Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I don't remember ever seeing this picture before. Work methods were a bit different then.

That's a manual rotisserie. Very cost-effective and very much in the Chunky mindset.

Ah, the good old days.

Is it a 25?

Thanks for sharing Greg. I recently saw an article about the prototype cortina they were developing at Cheshunt. They couldn’t work out how to shift it to paint the roof, as they were used to single seaters which could be picked up by hand.

Regards
Richard

richardcox_lotus wrote: They couldn’t work out how to shift it to paint the roof, as they were used to single seaters which could be picked up by hand.

Probably did the same thing........

FAO Jerry

It is a Lotus 25. The easiest way to check this is to look at the shape of the tub. The 25 had a curved interior towards the feet (the 33 had straight tub members). If you are interested in the story of the Lotus 25, the best book is by John Tipler.

If you fancy a write up of the subject, including the 25's link to the 26...

https://viaretro.com/2020/05/the-long-r ... 25-part-1/
https://viaretro.com/2020/05/the-long-r ... 25-part-2/
https://viaretro.com/2020/05/the-long-r ... 25-part-3/
https://viaretro.com/2020/06/the-long-r ... 25-part-4/
https://viaretro.com/2020/06/the-long-r ... 25-part-5/

These articles cover the period 1960-1963. If you have the time to read them you will note how the 25's tub was invented (the first monocoque tube in racing history...thanks to the Elan).

Andrew

Frogelan wrote:
If you have the time to read them you will note how the 25's tub was invented (the first monocoque tube in racing history...thanks to the Elan).

Andrew

So...any truth in the old story that the width of the bottom of the tub was 9 inches, that being the width of Jim Clark's backside ?

Andrew,
Fascinating text and video of early '60s F1, I will slog through it bit by bit, brilliant compilation! The videos (thanks Castrol) provide so much color and depth to the story, and to hear the voices of those brave drivers, wow! Thx
Jerry

@reb53: the tub was designed for Jim Clark's dimensions, there is no doubt about that.

I believe that the anecdote comes from the Lotus 49 and DFV engine, but I'm happy to be wrong.

I hope you will have a look at the articles I wrote: astonishingly on this forum, no one seems to have picked up that the bench testing of the design of the Elan prototype chassis was the inspiration for the tub of the Lotus 25...and every single subsequent F1 car (of any use).

Andrew

I attach some more photos, of 25 R 4 taken last year at Spa Francorchamps. My apologies for the suboptimal photos.

If you would like to know more about this car...read my articles

PS: Anorak observation: the screw on caps on the master cylinders are repro ones (please take this up with Classic Team Lotus).

PPS: Anorak request: if anyone has an original screw on cap for the brake master cylinder of this type (not the repro's on Ebay with the letter "Y", I am looking for one of these for my Elan project. I think that the are 72mm in diameter.

Team Lotus at Indianapolis 1967....

Nice! it’s hard to realize that the whole industry has progressed so strongly over that time.

Frogelan wrote:FAO Jerry
...note how the 25's tub was invented (the first monocoque tube in racing history...thanks to the Elan).

Andrew

Dunno if the Marcos qualifies in this. Was it earlier or maybe contemporaneous? John