Lotus 35

[Bryan Miller]

Kevin.

Thank you , it is interesting that while it is called as a Lotus 55 , it gets a 41 type ch.no.

It was something that I was wondering about.

Regards Bryan.

[PeterMorley]

Christophe Pund of Les Galeries des Damiers in France had a Lotus 35 for sale a couple of years ago.
It was fitted (badly) with an Alfa Romeo motor.
I will try to find out the chassis number, but suspect this one has already been mentioned in this thread already.

[David McKinney]

Pretty sure that's the car that later turned up at the Coys sale

[KDW]

Peter,
Did you find out more of this French 35 ??

Kevin

[David Beard]

Lotus 35s are getting very common place...I saw one amongst the tables at a Lotus dinner recently.....

[KDW]

Hmmmm !
In recent weeks I have taken my car to the Club Lotus South West meeting, I went to give a talk "Lotus Single Seaters"
Then the HLR Annual Dinner.
This last weekend, 16th Nov, I took it on stand to Club Lotus Parts Fair at Stoneleigh. To prommote my magazine Lotus single seaters. Right behind me was Paul Matty owner of the 'other' Swiss Lotus 35. Now in P Denty's having suspension damage repaired after a mishap on the hills.

Now talking of "a Lotus Dinner" who was that lady you were with?

[David Beard]

Originally posted by KDW

Now talking of "a Lotus Dinner" who was that lady you were with?

That was no lady, that was.....

[KDW]

All
In Autosport 24-8-72 John Narcisi ran an advt
"Lotus 35 10 & 12"wheels updated rollover bar, Holbay R72 1598 Clubmans engine, 165bhp, plus Hewland mk 8 4 speed gearbox, lsd. Complete car ready to race £1400.
Spare monocoque £70, set of 8 &10" wheels £55"
With an Orpington tel number.

Does anyone know who bought this, which ch No was spare tub and ch No of the car ???

[KDW]

This is really aimed at Bryan Miller in Australia, but someone else may know.
The Lotus 32B is always written up as having a spacframe to carry the FPF.
Yet current photos of the car show it to have a normal 32 monocoque. Why/when did this piece of mis information arise, and can any of the previous Australian owners comment.
Kevin Whittle

[Bryan Miller]

Kevin.

I just pulled out a photo of Greg Cusack in the car at ,I think Catalina Park in N.S.W., which is side on and the mono certainly extends all the way back to the gearbox x member.
I don't believe anything like that statement re. tube frame rear bay would have come from over here.
Greg Cusack's mechanic Bruce Burr did I believe convert the front suspension to Brabham style , and removed the rocker set up , but maybe that didn't work and they changed it back.
Greg Cusack was owner no. 3 , after Jim Palmer , who purchased car from Clark/Lotus.

Bryan.

[KDW]

Thanks Bryan.
It just goes to show what one man writes too many following 'experts' copy!
I think this kind of cross checking and correcting 'history' is quite important. It also shows the worth of this sort of international web discussion
Kevin

[phdm]

Kevin,

If my notes are correct your car had a strange number stamped or the chassis plate: 62 27 F 20.
I think it also had an incorrect aluminium engine cover.

Just found in my documents one original 2-page Lotus 35 specification sheet issued by Lotus Components in Jan. 65.
Prices: from £2600 for an F3 to £4770 for a Tasman (ex-works assembled). Pick up your choice !

[KDW]

You are correct in the chassis plate number, the tub is also stamped 35/22. Clive Chapman identifies from his records that tub 35/22 = chassis no 20.
The alloy engine cover was with the car when I imported it from Switzerland in early 2003.
P Denty has made me a new grp TC engine cover from original moulds
Kevin

[PeterMorley]

Originally posted by KDW
Peter,
Did you find out more of this French 35 ??

Kevin

Not yet, but I see his is still advertising it (or another one).

I will see him at Retromobile in a few weeks and will check then.

Peter

[KDW]

Thanks Peter,
It will be interesting to find out a little more of this cars history.
Kevin

[Michal]

Originally posted by Michal
On 21/6/1970 during international race Czech republic Prix in Jicin DNF German driver Paul Fischer with Lotus 35/F/22, engine No. MAE66006.

Another Lotus 35 started also in the same race one year before, driven by Belgian driver Andre Willem - finished 7th. Unfortunatelly, serial No. unknown...

Michal

[KDW]

Wonderful, So that must be my car !
Where is Jicin, is DNF a place, or did Fischer not finish ??

Did any motor magazine or enthusiast have any photos of 35 f 22 ??

Thank you for the information.

Kevin

[PeterMorley]

Originally posted by KDW
Thanks Peter,
It will be interesting to find out a little more of this cars history.
Kevin

Don't know about the history (didn't get to Retromobile) but I did find these photos I took of it.

[KDW]

Hi Peter, thanks for posting these photos.
I need to study them closer but interesting. Is that a Alfa TC ?
My seat is different to this, more a red pvc bag with press studs to locate.
Same position for battery cut out between drivers legs.
No Chassis plate ?
The tub number is stamped into tub at junction of seat back/floor. It will be 35/??

Looks very nice, do we know who owns this car ??

Regards
Kevin Whittle

[PeterMorley]

Originally posted by KDW
Hi Peter, thanks for posting these photos.
I need to study them closer but interesting. Is that a Alfa TC ?
My seat is different to this, more a red pvc bag with press studs to locate.
Same position for battery cut out between drivers legs.
No Chassis plate ?
The tub number is stamped into tub at junction of seat back/floor. It will be 35/??

Looks very nice, do we know who owns this car ??

Regards
Kevin Whittle

Christophe Pund of Gallerie de Damiers was trying to sell the 35.
I saw it a couple of years ago (when we bought the Ligier JS3, DFV powered sportscar that Willie Green has raced so sucessfully).
I don't know if Christophe still has it, I think he knew the chassis (or at least frame) number and some history.
When I next see him I will ask for more info.
It has an Alfa Romeo GTA engine in it.
Being French the condition is pretty dreadful with lots of agricultural modifications.........
But the biggest problem was that even having the fancy version of the Alfa engine didn't bring the value of the car up to what Christophe was asking for it!

[KDW]

I must go through this listing to see just how many of the 22 built have survived.
Its a nice car to drive and in the right hands would be pretty competitive in historic motor sport.
HSCC have now introduced a 1600cc limit for Classis Racing Car series, and they have classes for F2 and F3 1 litre cars.
Kevin

[macca]

That's the car I saw at the Coys auction in 1998, which David McKinney identified as 35-F-14, ex-Bernard Collomb, earlier in this thread.


PWM

[KDW]

Excellent - thanks PWM

[Ted Walker]

Allen NOT ALWAYS. I have been around a long time . KDW if you want to put some of my images up you can with a credit.

[ianselva]

I am trying to trace the history of a Volpini Formula junior which came from France a few years ago from a Pierre de Siebenthal, whose son is a Porsche dealer. He also had a Lotus 35 which eventually went to Coys. His son Marc is on Email at mail@mecacomponents.com and may be able to give some history.