Many of these photos come from the Historic Lotus Register and Peter Ross and we would like to acknowledge this

Colin Chapman’s personal car with special cam followers Ford side valve. Touring Back; the car described as “preposterously fast”

This photo was taken in 1956 and shows the so-called “wide chassis” Lotus Elevens. Lotus entered 3 Elevens at Le Mans in 1956. Race number 32 (the car shown in the front of the photo), 9 EHX, had a 1460 cc Coventry Climax FWB engine and was driven by Colin Chapman and Mac Frazer – retired in the 21st hour when the engine expired. Race number 35, DEC 494, had an 1100 cc Climax FWA engine and was driven by Cliff Allison and Keith Hall – retired in the 10th hour after hitting a large dog. Race number 36, XJH 902, had an 1100 cc Climax FWA engine and was driven by Reg Bicknell and Peter Jopp – finished 7th overall, won the 1100 cc class and was 4th in the Index of Performance. The picture may have been taken just before the start of the race.