1971 Lotus Type 69 Formula B/Formula Atlantic

Serial Number: 7169/7FB - original chassis plaque Logbook: none Condition: Project Price:  US $34,900  Currency_Convert Location: near Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

18 Photos Larger  Index xxNext click for more photos

This must be the last of the legendary Lotus 69 Formula Bs available as a project. Only eleven were constructed. In period the car ran in both winged Formula B specification with a twincam and as a Formula Atlantic running a BDA in the inaugural year of that series. The car is nearly complete and completely disassembled for restoration. A new chassis has been constructed from the original plans by Peter Denty. Copies of the plans will accompany the car. An engine and gearbox are supplied with the car. A correct specification Hewland FT-200 has been disassembled for restoration and is very nearly complete. This gearbox would be correct for either specification. All of the components needed to build an injected twincam are also supplied save a crankshaft. This could be split out from the car if the new owner preferred to build the car to Atlantic Specification for the Formula 70s series, where it should be extrememly competitive. (Due to it's very low frontal area it should be extremely quick on the straights). This is a rare opportunity to have one of these highly desirable cars built exactly to one's specifications.

History

In it's third year of competition the car came to grief at the Players round at Watkins Glen, Tim losing it going up the hill and ping-ponging between the armco for some distance. The third photo shows the result of the shunt. The car was comprehensively damaged. Tim sat out the rest of the season due to some leg injuries (nothing broken, the car is very stout, but he was badly bruised from rattling around inside the chassis). He continued in the Player's the next year with a March and gained the attention of Jackie Stewart, who helped him further his motorsports career. Despite the shunt, Tim was very fond of the car and disassembled it during his convalesence, discarding the seriously treaked chassis, selling the engine and gearbox, and packing the rest in a large crate, which followed him on a series of transcontinental moves over the next 15 years. His intent was always to build a mockup for display in his living room!

In the early 80s the current owner came in contact with Tim and learned of the Lotus 69 FB in a box. Tim was persuaded to part with it on the understanding that it would eventually be restored. The new owner initally addressed the problem of procuring a new chassis. A trip to the original manufacturere, Arch Motors, in the UK, yielded copies of the original drawing from Lotus Components which Arch had retained in their files. The leading restorer of these cars, Peter Denty, also in the UK, was approached with the task of constructing a replacement chassis, and he consented. The current owners's intent was to restore it to Formula B specification, and an FT-200 of the proper specification was obtained, along with virtually all the components (save a crank) to construct a mechanically injected twincam. A small amount of other restoration work has been completed on the car. The current owner is scaling back his involvment in racing, reluctantly placing it on the market along with a number of other cars. Hopefully the other cars will sell first and he will be able to keep this one!

Recent Competition History

Supporting Documents

Performance Data

• Weight: 830 lbs

Engine

• Engine Builder: inspected by MWE
• Type: Mechanically Injected Lotus Twincam 1600
• Induction: Lucas mechanical injection system including metering unit, slides and pump Webers
• Heads: Twincam head ported by noted English tuner Dave Smith
• Block: proper
• Main Caps: all steel caps
• Connecting Rods: rebuilt twincam rods
• Pistons: new forged pistons (Arias)
• (disassembled, less crank) Cosworth oil pump

Fuel System

• Fuel Cell

Oil/Water System

• Radiator: new water radiator

Electrical System

• Ignition: none

Transmission

• Manfacturer: Hewland
• Type: FT-200 old style case with lower ear sideplate
• disassembled for restoration new mag FT to twinc adapter, some minor remedial work completed

Rear End

• Manufacturer: Hewland
• Type: in unit with gearbox
• Differential: cam and pawl with some new chicklets
• Axles: heavy duty driveshafts, Donut inboard, UJ outboard
• 1 NOS donut, missing outboard UJ flanges

Body

• Construction: original cowl, new nose in white gelcoat, original rear wing
• new front wings and end plates

Chassis

• Type: new replacement chassis from Peter Denty built from original
• Front Suspension: mostly complete except for rod ends and bearings
• Rear Suspension: mostly complete except for 1 outboard driveshaft, rod ends and bearings
• Shocks: none
• Brakes: complete save piping and masters
• Steering: complete, new rack center section, wheel needs recovering
• Wheels: Rear: 2 14s, 1 12s, front: 3 10s

Interior

• Color/Finish: original pedals
• Fire System: original fire bottle
• Guages: split guage
• Steering Wheel: original steering wheel frame needs recovering

Spares

• original nose
• 12 inch rear wheel
• 10 inch front wheel
• alternate front springs
• alternate front and rear ARBs
• Bill of Sale