Guide: Lotus Elan - Jim Clark's company cars
Lotus - Lotus Elan - Lotus VINs - Jim Clark - Cars of F1 Men
Jim Clark was custodian of three Lotus Elans prior to his untimely death in April 1968.
A Team Lotus driver for his entire F1 career, Clark had just completed his successful 1962 campaign (which yielded three wins and second in the Driver’s standings) when Colin Chapman gave him the keys to 997 NUR.
Although built to standard specification, this was no ordinary Elan. It was actually unit number 001 (chassis 002): the first pre-production development car manufactured.
Painted Carmen Red with a silver prototype hardtop, Clark ran 997 NUR for about nine months and covered over 15,000 miles in it. 002 was often seen at racing circuits during Clark’s 1963 campaign which yielded his first Formula 1 Driver’s title (with seven Grand Prix wins from ten races).
Always the property of Lotus Cars, after Clark’s custodianship, it returned to the factory and was freshened up before being sold to Clark’s early mentor, Ian Scott Watson in Berwick.
One of eight Elans equipped with the smaller 1498cc version of the Ford Twin Cam engine, Scott Watson blew the original motor during an overtake so Colin Chapman sent up a standard 1558cc replacement the following day.
Clark’s next Elan was a unique Radford conversion: S1 unit 3387 (registration CRO 291B).
Painted Cirrus White with matching hardtop and red upholstery, it was specially enhanced with electric windows, a padded dashboard and customised switchgear on the transmission tunnel.
Whereas 997 NUR was later discover in scrapyard, the Radford conversion was stolen and never recovered.
By contrast, Clark’s final Elan remained treasured in long term ownership.
Unit 6778 was a standard 1966 S3 SE Fixed-Head Coupe painted Bahama Yellow. Registered NLD 55E, it was later given to Clark’s dear friend, Gerard Crombac.
Crombac was the founder of the French magazine, Sport Auto. For a while, he and Clark shared an apartment in Paris.
Crombac retained the car until his death in 2005.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Lotus - https://www.lotuscars.com
