Bringing it home... 49's first race at Zandvoort 1967

[Lou Drozdowski]

R5/R10...22 Grand Prix

A very special 49, having won first time out with Graham Hill in Monaco 1968. Later raced 6 more times by Hill before Andretti put her on pole at Watkins Glen. Re-identified as R10, for Rindt in the 1969 Tasman series. Unique double Monaco winner for Hill, again in 1969. Campaigned as Rob Walker entry for Hill at Monaco in 1970. Driven by Fittipaldi for his first three Grand Prix...This is still a works chassis by Classic team Lotus.

The only Grand Prix chassis to be raced by four World Champions...Hill, Rindt, Fittipaldi & Andretti.   

[BDA]

Obviously a very well made tub!

[Bainford]

Cool stuff, Lou.

I've always been 'on the fence' about the 49 duck tail treatment, but as time goes on I think I don't like it. Thankfully it was only around for a short while.

[Lou Drozdowski]

R6...20 Grand Prix

New for Jackie Oliver in 1968,who raced her twice before a massive accident in practice for the French GP. Repaired in time for Monza and for Graham Hill,who guided her to win the World Championship in Mexico. Eight GP's for Rindt in 1969, including his first win at Watkins Glen. Four more GP's in 1970 which included Rindt's dramatic last lap victory at Monaco. Sold by Team Lotus in 1977,she is now in the collection of Richard Mille,as a runner...

[Lou Drozdowski]

R7...24 Grand Prix

Sold new to Rob Walker for Siffert in 1968, winning the British GP on first outing (a unique privateer GP win) in it's debut race. For Siffert in 1969 then Graham Hill - for Rob Walker - in 1970. In 1999 Geoff Farmer acquired her from the Walker family and raced her occasionally, including a victory at the Goodwood Revival.

  As you can see in the lower picture, during the recent refurbishing, the front and rear wing elements were removed...ld   

[Lou Drozdowski]

R8...4 Grand Prix

New for 1969, Graham Hill's Tasman Championship car, then Richard Atwood's at Monaco and Graham Hill for the British GP. Sold to Jo Bonnier (2GP's) who sold it to Dave Charlton for racing in South Africa. Acquired by Australian collector the Hon.John Dawson-Damer, who constructed a painstaking restoration. Acquired from the family by Adrian Newey who had her restored to 1969 specification then raced prepped for the 2016 Monaco Historique.

[BDA]

Amazing stuff, Lou! It's an amazing thing to hear anybody even mention the Tasman series much less all the detailed history of cars fifty years ago!

[Lou Drozdowski]

Amazing stuff, Lou! It's an amazing thing to hear anybody even mention the Tasman series much less all the detailed history of cars fifty years ago!

You know how sometimes you have to start small, the evolution of the dangerous high mounted spindly wings got their start with the help of a modified and shortened helicopter wing...Tested  during the Tasman series in 1969 at Sandown park.

The grid line up for Pukekohe in 69...Rindt, Amon's Ferrari and Hill in the second row.

[BDA]

That's what I call starting small!


Speaking of wings, at the risk of repeating myself (I might have already mentioned this), I read that Jim Hall of Chaparral Cars was amazed that it took the F1 guys two years after the 2E raced in the first Can Am in 1966 to finally get around to working with wings! There must have been a larger conservative streak than people would expect since these are the same guys who were offered 1/10th of world TV rights to F1 races by Bernie Ecclestone for $100,000 and they turned it down!

[Lou Drozdowski]

As stated earlier, Clark was unable to test the new 49 prior to it's arrival at Zandvoort. The track itself did not have facilities to house the cars for teams competing that weekend. Local shops and garages in the town proper were used to accommodate the entrants. Therefore, it was common practice for the drivers to "shuttle" their mounts to the track on public roads through the village.

[BDA]

I wonder why Clark seems to be grimacing.

[Bainford]

Well, when one lets out the clutch on new a Lotus for the first time, one is not quite sure what is going to happen.

[Lou Drozdowski]

Fifty years ago today...6/4/67

Looking back, I don't think I'd started to shave on a regular basis, was a Beatles and Stones fan, the summer before junior year in high school, Johnson was President and Viet Nam was the news of the day. Gas was 33 cents a gallon, a dollar forty was minimum wage and a new car was under 3k. The six day war with Israel and Syria, riots in Detroit and Ali was stripped of his title for refusing the draft. Twiggy and mini-skirts, Cool hand Luke and learning to drive a standard shift in my older brothers Austin Healey 3000.
   

[BDA]

Great picture and look back, Lou! My how things have changed - hay bales, people standing just off the track...

[Bainford]

I agree. A great period shot which contrasts starkly with today's F1. Very cool.