Lotus type 18, 1960

£25.00

Historic Racing Cars 1907-1960

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Description

Lotus 18 was their first mid-engined car and was a marked improvement over Colin Chapman’s early front-engined cars. Introduced for the 1960 season there were about 27 of the F1 and F2 versions. It was a classic Colin Chapman design, being extremely light and simple; the body was made up of lightweight panels bolted to a heavily-triangulated tube frame (almost space frame) chassis. Thus the car was rigid, strong and light, maintaining the 16’s forward weight distribution despite the engine moving behind the driver. The car took Lotus’ first F1 victory by Innes Ireland in the Glover Trophy in 8 April 1960. Its first World Championship win happened six weeks later, in 29 May, albeit by privateer Rob Walker, who leased the car from Chapman. Driven by Stirling Moss the car took a dominant win at the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix. It was an early taste of things to come. Moss also won the United States Grand Prix at the end of the season helping Lotus finish second in the constructors’ championship. Moss repeated his win in a legendary race at Monaco the following year, beating off the more powerful and faster ‘sharknose’ Ferraris. He then won at the fearsome Nürburgring in changeable weather; while Innes Ireland took a third win in the USA to help Lotus finish second in the constructors’ championship in 1961. The Lotus 18 was also notable for giving Jim Clark his first Grand Prix start in 1960.

Additional information

Dimensions 43 × 25.5 cm