LOTUS 38: THE STAR OF GOODWOOD FOS 2010

One of the highlights of Goodwood Festival of Speed 2010 had to be the historic Indy 500 winning Lotus-Ford 38/1. The car's victory in 1965, with Jim Clark at the wheel, was the first ever by a rear-engine chassis.

In 1965 Team Lotus brought in the legendary Wood Brothers from NASCAR to speed up its pit work at Indianapolis. The Lotus 38 that they assisted to Victory Lane languished in the Henry Ford Museum at Greenfield Village for decades before being returned to the UK to be restored by Classic Team Lotus. It was driven in public, for the first time since its win, at this years Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Thanks to Ian Wagstaff (author of forthcoming Veloce book The British at Indianapolis) for these pictures.

'38/1' driven by Charles March
Clive Chapman being interviewed by the car
Present to see ‘38/1’ for the first time since May 1965 were two of the Wood brothers, Leonard (left) and Delano.

Coming soon! The British at Indianapolis by Ian Wagstaff
A history of the British influence on the Indianapolis 500, including not only the drivers and cars, but the many others – mechanics, designers, and officials – who have been involved. The story is set out in a series of stand-alone chapters, with a wide variety of informative sidebars, and goes back 100 years to the early days of the race, through the British-led, rear-engined revolution of the 1960s to the present day. More info.

CLASSIC TEAM LOTUS FESTIVAL (20/6/2010)

Press release from Veloce author Johnny Tipler

Thanks to the generous support of owners worldwide, the Classic Team Lotus Festival at Snetterton on Sunday 20th June presents the first ever gathering of one of every Team Lotus F1 car.

For just one amazing day, The Team Lotus Pavilion will hold the greatest collection of Team Lotus racing cars ever assembled. From the 1958 type 12 through to the 1994 Type 109, there will be 33 Team Lotus F1 design types on view. These precious cars will be lined up in grid formation undercover, so that visitors can walk through the grid to experience a unique close-up encounter with famous racing machinery at the cutting edge of the evolution of F1 car design.


Clive Chapman, son of Lotus founder Colin Chapman and Managing Director of Classic Team Lotus comments: "We set about bringing the cars together for this unprecedented event when we realised that we could make a full grid of Team Lotus F1 design types. Cars are coming from all over the world – many from Europe, and the 109 is travelling from the Barber Museum in the USA. Owners from Japan and Australia are participating as well.‟

During the lunchbreak at midday the cars will be wheeled through the crowds and out onto the circuit grid, lined up in five abreast formation, for an aerial photograph recording the unique gathering. This special moment can be witnessed by the public from the pitwall, during the pit lane walkabout.


Between 2.00pm and 3.30pm, the race programme will be halted and the Team Lotus Pavilion will come alive, with most of the F1 cars being demonstrated on track. They will be fired up in the public area of the paddock, and then driven out in batches to make four lap runs.Famous guest drivers will include the current Lotus F1 Racing drivers and original Team Lotus Works drivers. As impressive as the Team Lotus grid will be, there is nothing to match the awesome cacophony of these World Championship winning F1 cars and their mechanical soundtrack. This is the real thing.

Newly reprinted! Lotus 49 - The Story of a Legend (Gold Leaf Edition) by Michael Oliver.

The definitive story of the Lotus 49 from inception to the fate of the cars today. Includes a racing record and individual chassis histories.

More info.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR OF ALL TIME

Classic & Sports Car magazine have polled a 20-strong panel as the jury to decide the single most beautiful classic car.

And the winner ...
The Citroën DS!

James Elliott, editor of Classic & Sports Car, said: “The Citroën is a benchmark design, but we were still astonished that it came out on top when you look at the sexiness – and values – of some of its rivals. Apart from the Mini, it’s by far the most affordable car to get any nominations at all, which probably means it’s a great investment!

Giorgetto Giugiaro - the man behind the Maserati Bora, VW Golf, Fiat Panda and Lotus Esprit, said: “The only example of a car really conceived ‘outside the box’. It is just impossible to imitate.”
Source:newspress

Check out these fantastic Citroën DS books published by Veloce:

Citroën DS – Design Icon
by Malcolm Bobbitt.


The most radical of Citroën’s idiosyncratic offerings, the DS was sensational when it was introduced in 1955. Twenty years and 1.45 million cars later it was still technically advanced to most other cars. Revolutionary in driving characteristics and comfort, it remains one of the most innovative cars of all time. Click here for more info about the book!





Citroën DS & ID – The Essential Buyer's Guide by Rudy Heilig.

Guides collectors, restorers and enthusiasts through the various production changes and problem areas that occur between the various models, to make sure that the restoration or prospective purchase is correct, original, and legitimate. This book is an essential reference tool that can be used when buying, selling, repairing or restoring the various D-models manufactured between 1966 and 1975. One hundred colour photos, useful appendices and expert advice mean that this book could save you thousands! Click here for more info about the book!



Personal favourite, The Lamborghini Miura also made the top 10 in the poll!
1. Citroën DS
2= Jaguar XK120
2= Ferrari 275GTB
4= Cord 810/812
4= Ferrari 250GT Lusso
4= Ferrari 250GT Short-wheelbase
4= Jaguar E-type
4= Lamborghini Miura
4= Lotus Elan
4= Lotus Elite (1957)

LOTUS DESIGN CALENDAR 2009

The latest Lotus Design limited edition calendar is now available and hints at a design language of the future. The calendar has 15 pages of development sketches, scale model photographs and digital visualisations from the Design teams’ most recent projects and has exclusive images and renderings of the brand new Lotus Evora.
The high quality, large format calendar (42cm x 42cm) is designed so that the individual pages can be removed and framed and a limited print run ensures that this 2009 calendar is a rare and collectable item.