VIN: the Innes Ireland / Tom Threlfall Lotus Type 14 Elite chassis 1182
History of chassis 1182
Chassis 1182 was originally gifted to Team Lotus driver, Innes Ireland, as a perk of his 1960 contract.
Ireland first raced for Team Lotus in 1957 and continued with the outfit until 1961.
As a youngster, Ireland trained as an engineer with Rolls-Royce, after which he joined the King’s Own Scottish Borderers with whom he served in the Parachute Regiment.
When his National Service was complete, Ireland took up motor racing, initially with a pre-war Riley Brooklands. Despite the Riley’s outdated specification, Ireland was clearly a natural behind the wheel. For 1955, he moved up to a new Lotus Eleven which he prepared himself.
After a couple of strong seasons, Ireland got more serious in 1957; he ran a much-expanded campaign and picked up wins at Goodwood, Brands Hatch and Silverstone. On the back of these performances, Ireland caught the attention of Colin Chapman who recruited him to drive for Team Lotus.
With better quality machinery at his disposal, in 1958 Ireland had his best season yet. In addition to outings for Team Lotus, he also drove for Ecurie Ecosse.
Ireland continued with Team Lotus for 1959, 1960 and 1961, during which time he most notably won the United States Grand Prix and a quintet of non-championship F1 races.
Chassis 1182 was painted Moonstone White and fitted with a Stage One FWE engine. Ireland also requested a set of fitted luggage. The car was registered 6572 AR in April 1960 and Ireland retained the handsome little car for about a year.
In early 1961, chassis 1182 was sold to amateur driver, Tom Threlfall, who had purchased a Lotus Eleven from Ireland a couple of years earlier. As part of this latest deal, Threlfall’s tuned Mini Cooper S was included as part of the deal.
Tom Threlfall had started racing with an MGA in 1958. Later that year he moved on to the aforementioned Lotus Eleven which he won with first time out at Brands. Threlfall continued to race the Eleven throughout 1959 and ‘60, after which he moved on to the Elite.
The white Lotus frequently appeared under the Farnborough Racing Enterprise banner. Threlfall initially had the engine prepared to Stage 3 tune. Later he switched the car to a side-exiting exhaust, uprated the suspension and added a NACA hood duct along with long-range fuel tanks.
Between 1961 and 1963, Trelfall picked up a number of good results and raced 1182 at some of the most famous European circuits. His most notable performances included third at the 1961 Spa GP for cars up to 1.3-litres, ninth overall and second in class at the 1962 Silverstone Martini 100 and 14th overall (fourth in class) at the 1963 Goodwood Tourist Trophy World Sportscar Championship event.
Chassis 1182 was retired from frontline competition at the end of the 1963 season when Threlfall got married.
It subsequently went through the hands of several more UK owners prior to undergoing a major restoration in the 2010s.
Notable History
04/1960 registered 6572 AR
Gifted by Team Lotus to Innes Ireland, Surrey
Sold to Tom Threlfall (Farnborough Racing Enterprise)
Partial competition results
16/04/1961 IND Brussels GP, Heysel (T. Threlfall) 9th oa (#32)
14/05/1961 IND Spa GP (T. Threlfall) 3rd oa, 3rd GT1.3 class (#??)
20/08/1961 IND Snetterton Autosport Trophy (T. Threlfall) 2nd oa, 2nd GT1.3 class (#??)
24/09/1961 IND Charterhall (T. Threlfall) 3rd oa, 3rd GT1.3 class (#77)
12/07/1962 IND Silverstone Martini 100 (T. Threlfall) 9th oa, 2nd GT2.0 class (#??)
18/08/1962 WSC Goodwood Tourist Trophy (T. Threlfall / D. Addicott) 15th oa, 9th GT2.0 class (#29)
08/09/1962 IND Castle Combe (T. Threlfall) ran (#??)
15/04/1963 IND Goodwood Sussex Trophy (T. Threlfall) DNF (#61)
11/05/1963 IND Silverstone International Trophy (T. Threlfall) 10th oa, 4th GT1.6 class (#22)
20/07/1963 IND British GP Support Race, Silverstone (T. Threlfall) DNQ (#32)
24/08/1963 WSC Goodwood Tourist Trophy (T. Threlfall) 14th oa, 4th GT2.0 class (#32)
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Lotus - https://www.lotuscars.com & unattributed
