One to Buy: Unrestored ex-London Motor Show 1958 Lotus Elite Prototype
/
For a machine with such handsome looks, killer handling and outstanding competition pedigree, the Type 14 Lotus Elite continues to represent great value. Built around a state-of-art fibreglass bodyshell by one of the top motor racing outfits of the day, the Elite offers practically all the thrills of a Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta or Aston Martin DB4 GT, but at a fraction of the cost.
During any given year, one or two Elites with period racing history and good provenance will normally hit the market. However, set to to go under the hammer with RM Sotheby’s as part of The Boeckmann Collection in Phoenix on January 28th is a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy an unrestored Type 14 prototype with important motor show pedigree.
Chassis 1008 was the eighth and last Elite pre-production prototype. Configured in the spectacular combination of Lilac with Yellow leatherette upholstery, it was displayed by Lotus at the 1958 London Motor Show where the production-ready Elite made its debut having appeared in incomplete prototype trim a year prior.
According to RM Sotheby’s: “Following the Motor Show, 1008 was placed in the hands of Lotus works driver Keith Hall, who was instructed to use the car as his daily driver, thus serving a dual purpose: showcasing Lotus’s new creation on public roads around the Home Island while providing valuable real-world feedback ahead of full production.”
“In 1960, the car passed into private ownership, beginning an extraordinary period of approximately six decades with a single caretaker. Remarkably, 1008 was preserved in the guise of its early life, retaining its distinctive Lilac bodywork and Yellow interior and resulting in the honest, time-worn appearance that today provides a fascinating glimpse into the formative years of Lotus.
The accompanying history file is substantial, documenting the car’s evolution and including correspondence relating to the installation, early in its life, of a 1,500-cubic-centimeter Cosworth-modified Ford engine and close-ratio gearbox in response to the known reliability limitations of the original 1,220-cubic-centimetre Coventry Climax unit. Adding further intrigue are prototype-specific details never carried through to production, notably the unusual fuel tank encapsulated within the right-hand front wing.”
“By the end of Elite production, Lotus had evolved from a small British racing concern into an internationally recognized manufacturer and one of the most formidable names in motor sport. Chassis 1008 was present at the beginning of that remarkable journey. As a Motor Show car, a former Lotus works driver's car, and a well-preserved pre-production example, it represents a rare surviving chapter from the formative years of the Lotus marque.”
