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The Formula Ford series was introduced for 1967 and provided a means for amateur competitors to compete on a level racing field with manageable costs. This was seen as an entry level racing series for racers to prove their potential before elevating to Formula 3 and Formula 2 competition.
The inexperience of the drivers meant there were often lots of crashes, particularly at the start of the race. Since the cars were equally matched it was left up to the drivers to steer their cars to the front of the pack. This often took many laps before the experienced drivers had distanced themselves from the inexperienced drivers. Crashes were inevitable.
The cars were equally matched because the regulations for the series dictated nearly every aspect of the vehicles. The engines had to Ford Cortina GT units and there was very little allowance for modification or tuning. The tires were road tires.
Lotus built the Type 51, Type 51A and Type 51R during the 1967 and 1968 seasons. The cars had multi-tubular space-frame chassis which was suspended in place by double wishbones and coil spring/damper units in the front and reversed lower wishbones, upper links, twin radius rods and coil spring/damper units in the rear. The Type 51A was introduced in 1968 and was very similar to the Type 51, with a few modifications. There was only one Type 51R ever created. It was shown at the 1968 Racing Car Show as a publicity stunt. It was adorned in a 'flower-power' color scheme that was vibrant, flamboyant, and daring.
The Type 51 Series did very well in Formula Ford competition and this helped increase demand for the vehicles. In total, around 218 examples were produced.
The inexperience of the drivers meant there were often lots of crashes, particularly at the start of the race. Since the cars were equally matched it was left up to the drivers to steer their cars to the front of the pack. This often took many laps before the experienced drivers had distanced themselves from the inexperienced drivers. Crashes were inevitable.
The cars were equally matched because the regulations for the series dictated nearly every aspect of the vehicles. The engines had to Ford Cortina GT units and there was very little allowance for modification or tuning. The tires were road tires.
Lotus built the Type 51, Type 51A and Type 51R during the 1967 and 1968 seasons. The cars had multi-tubular space-frame chassis which was suspended in place by double wishbones and coil spring/damper units in the front and reversed lower wishbones, upper links, twin radius rods and coil spring/damper units in the rear. The Type 51A was introduced in 1968 and was very similar to the Type 51, with a few modifications. There was only one Type 51R ever created. It was shown at the 1968 Racing Car Show as a publicity stunt. It was adorned in a 'flower-power' color scheme that was vibrant, flamboyant, and daring.
The Type 51 Series did very well in Formula Ford competition and this helped increase demand for the vehicles. In total, around 218 examples were produced.
| Formula FordThe Formula Ford series was established in 1967. The series was an economical means of pursuing racing in a league that was fiercely competitive due to strict guidelines. This meant the focus was on the talent of the driver rather than advanced racing components. A strict budget of £1000 kept the playing-field level. The machines used were open wheel, open body work, single seat racers. Firestone F100 treaded road tires were permitted, all others were not. The use of aerodynamic aids, such as wings, were not permitted. The standard engine was the 1600 cc Ford overhead valve. Since monocoque chassis were expensive, they were not permitted. Instead, space-frame chassis construction was utilized throughout the series. In 1979, the pre-'74 Championship was created. This allowed owners of cars built before 1974 an opportunity to once again compete against vehicles that were similar in specifications to their own. A 1974/1978 has also been created with the same purpose as the pre-74 Championship series. The series was later renamed to 1974/1980 as vehicles built up to 1980 were included. The pre-'74 cars were later classed as 'Class A'. The pre-'82 series cars, which included 1974 through 1981, were referred to as 'Class B'. |
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1968 Lotus Type 51 |
|
| Year | 1968 |
| Make | Lotus |
| Model | Type 51 |
| Engine Location | Mid |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Body / Chassis | Steel Spaceframe chassis and fiberglass body |
| Production Years for Series | 1967 - 1968 |
| Combined MPG | 0.00 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Builder | Ford |
| Engine Configuration | I |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 1600.00 cc | 97.6 cu in. | 1.6 L. |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Petrol |
| Fuel Feed | Carburetor |
| 1 Weber 32 DFM carburetor | |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Gears | 4 |
| Transmission | Manual |
| Renault R-8 Type 330 | |
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| 1969 Type 51 |
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Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com
Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com