Help needed to trace the history of my Lotus
Discussion
Hi there gents
I’m trying to research the early history of my 1956 Lotus Eleven and have drawn a blank. I purchased the car 3 years ago from Seattle USA and brought it back to the UK. I have history for the car going back to 1980 and the car has been seen by the HLR registrar but no early records exist. Unfortunately the car has lost its chassis plate, not unusual with these cars as they weren’t actually attached to the chassis!
The only clues I have are some unusual build features on the car, an old UK registration plate that came with the car but is not of the same year and a name.
The registration plate is ROV 511G which is 1968, and comes from Birmingham, which destroyed all of their old records. The ‘story’ I was given as to why the plate is much newer than the car was that all used cars being imported into the states at that time had to be registered, so an old race car was road registered and exported. I’ve written to the DVLA but they definitely have no records, even in storage, of that registration.
When rebuilding the back axle of the car I came across a name scratched into the inside of the hub. The name reads Bill Wintree or Winfree. I’ve asked as many old Lotus people as I can but no one has heard this name. The location of the name means it could only have been written when the car was dismantled.
The unusual build features follow characteristics only seen on some Team Lotus cars (which unfortunately mine is not). The car has twin fuel tanks, twin fuel pumps (SU with green end caps), additional reinforcing across the width of the car in the cockpit beneath the drivers knees and bracing between the rocker cover and inlet manifold. These features are very similar to some found on the 1956 Le Man cars. My personal belief, plucked from the ether, is that someone saw those team cars and wanted similar features built into their car. The car has definitely been modified for endurance racing rather than short sprint races, the twin tanks hold 9 gallons each, a lot for a 1098cc car.
If anyone has any info or ideas of where else I could look I’d be very grateful.
Thanks in advance
Jon Adams
I’m trying to research the early history of my 1956 Lotus Eleven and have drawn a blank. I purchased the car 3 years ago from Seattle USA and brought it back to the UK. I have history for the car going back to 1980 and the car has been seen by the HLR registrar but no early records exist. Unfortunately the car has lost its chassis plate, not unusual with these cars as they weren’t actually attached to the chassis!
The only clues I have are some unusual build features on the car, an old UK registration plate that came with the car but is not of the same year and a name.
The registration plate is ROV 511G which is 1968, and comes from Birmingham, which destroyed all of their old records. The ‘story’ I was given as to why the plate is much newer than the car was that all used cars being imported into the states at that time had to be registered, so an old race car was road registered and exported. I’ve written to the DVLA but they definitely have no records, even in storage, of that registration.
When rebuilding the back axle of the car I came across a name scratched into the inside of the hub. The name reads Bill Wintree or Winfree. I’ve asked as many old Lotus people as I can but no one has heard this name. The location of the name means it could only have been written when the car was dismantled.
The unusual build features follow characteristics only seen on some Team Lotus cars (which unfortunately mine is not). The car has twin fuel tanks, twin fuel pumps (SU with green end caps), additional reinforcing across the width of the car in the cockpit beneath the drivers knees and bracing between the rocker cover and inlet manifold. These features are very similar to some found on the 1956 Le Man cars. My personal belief, plucked from the ether, is that someone saw those team cars and wanted similar features built into their car. The car has definitely been modified for endurance racing rather than short sprint races, the twin tanks hold 9 gallons each, a lot for a 1098cc car.
If anyone has any info or ideas of where else I could look I’d be very grateful.
Thanks in advance
Jon Adams
|http://thumbsnap.com/hu4V8FRf[/url
Hi there
I've asked Clive and even managed to speak to Hazel but they have no records going back that far. All the machanics working for Classic Team Lotus are really from the 60's onwards.
I think I'm probably out of luck but trying to be optimistic and hoping some one will say "I've got an old photo of that" or "thats old so and so's car".
Thanks for the help
Jon Adams
Hi there
Good to know another PH user. I've still got the Lotus and have been finding out more about it all the time. If you want anymore info or early photo's drop me a line.
Last big event for us was being part of HM the Queens 90th Birthday celebrations where we all parked up at Buckingham Palace
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/15/queens-...
Currently just finishing a top end rebuild after a valve melted.
Hope to hear from you
Jon Adams
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