Lotus 35

[allenbrown]

Kevin

Just a reminder - Ted's chassis numbers come from published F1 Register sources. They do not mean a contemporary, independent identification.

Allen

[John Lindsay]

Kevin
Tony Barchou,who used to work with Ian Raby Racing had a Ron Harris Lotus 35 for sale in Toronto ,Canada about 20 years ago.A beautiful car ,in perfect condition,complete with a BRM ( Hope my memory is correct on the engine). He was asking $4500 at the time. I don't know where it went
Re Martin V8 engines. There were a pair of heads and numerous other parts for a 2 lire V8 engine for sale here for years.Martin used to work at GM in St Catharines ,Ontario Canada for a few years.The parts are probably still around here
John

[KDW]

I take your point Allen, re Teds numbers, but it's all I have got to go on. I must speak to Jaques who now lives in Greece.
The Martin 2 litre V8 interests me. What formula was that aimed at? Was it 100% Martin or was it based on some production block etc? Do you know John?
If they ever invent time travel are we going to be rich !
Kevin

[macca]

Kevin

The Martin V8 of 1966-1970 was based on the heads from Ted Martin's FJ Anglia engine IIRC and the first couple made were 2-litre and ended up in the back of sportscars, at least one of which was in the USA, after Ted had got the 3-litres up and running.

Graham White who used to have a shop at Goodwood and was big in Renaults in the 1970s and '80s told me that he remembered another, later, Martin V8 2-litre, a more sophisticated engine that was used in the European 2-litre
championship in the 1970s - can anyone shed any further light on this?

Paul Mackness

[KDW]

Paul
The Martin FJ engine development was the subject of a article by T Martin in Jan 61 Autosport. All was not going well !
Kevin

[KDW]

All
In the current Formula Junior Racing Assoc magazine is an obituary for John Romanes of Edinburgh. Seems this Scottish gentleman raced a Lotus 35. It was powered by a Martin engine, that was later removed to fit a 2 litre Climax and raced at Ingleston. The obit writer Andrew Fletcher also drove the same 35 on occasions at Croft and Ingleston.
At Croft the rear suspension broke and the car ended up inverted.
John was so upset at this he cut the Lotus 35 up when he got home.
So that means 1 less to survive today, we are down to 21 cars.
Kevin

[allenbrown]

No, that probably means 23 cars. Each half will have been rebuilt back into a complete car.

So is this the Lotus 35-Martin V8?

And is this the same Andrew Fletcher who drove the Fireball-Chev F5000 hill-climb car?

Allen

[David McKinney]

Don't know about the Fireball connection, but it's surely the same Andrew Fletcher who turns out in historic sportscar races from time to time. Mate of Pipes, I think.

[KDW]

All,
I have been told that Freddie Kottulinski who raced in F3 with a 35 sold his car to someone who used the tub and rear suspension in a silhouette Triumph Spitfire racer.
Where is that car now ?
The front hubs and uprights are owned by the man who related the story.

Kevin

[Richard Young]

Re: Fireball.......
Visited Ingliston a couple of times in the early 70s. Was it realy Andrew Fletcher? I seem to remember him as a Brabham pilot then. Was there not an Andy ROBERTS (or similar) aboard a modified '58 or '59 Cooper with V8 power which had been renamed Fireball. It may have felt like one from the driving seat but didn't really look that way.
I remember Andrew Fletcher as a much more serious contender in those days, or maybe I'm going wobbly in the head.
It should have happened years ago.....

[KDW]

I had a good look at the Classic Team Lotus 32B at Oulton Park recently during the Gold Cup, and was surprised to see that the car has a proper grp upholstered seat fitted. Also the gear linkage does not use a gate as per the 25 and 35. Also that the gear change rod runs within the tub. Behind the seat the monocoque is sloped but a large aperture gives access to the modern fire extinguisher. The car is in lovely condition, freshly repaired after the Monaco shunt, Clive Chapman told me they repaired and re used the tub skins.
Kevin

[Michael Oliver]

Originally posted by KDW
Thanks guys,
I am also interested if any more cars survive now. We still seem to only know my car + Paul Matty+ John Dimmer. Thats just 3. There must be more than that.

I know of one other 35 in the UK but not sure of chassis number - can make enquiries. Have a feeling same person also owns a 44 but could be mistaken on that one...

Michael Oliver

[Michal]

Hi, I have one for you, which is not listed yet. 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.

[KDW]

Thanks Michal,
I am pleased to get more information. I have not heard of Paul Fischer before, and will try to get more info.
Last night I had a call from USA. Steve Laurence has a Lotus 35, and he is starting restoration. At present he does not have an engine, the car being fitted originally with a Cosworth SCA F2 motor. So now he is looking for SCA parts.

[IANHEB]

Paul
You posted a while ago about a 35 you saw at Coys in 1999.Although many single seaters here in S.Africa ran with Alfa engines,unfortunatly none of the 27/32/35/44/48 series monocques ever came here.I might be able to identify with the help of some photos.
Regards
Ian

[macca]

IANHEB,

I looked in my photo album and it was 1998 not 1999 at the Coys auction, and the only photo I took is from the rear showing the engine compartment. I will try to get hold of an auction brochure to see if there is any more information about the supposed provenance, and if I can get the photo scanned I will try to post it.

When I was standing next to it I noticed that the ex-Lotus mechanic Cedric Selzer (owner of Lotus 25/R5) was standing nearby also looking at it, so I asked him what it was and he thought it was a 35.

Paul

[David McKinney]

If you're talking about the 1998 Coys Silverstone auction, the car was 35-F-14, originally Bernard Collomb's

[IANHEB]

Paul,
It is possible that somebody dug out the 35 from somewhere like Kenya or Zambia,but i would be suprised.Brochure description will be interesting.
Ian

[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 promote 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.

[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 ???

[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 !