1956 Lotus Eleven Sports Racer

Colin Chapman and aerodynamicist Frank Costin would pencil the proposal for the Lotus Eleven on clean sheets of paper. The result was a vehicle that would take the checkered flag almost 150 times in 1956 alone, its first year on campaign. This included a win at Le Mans in the 1100cc class and a seventh overall, only 27 laps behind a D-Type Jaguar. The Lotus Eleven remains as the most successful track car in Lotus history.

In similar fashion to the Lotus MK6, the Eleven used stressed aluminum panels draped over a light steel tubular structure. It was available in three versions including a Club model, the Sport, and the LeMans. The Club model was equipped with a 36 horsepower Ford 10 engine. The Sport came equipped with an all-new 1098cc aluminum Coventry Climax inline four. Both the Sport and the Club came with live rear axles and drum brakes. The LeMans had four-wheel Girling inboard disc brakes, a de Dion rear axle, and specific transmission ratios.

The body was handcrafted with hinged front and rear for quick access to essential mechanical components. The Coventry Climax engine was built in unit with the new gearbox, based on an Austin A30 case. All of the LeMans models were fitted with close-ratio gears. Steering was by a shortened rack-and-pinion system from the Morris Minor, with a quick 1.75 turns lock-to-lock. The rear axle was a modified unit using BMC parts. The front suspension was swing axle but now had a lower pivot point to reduce roll stiffness and thus moderate understeer. Girling coil-overs were placed in both the front and rear, which was built around a new de Dion tube.

The Eleven sat 27 inches high at the base of the windscreen and had a curb weight of 1,360 pounds.

This particular Lotus Eleven Le Mans Series 1 was found by the current owner in the United Kingdom, though it had been badly crashed. Beginning in the 1980s, work began on repairing the car. A completely new body was sourced from Williams and Pritchard. Most of the damaged panels were discarded, but the doors and center section were saved. During the restoration, many of the original parts (including the gas tan, suspension, differential, throttle assembly, carburetors, and instruments) were used.

The restoration work was recently and in 2018 it was brought to Bonhams Auction in Amelia Island where it was sold for the sum of $92,960 inclusive of buyer's premium.

This Lotus does not have its original chassis plate and its provenance before the accident is not known. However, Lotus experts have deemed this car as authentic. Since the restoration, it has not been campaigned.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2018