Photo Archive 2

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

l6broch2_small

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

LeMans56

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.