabilities to Chapman and Wright’s invention that make it truly usable in a road going car. I am now starting the process of finding an automaker interested in developing and integrating the idea.

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If you know or can help, please drop me an email and we will go back to the person who raised the question

My name is Roberto Maggi, I am engineer and I have a Lotus Seven made in Argentine.

I need information about Lotus 23, as photos, planes, . My idea is make one.

Excuse me for my bad English

 **any ideas will be passed on*

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Dear Neil
I am the author of The Leslie Ballamy Story. Regarding your reference to the special LMB 15″ wheels. The rear axle ratio needs to be higher, not lower, to compensate for the reduced radius of the LMB wheels. Typically, a 4.7/1 or a 4.4/1 crown wheel and pinion would be used. My own 1172 special has LMB wheels and runs a 4.7/1 crown wheel and pinion.
Many thanks
Tony Russell

Dear Sirs,

I am a 70yr old researching work that I have been associated with in the past, and was wondering if you could help.

In the early 1960′s whilst working for a Company called Microcell in Camberley, Surrey  I had the task of making tooling for a Lotus racing car body shell out of Glass Fibre, at the time Stirling Moss was driving for you, whom I met when he visited the factory, at that time I also made Stirling Moss’s bath for his flat in London.   

What I would like to know is, was this shell ever used on one of the racing cars, was it the first Glass Fibre shell that Lotus used or designed, and is there a photograph of it.

Hope you can help.

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Q. We have had a query from Robert Driver, son of Paddy Driver. His father is coming to the UK shortly and would like to see again the Lotus 72 he raced. Its chassis number 7 and was used by Fittipaldi . Any idea who has it now?

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Q I also own a commemorative ashtray celebrating the world championship and Indy win.

I have number 24.

Do you know how many there are?

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Hello Neil,

I found a link to your website in the Swiss Lotus Seven Owner Club.

I am running the Italian Lotus Seven Club www.lotus7club.it

We are doing the hard job of gathering all the Lotus/Caterham Seven owners in Italy.

It’s a hard job because we never had a stable dealer. Each dealer lasted a couple years then stopped the business with sevens, and all the contacts with their customers went lost…

Now we know about 100 seven owners in Italy. We calculate that there should be about 100 more around Italy.

Best regards

Roberto

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Hi

I’m not sure if you can assist but hope if not you can direct me.

My grandfather, I have been told worked for Vanwall and I am trying to find out if he worked directly on the F1 team.

As a F1 fan I am extremely interested to find out any association I may have with the unsung hero of British Motorsport.

His name was Harold Anton

Any assistance would be appreciated

Regards

Gary Anton

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Dear Sirs,

I am a 70yr old researching work that I have been associated with in the past, and was wondering if you could help.

In the early 1960’s whilst working for a Company called Microcell in Camberley, Surrey I had the task of making tooling for a Lotus racing car body shell out of Glass Fibre, at the time Stirling Moss was driving for you, whom I met when he visited the factory, at that time I also made Stirling Moss’s bath for his flat in London.

What I would like to know is, was this shell ever used on one of the racing cars, was it the first Glass Fibre shell that Lotus used or designed, and is there a photograph of it.

Hope you can help.

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Hi Neil my name is Allan.36. I own a mk1 lotus cortina 1965 Which was left to me by my father. It’s in need of restoration. My father died 6 years ago at the age of 52. In the 6 years he’s been gone I’ve purchased lots of parts for the car. but not a wood rim steering wheel. I own a mint leather LL rim from a mk 2 lotus with brand new horn press. Lol. Do you know of any one, who wood! Have one hanging about lol. Allan.

(this is the second request we have had of this nature, if anyone who has a spare! wheel let us know and we will pass onto Allan)

 

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Hello Neil

I’ve just read with interest the article on Lotus Cortinas in Issue number 36.

I have been pulling together a library of information on these cars for the past couple of years, and building a website with the collected information. I firmly believe that whilst these cars are quite a long way from being recognised as a typical Lotus road car, they do represent perhaps one of the most significant partnerships in recent motoring history.

The success of Lotus and Ford in F1 in the 60s and 70s, and of Ford in rallying in the 70s and 80s, can be attributed to that unlikely coming together of the process-bound lumbering Ford organisation and the perhaps anarchic Lotus group!

Have a look at my website to see the sales and marketing approaches taken, along with an initial definition of the individual cars and their variants, the rally, race, police and press cars, and other information. There is still much work to do, which is mainly concentrated in the winter months, as the restoration of my Type 14 Elite and early Elan take precedence when the sun shines!

Here is the main site:

http://www.lotuscortinainfo.com/

and perhaps of particular interest, here is an article written by Hugh Haskel in Classic Car magazine in the ’80s, somewhat different to his writing in his book

http://www.lotuscortinainfo.com/?page_id=771

I am not associated with any clubs so I’m very happy for the site to be referenced from your website if you think it may be of interest to your readers

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Hello Neil

I’m trying to find out the original registration of Colin’s personal 1969 gold Cortina Lotus. I gather it was bought (at a Lotus auction?) by Jamie Kitman and shipped to the US and is this car –
http://www.octanefilmcars.com/1969-ford-lotus-cortina-mark-ii

which appeared in the recent Pan-Am TV series

http://imcdb.org/vehicle.php?id=437794 .

Can you help, and do you know of any special features the car had?

cheers

David

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I’m trying to accurately source a quote from Mr. Chapman. Here is the general statement:

“Car-building requires the ability to see in three dimensions. Most people see two dimensionally. One needs that ability, and it cannot be taught.”

Does that sound familiar? Any help will be appreciated.

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What does your newsletter think of the direction Lotus are taking, especially now Caterham are part of Tony Fernades group

Tony

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I work for a Florida dealership in Orlando (selling Infiniti, Aston Martin, Lotus and Jaguar). While working on our company newsletter, one of the managers made the comment that no one knows how Lotus cars got its name or why all their cars’ names begin with the letter “E”. We found several articles stating that “Lotus” came from Hazel Chapman’s nickname “Lotus Blossom” given to her by her husband. However, we found nothing to explain the names beginning with “E”. Can you shed some light on these two points?

Any assistance you can give me will be greatly appreciated! Thank you for your time

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Hi Neil,

I am writing to enquire if you have records of the engineers who worked at the Hornsey Workshop.

My grandfather worked for Colin Chapman at Hornsey as a welder. I have an original photo of what my grandfather tells me is the first racing car Lotus built and was fortunate to have this signed whilst I met Colin Chapman at a Lotus Open day. My grandfather, uncle and I would meet Colin Chapman everytime we went to the Lotus Open Day and we have a good chat about cars and motor racing. We were also lucky enough be invited to the pits at Brands Hatch during a British Grand Prix, unfortunatly I have only vague memories of this as I was young lad.

My grandfathers name is James (Jim) Smith.

It would be great to see any other records or photos and maybe there are some of my grandfather

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Dear Sirs,

I wonder if you could help me, I have a built up vehicle listed on the original logbook as an Austin Scorpion sports tourer, a petrol engined 747cc 2 seater sports car, chassis, frame or car number being SYCC 113/3144009 and an engine number of M119 167, date of 1st registration 1962.

I have been informed that it could possibly be a Colin Chapman or Brabham, any information you could give me would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards

DSCF2611 DSCF2612

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Could I please place a request?

I need to buy or borrow a special engine tool. Where they can be obtained etc?

It’s called a VALVE SRING COTTER REPLACER [PART NO. A/E 6518 B]

They are a Ford tool for the 100 E side valve engine. There is an illustration on page 12 of the Ford Repair manual covering 1953-61 models including the Anglia, Prefect etc.

I am unable to complete the assembly of my engine and have been looking for years and now quite urgent.

Can anyone help?

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Allow me to introduce myself my late father Peter Springall was the founder of PD Springall Ltd who manufactured Steering wheels both as an OEM and aftermarket supplier under both the Springall and Springalex brands during the late 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

The Company was founded in a small workshop behind the Railway Hotel across the alleyway from the Lotus works After receiving an order to supply steering wheels for the elite and series 2 lotus 7 P D Springall Ltd continued to supply steering wheels both to Lotus cars and Lotus racing Most notably for Jim Clark’s 1965 F1 33, F2 32 and 38 Indy car. My father received one of the initialled knock off wheel nut ash trays which were engraved to commemorate the Historic F1 championship and Indy 500 winning year.

I am in the process of gathering information for a possible history of P D springall ltd and am wondering if you have any historical information on the relationship between Lotus and my Fathers company. Particularly I would be interested in speaking to any Lotus personnel who remember my Father’s business and especially where exactly his workshop was on the site. I believe that he occupied the workshop from founding the Company in 1957 until moving to a larger factory in Hitchin shortly after 1960 and the Lotus move to Cheshunt.

I have attached a photograph of the commemorative ash tray and a picture of my Father outside the Hornsey workshop the date is only approximate

Lotus celebration ashtray 0001 PDS Hornsey workshop

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Dear Mr Duncan,

I am writing to you hoping that you may be able to point me in the right direction. I am currently trying to research my family tree and track down any documentation regarding its history. My reason for writing to you is because of my grandfather Lewis Charles Sheridan and his connection to Colin Chapman… before Lotus.

My Grandfather worked closely with Mr Chapman as my father describes it when they were working from a shed. My grandfather served his apprenticeship at The Austin Motor company between 1924-1929 and then went on to work in their road test department. He served as a mechanic/engineer and co driver in the 1929 Ulster T T Race for which I have documentation for as well as a couple of photographs. He declined to go with Mr Chapman when he was first setting up on his own in favour of financial security for his family.

I am hoping that you may be able to direct me to somewhere I might be able to find more documentation of the time he spent with Mr Chapman as this would be of extreem interest to my father especially as well as giving a fuller picture of his life for the family tree and future generations.

If you can help I would really appreciate it

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Hi Neil

I hope you don’t mind me contacting you. I am a member of the Ford Classic and Consul Capri Owners Club and am trying to find out more information about 8 Ford Consul Capris that were apparently modified/converted by Colin Chapman’s Lotus team in the 1960s, around 1964-5 most probably.

I have already submitted an enquiry on the main Lotus website but am not hopeful of that getting through to the right people who might know about this topic, so I was wondering if you might be able to find out any more about these cars, or point me in the right direction?

Many thanks and good luck with the museum.

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Neil,

I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m looking to trace a copy of the original photograph of the two Lotus Elevens finishing the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 1957.

My Father-In-Law is in the photo and talks continually about how he travelled to the Italy on his Lambretta scooter (stopping off at the 1957 Le Mans and the European Grand Prix) with his then yet to be best man. He’s now in his 70s and I’m trying to piece together as much memorabilia as I can. I’ve managed to obtain the July copy of Motor Sport Magazine that has a copy of this photo on its front cover (he lost his copy years ago), but the quality isn’t too great. I’ve contacted Motor Sport Magazine, who very kindly sent me a scanned copy of the magazine front cover, but they no longer have the actual photographs. I have attached a copy of the image if it helps.

Would you have any knowledge of where I could perhaps get a copy of the original photo please? Any assistant would be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes and many thanks

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Hello Neil

I am helping research a book and wondered if you could assist me on a date. John Cooper and Colin Chapman where involved in a incident that took place at Fairoaks Airport in Chobham Surrey April / May 1962. My understanding is that no-one was hurt however locally it made front page news that such celebrity had been in a potentially tragic accident. What I require for my research is the actual date it happened, I hope that as you have the Muesum dedicated to Colin that you may have this information.

I look forward to hearing from you and thank you in advance for your assistance

Best Regards

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Hello, I’m from Mexico city, and I’d like to require some information about a Lotus 18 that i have recently acquired, this car came with 2 dual weber 40’s unlike the first series came with 38’s. Do i supose the car had 10 more horse power?

The serial number is: 18J 790 or 79 i’m not certain cause there are little scratches on the ID plate.
The engine number is: 596732F
The chasis number from Arch Motors is: 08/7/83 or 0877183, it seems that the numbers were not well stamped, so it could be, 0877183 so the diagonals and the first numbers could be a 7 and the 1.
i would be very grateful if you can give information regading the history of this vehicule.
Thanks in advance!!!

Lotus 18 1 Lotus 18 2

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Hello Neil,
I do appreciate you sending me the newsletter and I hope you can advance the goal of getting a site and putting up the museum. I enjoyed seeing the early pictures of the Caterham garage. A couple of nice little cars in the background too. I do have a question. I own a Lotus Elite S1 which was originally painted dark blue like the one shown on your home page (with the exception of the silver top). When I restored the car we did the best we could matching that blue and I think did a very good job – but I’ve always wondered if there was a name to that color. If anyone knows I would love to find out. I may have sent you a picture but I’ll attach one just in case.
Thanks again,

Blue Elite 2 Blue Elite 1

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The paragraph in italics below is about the Bristol Aeroplane Company diversifying after WW2.

I am a member of The Bristol Aero Collection (we have a small museum on the airfield at Kemble, and our volunteers also operate the Concord museum at Filton) and are producing a booklet ‘A brief history of the Bristol Aeroplane Company’s activities to exploit the application of non-metallic materials’ and wonder if you could send a high res picture for us to use

In 1957 a detailed design study was undertaken for an all glass composite railway coach based on a monocoque shell. At the time, it was too advanced to be pursued – it was ahead of its time. Other projects which were exploited included unitary moulded car bodies for the Lotus Elite sports car comprising several hundred units. Other applications of glass reinforced resin included racing dinghies which were manufactured in production quantities. A one-off large racing yacht was designed and built for the annual Round the Isle of Wight race which it won. Bristol also produced the bodies for the Nobel compact car.

Thanking you in anticipation

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