Lotus 49 at Beauleigh.
Discussion
Ooooh you Lucky Lucky man!
What I would give for a chance like that!
I read recently that it was put against the pit wall at Siverstone. Two corners dinged. So it's had some work recently.
But it's not uncommon for race cars to have bits swapped/changed over thier careers is it. An exampli is the doubtfull provenence of the latest Silver Arrow Merc. that came up for auction.
Am I right in thinking they only built 9 Lotus 49's?
What I would give for a chance like that!I read recently that it was put against the pit wall at Siverstone. Two corners dinged. So it's had some work recently.
But it's not uncommon for race cars to have bits swapped/changed over thier careers is it. An exampli is the doubtfull provenence of the latest Silver Arrow Merc. that came up for auction.
Am I right in thinking they only built 9 Lotus 49's?
back then the parts didn't last as long as now either so chances are its just parts of the main cockpit that are original, Yeh it was dropped into the pit wall recently.
But when you think of it, what's the chances of any full restoration really being original. It just doesn't happen and these are race cars that have numerous shunts etc. As long as the parts were at least made by lotus its all good. Lovely cars to work on. Not sure how many chassis they ever built. But the chassis i worked on was 09. I do have pictures but sadly cant post them onto the web. Email me for more info
But when you think of it, what's the chances of any full restoration really being original. It just doesn't happen and these are race cars that have numerous shunts etc. As long as the parts were at least made by lotus its all good. Lovely cars to work on. Not sure how many chassis they ever built. But the chassis i worked on was 09. I do have pictures but sadly cant post them onto the web. Email me for more info
As I understand it, this is the only original "A-spec" (my words) 49 as they ran in 1967 left in the world. Unfortunately some chump from Beaulieu managed to shunt it at Silverstone a year or two ago. It is obviously re-built and looking fine, but does bring up the question of whether cars with such provenance should be allowed into the hands of people who aren't necessarily so qualified to drive them...This car has been demonstrated at Goodwood FoS by Damon. HTH.
It was the Museum Manager, Doug Hill, who pranged it. 
Although the car's always refered to as the ex Graham Hill car, it was driven mostly by J. Love who managed 13 1st's. Hill only raced it 8 times.
Retired with engine trouble 1st time out, Crashed it in practice 2nd time out, had a 4th place and 3 2nd's, and two retirements with a broken crank, and a broken CV joint.
After Love, it was raced 5 times by Parnell.
There where only 11 built. There was an R12 built, but it was only a show car, and never raced. It was reputed to be built from the crashed R6.
There's also a replica somewhere that was built for a Belgian Guy. Built from the discarded R2 chassis, when it was converted from 49 to 49B spec.
Although the car's always refered to as the ex Graham Hill car, it was driven mostly by J. Love who managed 13 1st's. Hill only raced it 8 times.
Retired with engine trouble 1st time out, Crashed it in practice 2nd time out, had a 4th place and 3 2nd's, and two retirements with a broken crank, and a broken CV joint.
After Love, it was raced 5 times by Parnell.
There where only 11 built. There was an R12 built, but it was only a show car, and never raced. It was reputed to be built from the crashed R6.
There's also a replica somewhere that was built for a Belgian Guy. Built from the discarded R2 chassis, when it was converted from 49 to 49B spec.
Edited by mickrick on Sunday 3rd January 09:07
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