Lotus 41

[pantah]

Originally Posted by allenbrown

Are you sure that's not the frame number? 41 is indeed Texas Region but it's also the model of the car. Can you post (or send me) a picture of the number you've found?

(allen@oldracingcars.com)

Will do. Give me an hour or so...

[pantah]

Originally Posted by pantah

Will do. Give me an hour or so...

Just sending as PM right now....

[pantah]

Originally Posted by allenbrown

Are you sure that's not the frame number? 41 is indeed Texas Region but it's also the model of the car. Can you post (or send me) a picture of the number you've found?

(allen@oldracingcars.com)

I sent you the photo - and I concur from other research that is the frame number. EG - one of the Hutchison cars had frame 41-FL-3 and chassis number 41C-FL-36. Interestingly a lot of other components on car (suspension) are stamped with numbers, some of which are on little plates similar to the frame number. I will email you a comprehensive list.

What we need to do is tie 41-FL-5 frame with its corresponding chassis number!

[pantah]

Just a question - are they all like this?

[Simon Hadfield]

Yes. That was how they came from the factory. Many have lost these panels today because of different engines having been fitted, accident damage etc.

[Bryan Miller]

Another of the Hutchinson cars is in Australia , has been since 2003 .

This car is chassis number MK41 FL6 on the cross member behind seat which is also recorded in the old SCCA logbook .
Chassis plate states 41C-FL-38.

[ccdynamo]

Originally Posted by BBlair

Let me add another wrinkle to the 41 story, and the Gus Hutchison cars.

About 1976, I purchased a 41 Formula B that was purported to be an ex-Gus Hutchison car. The plate number was 69 41D 02 , supposedly #02 of two made to this spec. I have never seen another mention of a 'D' model, so hopefully there is someone who has chassis records somewhere that might provide clues. It was obviously a Formula B type, with much larger brakes and suspension from the Formula C 41 MAE model I had worked on in the Seattle area. @ Mike Gilbert - was the other F3 you mentioned Jim Dewey's car that he bought and raced a few times in the mid 70's ?

I bought the 41D from someone in the San Francisco area (sorry, don't remember the name - maybe Dave Ross?).

It had a twin-cam short block and a mis-matched HRE cylinder with the gigantic valves used, and an FT200 transaxle. It had sheet aluminum cockpit sides, a section of original bodywork top, a separate "sports car" style nose, similar to the Formula Atlantics of the mid 70s , and a large rear wing. It also came with a new untrimmed original body, and the original nose section with period correct stickers for the L&M Continental series. This may have had the winglets mentioned earlier, I truly don't remember.

The twin-cam could best be described as a collection of parts that didn't work with each other, so I sold them to another Lotus collector in the area. I purchased a Cosworth Formula B motor for the 41, and raced it for one season in our local club races in Seattle.

The car was sold without engine and transaxle to someone in the Seattle area who was planning to auto-cross it. He is still in the area and competing in SCCA solo events, so I hope I can connect and track down where this 41 went.

I have a 41D. Does anybody know how the D variant differs from the 41C?

[BBlair]

Originally Posted by ccdynamo

I have a 41D. Does anybody know how the D variant differs from the 41C?

Finally! Someone else who has or has seen a 41D. I would be interested in knowing the full chassis number.

My chassis had much larger brakes than any other 41 I had seen, and 6-lug bolt pattern for the wheels. It had a tubular section rear anti-roll bar, and was originally set up for a Lotus twin-cam with an FT-200 transaxle.

[ccdynamo]

Originally Posted by BBlair

Finally! Someone else who has or has seen a 41D. I would be interested in knowing the full chassis number.

My chassis had much larger brakes than any other 41 I had seen, and 6-lug bolt pattern for the wheels. It had a tubular section rear anti-roll bar, and was originally set up for a Lotus twin-cam with an FT-200 transaxle.

I'll retrieve the number on the plate shortly. My rear anti-sway bar is solid, not tubular, and the wheels are 6-lug.

[ccdynamo]

Originally Posted by BBlair

Finally! Someone else who has or has seen a 41D. I would be interested in knowing the full chassis number.

My chassis had much larger brakes than any other 41 I had seen, and 6-lug bolt pattern for the wheels. It had a tubular section rear anti-roll bar, and was originally set up for a Lotus twin-cam with an FT-200 transaxle.

Finally got the unit number off the plate, says "Unit No 41 F3 26" Can email a pic if you'd like.

[Chris Townsend]

Originally Posted by ccdynamo

Finally got the unit number off the plate, says "Unit No 41 F3 26" Can email a pic if you'd like.

Can I ask where the car is?
In the US?
If so, does it have a log book, or roll hoop stamp, or anything that would help us place the history.
According to my Lotus records 26 was originally an F3 car for the Ron Harris team.

[ccdynamo]

Originally Posted by Chris Townsend

Can I ask where the car is?
In the US?
If so, does it have a log book, or roll hoop stamp, or anything that would help us place the history.
According to my Lotus records 26 was originally an F3 car for the Ron Harris team.

Yes US. No log book and the roll hoop was redone to SCCA specs in about 1973 so no original stamp. Body etc appears original, white and blue (#8?), red leather steering wheel and 12K rpm Chronometric tach. Suspension members are clearly marked 41D.

[daveross]

Dave Ross here. Yes, that was once my car - I sold it when I was in Palo Alto, CA, going to college. I bought it while living in m hometown (Bellevue), and took it down to CA with the silly idea that I would campaign it there. Turns out car racing and college aren't all that compatible.

You have an amazing memory, sir. I was just reminiscing about the car, did a google search which brought me to you post. Nice to connect after 40 years! It is very cool seeing photos of the car, with that funky blue/gray paint job I put on the sports car nose.

Dave

Originally Posted by BBlair

Let me add another wrinkle to the 41 story, and the Gus Hutchison cars.

About 1976, I purchased a 41 Formula B that was purported to be an ex-Gus Hutchison car. The plate number was 69 41D 02 , supposedly #02 of two made to this spec. I have never seen another mention of a 'D' model, so hopefully there is someone who has chassis records somewhere that might provide clues. It was obviously a Formula B type, with much larger brakes and suspension from the Formula C 41 MAE model I had worked on in the Seattle area. @ Mike Gilbert - was the other F3 you mentioned Jim Dewey's car that he bought and raced a few times in the mid 70's ?

I bought the 41D from someone in the San Francisco area (sorry, don't remember the name - maybe Dave Ross?).

It had a twin-cam short block and a mis-matched HRE cylinder with the gigantic valves used, and an FT200 transaxle. It had sheet aluminum cockpit sides, a section of original bodywork top, a separate "sports car" style nose, similar to the Formula Atlantics of the mid 70s , and a large rear wing. It also came with a new untrimmed original body, and the original nose section with period correct stickers for the L&M Continental series. This may have had the winglets mentioned earlier, I truly don't remember.

The twin-cam could best be described as a collection of parts that didn't work with each other, so I sold them to another Lotus collector in the area. I purchased a Cosworth Formula B motor for the 41, and raced it for one season in our local club races in Seattle.

The car was sold without engine and transaxle to someone in the Seattle area who was planning to auto-cross it. He is still in the area and competing in SCCA solo events, so I hope I can connect and track down where this 41 went.

[ccdynamo]

Originally Posted by daveross

Dave Ross here. Yes, that was once my car - I sold it when I was in Palo Alto, CA, going to college. I bought it while living in m hometown (Bellevue), and took it down to CA with the silly idea that I would campaign it there. Turns out car racing and college aren't all that compatible.

You have an amazing memory, sir. I was just reminiscing about the car, did a google search which brought me to you post. Nice to connect after 40 years! It is very cool seeing photos of the car, with that funky blue/gray paint job I put on the sports car nose.

Dave

Possibly we're talking about different cars. My Lotus 41D #41-F3-26 still has what appears to be the original nose & body in white and blue (#8). We raced it a few times in Formula C in the 70-80's with MAE Cosworth only after we modified its roll bar to SCCA spec. So I don't think 41-F3-26 saw SCCA racing prior to this.

[Rupertlt1]

There is a set of pics here that may help with this thread:

https://revslib.stanford.edu/?omit_k...utf8=%E2%9C%93

RGDS RLT

[BBlair]

Originally Posted by ccdynamo

Possibly we're talking about different cars. My Lotus 41D #41-F3-26 still has what appears to be the original nose & body in white and blue (#8). We raced it a few times in Formula C in the 70-80's with MAE Cosworth only after we modified its roll bar to SCCA spec. So I don't think 41-F3-26 saw SCCA racing prior to this.

I believe Dave Ross is talking about the 41D that I acquired (indirectly, as it included a swap for a Lotus Seven SCCA version) from him, and brought to Seattle.

[4redno]

Link to auction lot is: http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24452/lot/110/

Description from auction is as follows:

1967 Lotus Type 41
Chassis no. 41FL29

1,558cc DOHC Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
2 Twin-Choke Weber Carburetors
Approximately 160bhp at 6,000rpm
5-Speed Manual Transaxle
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes

*Desirable Lotus 41 single-seater
*Delivered new to Lotus Switzerland and G. Rollason
*Black exterior from new with Lucas Fuel Injected engine
*Powerful and eligible vintage Lotus

THE LOTUS 41

Introduced in 1966, the Lotus Type 41 reverted to a spaceframe chassis again after the monocoque Lotus 35. The spaceframe was stiffened with sheet metal diaphragms in the foot box, dashboard, rear of cockpit, gearbox area and under tray. The wheels were 13 inch 6-spoke cast-magnesium with 7-inch wheels at the front and 9-inch at the rear, while brakes were Girling discs fitted both front and rear. Lotus planned to build only 34 Type 41 chassis, but finally 61 were built. The 41 (FL) was used in various classes from 1966 to 1968, scoring a total of 55 victories, and arguably broke the dominance of Brabham at that time.

Drivers of the Lotus 41 racers included Piers Courage-who won 5 races and took the French Craven 'A' Championship-and his teammate Roy Pike who also scored a couple of victories. In the UK, Jackie Oliver took some wins and newcomers Derek Bell and Mo Nunn also showed well in the lithe and competitive single seater. In 1967, Gus Hutchison drove his Lotus 41 to 4 wins of 5 races in SCCA's Grand Prix Championship, which was the forerunner to the Formula Continental Championship established the next year. Impressively, Gus took the overall championship against F1 cars with larger 3-liter racing engines.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

The Lotus Type 41 offered here - chassis 41FL29 - was completed at Lotus in March of 1967. The 41 was finished in a sinister black color, equipped with a Hewland FT200 transaxle, and delivered to first owner G. Rollason and Lotus Switzerland. It is believed that 41FL29 was delivered with a Lotus Twin Cam engine, and raced in 1967 by the Midland Racing Team, mainly in the hands of Swiss driver, Walter Habegger. An internet search will come up with many black and white photos of a Lotus Type 41 at various events, most likely this very car. 41FL29 would later reside in France, before being exported to Japan in 2005. Now in BRG with a yellow stripe, this would be a fine entry to many vintage racing events.

[PeterMorley]

It's lost the injection from the engine and now has a VW based Hewland rather than an FT200, selling at no reserve is pretty brave.

[nirvanadream]

hello , I'd like to find for the 41 the frame paint matching original RAL used in period
thank you