Lotus 51 & Vintage Racing

[KEPetersen]

Hello! I'm new to the board and anxious to become involved in vintage racing here in the states. I've been racing on and off for 25 years, mostly in Formula Fords and other small single seaters, as well as some Porsches back in the day. After a lot of research, the Lotus 51 seems to be everything I would love to have in a vintage race car: lovely lines, a great marque, a solid reputation for quality (and wins!), and most seem to have been well cared for by their owners. I recognize that today it may not be the most competitive car on the track in its class. Still, I want a car that drives well and is evocative of those great '60's cigar-shaped formula cars. (It would be a bonus to find one in BRG with the classic Lotus yellow stripe!)

Does anyone know of any that might be for sale or coming on the market in the next year? I've checked Race-Cars.com and some other sites and most recent sales appear to be in the $20k-30k range, but I can't find any currently on the market. Is that price range about right? Where else should I be looking? Also, are my assumptions correct: Would this be a good car to build a vintage race hobby around?

Many thanks!

[John Turner]

Welcome to 10-Tenths, KEP; hope you get some good responses.

(I note that the Lotus 51 does not yet feature in our Chassis History Archive.)

[PeterRoss]

Dear Mr Petersen,

I welcome your choice of vehicle. You are clearly a man of good taste.

You may find it helpful to look at the website of the Historic Lotus Register www.historiclotusregister.co.uk on whose "Links" page you will find the website of the Lotus Formula Ford Register where you could make known your interest in acquiring a 51.

You might consdier joining the HLR when you could put a free advertisement in their quarterly magazine.

I wish you succes with your search, and enjoyable racing thereafter.

Yours sincerely,


Peter Ross
Editor "Historic Lotus"

[robert77]

Hi there KEP and welcome.
You would do well to contact Paul Matty Sportscars. Paul is a Lotus specialist and runs a special Lotus championship alongside the British Hill Climb Championship. He's basde here in the UK, but has contacts everywhere.

Contact Paul via his website at Paul Matty Sportscars
Hope this helps.

[CarlLaFong]

Would a Lotus 41C be more difficult to find ? I'm sure the price would be times 2 (they are both such beautiful cars) but the 41C looks more the old F1 race car. Good luck on your search.

[KEPetersen]

Originally Posted by CarlLaFong

Would a Lotus 41C be more difficult to find ? I'm sure the price would be times 2 (they are both such beautiful cars) but the 41C looks more the old F1 race car. Good luck on your search.

Thanks for the kind welcome from each of you. Carl, of course a Type 41 of any kind would be great. I suspect, however, that such a car would be outside of my budget. That said, I sure would be interested in seeing what's available ...

[dikko]

Simon Hadfield has been pedalling a Lotus 51 in the HSCC HFF series and showing EVERYONE how it can be done.....goes to show how good he is against all the rest and not to underestimate an old campaigner like the 51 with..Merlyns Lolas etc..go4it KEP Simon will probably sell you his race winner.

[John Turner]

Yes, but let's be honest; it's the driver that's the winner rather than that car. John Ruston is fond of reminding me, rightly, too, that the best (and cheapest?) way of improving the performance of any car, is to improve the quality of the human component behind the wheel!

[Marcus Mussa]

Originally Posted by dikko

Simon Hadfield has been pedalling a Lotus 51 in the HSCC HFF series and showing EVERYONE how it can be done.....goes to show how good he is against all the rest and not to underestimate an old campaigner like the 51 with..Merlyns Lolas etc..go4it KEP Simon will probably sell you his race winner.

I have nothing against SH, he is a brilliant (professional) driver, but I bought a Lotus 51 new (in Canada through Bill Brack) in 1968 and it had a 1500 cc engine, Renault fixed ratio gearbox, no rose joints anywhere. SH's car has nothing to do with the original!

[Simon Hadfield]

I spoke to Marcus about my car at Dijon at the weekend, it turns out his was a 51A - basically a "club spec" Lotus 31 with a 1500 engine (the then Formula Ford spec engine) - mine is a 51B that originally also had a Renault gearbox but was updated to effectively 51C spec in the US (and which also gained the 1600 engine upgrade as the formula allowed) .The 51B had high top radius rods and rose joints for all the rearend, the 51C was basically a 51 bodied 61. As flattered as I am about peoples comments about my driving I have to say the 51 is a really super car to drive, I had a 61 that I always thought handled well but the body shape would tow stationary cars out of the pitlane, the 51 has the same good handling but a rather more effective body shape! The bottom line is that it is fantastic FUN and at the end of the day isnt that what this is all supposed to be about?

[FA73]

Smion, I recall chasing you and Dave Lowe (both in Lotus 61's) around Mallory Park in late 1993 - in absolutely insane thunderstorm conditions !!! I have a video of it - one of my better efforts actually !!!

[Malcolm M]

I have a Lotus 51c with FIA papers that I am prepared to now sell. I do not use it so if someone will enjoy it more than me then it is perhaps time to sell. It is not in FF specification at present as it was used in the Paul Matty hill climbing championship some years back by the previous owner. But it would not take much to make it back to FF spec although it needs a good going over to bring back to race ready condition. PM or email me if you wish to have more info.

[Simon Hadfield]

FA73, the photo from that race is on the wall behind me, didnt it rain! I raced the 51 at Dijon last weekend and Dave was there too in his 69, it just proves it gets into the blood!

[FA73]

Simon, I saw the Dijon report in Autosport today - very well done !!

Its good to know Dave made the meeting as well as he had some damage to fix after our Silverstone D/Header the weekend before.

I told him he could borrow bits off my car if required in order to make it to Dijon - as he tells me my Van Diemen FA73 is a "cheap copy" of the Lotus 69....!!!! Luckily Ken of URS was able to sort out the parts he needed.

[KEPetersen]

Originally Posted by Malcolm M

I have a Lotus 51c with FIA papers that I am prepared to now sell. I do not use it so if someone will enjoy it more than me then it is perhaps time to sell. It is not in FF specification at present as it was used in the Paul Matty hill climbing championship some years back by the previous owner. But it would not take much to make it back to FF spec although it needs a good going over to bring back to race ready condition. PM or email me if you wish to have more info.

Malcolm:

I've sent you an email.

Kim

[dave lowe]

Ref.Dijon last weekend Simon won overall and A class on Sat and I managed
2nd . On Sunday he put the 51 away giving the class to me. He picked up a pot for his efforts and Iwas told to p****OFF for mine ! Favouritism? seriously got some good onboard footage at last which Iwill share with you at WHT to show you why this is a must do event. Dave Lowe

[FA73]

Well done Dave - another top result - but why did you not beat Simon !!

If you let me have a copy of the footage on CD I can put it into a nice little edited movie if you like - now I have worked out how to use Windows Movie Maker...

I actually flew over Dijon on the saturday on an easyjet plane on my way back from Italy - wish I could have made the race down on the ground !!

[dave lowe]

Thanks Andrew,but the only way Ican store it is on VHS. How old and sad is that ? Son jamie has got me a card reader?to put it on computer and that is where i'm at .Dave

[dr46rossi]

there is a lotus 51 for sale
http://www.rundenmeister.de/Lotus_51_For_Sale.htm

[Dadness]

I have both a 51 and a 41.....haven't thought about selling the 41 but maybe the 51....

Dick L
Dadness@aol.com