One to Buy: ex-Puerto Rico Team (Team Lotus) 1957 Lotus Eleven Series 1 Le Mans
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Owing to their exceedingly competitive nature and accessible price, most Lotus Elevens were raced long and hard during their formative years and in their second life got heavily modified for historic racing.
As a consequence, many Elevens lack originality, but that it certainly not the case with this unusually configured example currently on offer at the William I’Anson showroom in Gloucestershire.
Chassis 274 emerged from the Lotus factory in Hornsey, North London, as a late Series 1 built to ultimate Le Mans trim. Moreover, it was among just a handful completed in wide chassis Sebring configuration.
Upon completion, chassis 274 was shipped to Florida with three matching cars in order to contest the 1957 Sebring 12 Hours, round two of that year’s World Sportscar Championship.
All four of the Elevens were pre-sold but would run at Sebring as Team Lotus entries. Chassis 274 was painted red, registered 9 EHX and destined for the Puerto Rico Club outfit. In terms of the other trio, one was painted white with blue stripes and two were finished in traditional green.
After twelve hours running, just two of the Elevens made the chequered flag: chassis 274 driven by Colin Chapman, Joe Sheppard and Dick Dungan crossed the line eleventh overall to win the 1.1-litre Sports class while Victor Merino, Luis Pedrerra and Rafael Rosales brought the bright red chassis 274 home in 32nd overall to bag the final podium spot in the S1.1 category.
Chassis 274 continued to race sparingly until 1965 but has been preserved in remarkably original condition, retaining its factory chassis, body and 1100cc Coventry Climx engine (FWA400-7013).
Since returning to the UK, sympathetic works have since been carried out by Lotus guru Mike Brotherhood and Bob Dove. Testament to the car’s condition was its recent trip through France to Le Mans Classic with the Historic Lotus Register.
