1960 Lotus 18 Formula Junior

The Lotus Type 18 was the company's first mid-engined Grand Prix car design. It was introduced for the 1960 season and, depending on its specification, was used in Formula Junior, Formula Two, and Formula One. 1960 was the final year of the 2½-Litre Formula 1, adopting the 1½-Litre displacement the following season. The Type 18 was more successful than Colin Champman's previous front-engined formula cars (including the 12 and 16), scoring a victory at the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix where it was driven by Stirling Moss. The Type 18 and Moss repeated this victory the following year. Moss also won the United States Grand Prix in 1960 which helped Lotus finish second in the constructors' championship. Moss won the 1961 Nürburgring while Innes Ireland won in the USA to help Lotus finish second in the constructors' championship in 1961.

Grand Prix Specification

The Lotus Type 18 used a steel spaceframe (nearly spaceframe) chassis made up of heavily-triangulated tubes, suspended by double wishbones in the front with inboard coil-over spring/damper units. The rear employed lower wishbones, top links, and radius rods with outboard coil-over spring/damper units. The lightweight body panels were bolted to the frame with the 2,467cc Coventry Climax FPF four-cylinder DOHC engine positioned behind the driver. Used in the Type 16, the engine's displacement grew to 2,497cc in 1960 and produced 239 horsepower at 6,750 RPM. Complying with 1961 racing regulations, the 2.5-liter engine was replaced by a smaller 1.5-liter Climax FPF MK.II unit with a 82mm bore and stroke of 71 mm. The transmission was a sequential manual unit that had been initially developed for the Lotus Type 12 by Richard Ansdale and Harry Mundy. Keith Duckworth improved the reliability of the transmission for the Type 15 and 16. The transmission and ZF limited-slip differential were combined in a common Magnesium alloy housing to form a transaxle, which also served as the mounting points for the rear inboard brakes.

The Lotus Type 18 weighed a mere 980 lbs and stood just 28 inches high, complemented by the semi-reclining position of the driver.

Formula Junior Specifiation

Formula Junior was designed as a 'feeder' racing class for Formula 1 and other more senior forms of motorsports in the early 1960s. Lotus's first foray into this hotly contested series was the spaceframe Type 18 where it proved to be the class of the field, with Team Lotus works drivers Jim Clark and Trevor Taylor dominating the 1960 season.

The Formula Junior version of the Type 18 used either a 998cc Cosworth MK.III or a Downton BMC 'A' Series displacing 948cc. With less output compared to the Grand Prix version, the FJ version had Alfin drum brakes on all four corners and smaller gauge chassis tubing. It used a Renault Dauphine-derived 4-speed close-ratio transaxle, with a Volkswagen gearbox with Hewland 4 speed gears optional. An advantage of the Volkswagen/Hewland transmission was the ability to change gear ratios from behind the gearbox without removing the unit from the car.

The most successful of the Ford-engined Formula Junior tuning companies were those of Cosworth Engineering, which could safely rev to 9,500 RPM, and breathed through twin-choke Weber 40 DCOE 40 carburetors.

Approximately 125 examples of the Lotus 18 were built. It was repalced by the Type 21 which was an evolution of the Type 18, with a streamlined body, a tubular spaceframe structure, fiberglass body panels, all round disc brakes, and powered by a 1.5-liter Coventry Climax FPF 4-cylinder. The Type 21 was the first Lotus car driven by the Works team to victory in Formula One Grand Prix competition.

by Dan Vaughan

Monoposto
Chassis number: 18J803

The Lotus 18 was the first rear-engined formula racer produced by Lotus.

In 1965, this car was owned by Fred Stevenson of Mt. Kisco, New York. Fred campaigned the car throughout the 1965 season in the FC class of the SCCA in the Northeastern portion of the US. Photos in the possession of the current owner obtained from an SCCA National Race held at Thompson Raceway in Thompson, Connecticut, show Fred finishing the feature race with maple saplings intertwined in the rear suspension. Apparently Fred went agricultural in his effort to stay close tot the leaders. And, because it happened toward the end of the race, he was not black flagged. He finished the race 3rd overall. For the 1965 season, Fred finished FC 7th Nationally, and 1st in the NY region with the Lotus 18.

Monoposto
Chassis number: 18J817

Lotus 18s raced in Formula One, Formula Two, and Formula Junior classes in the day. Placement was determined by engine displacement and configuration. Lightweight, strong and simple, Lotus 18s quickly dominated in all the races they appeared in.

This 1960 Lotus Type 18 Formula Junior is powered by a Ford-Cosworth engine with Dual Weber DCOE-40 Carburetors producing 105 horsepower at 7500 RPM. It has a Renault gearbox, an independent suspension, Lotus Magnesium wheels and Dunlop Racing tires.

It was imported in 1960 by West Coast Lotus dealer Jay Chamberlain, and sold to Team Rosebud in Texas.

In 1961 it was traded back to Jay for a new Lotus 20 Formula Junior. The car has raced on the west coast for most of its life.

Judy and Bill Morton actively campaigned the car in vintage races from 1984 to 1996, including the Southern Festival of Speed in New Zealand in 1991.

In January 2002 Jack Fitzpatrick restored the car and has been driving it at CSRG, HMSA, and General Racing events.

In 2005 Jack raced it at the Mont Tremblant Circuit in Canada, and at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Places 1st in Class at the Serrano Concours d'Elegance in 2007 and 2nd in Class at Road and Track Concours d'Elegance in downtown Elkhart Lake in 2005.

Monoposto
Chassis number: 18-J-815

This Formula Junior racer by Lotus was sent to the United States through the company's agent, Jay Chamberlain. It was sold on November 24th of 1960 and the subsequent history for the next three decades remains a mystery. Around the 1990s, the car was given a restoration by Mark Gent.

The car is equipped with the Cosworth Ford motor backed by a correct Renault gearbox. The 1,100cc OHV inline 4-cylinder engine breathes through Twin Weber Side Draft 40 DCOE carburetors and produces approximately 125 horsepower. It had a double-wishbone front suspension with lower radius arms in the rear. Drum brakes provided the stopping power.

More recently, the car has resided on the Pacific Northwest and has had little use since its restoration was completed.

by Dan Vaughan

The Lotus 18 was the first mid-engined vehicle built by Lotus. The design was created by Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus, specifically for Formula 1 and Formula 2 racing. The mid-engined design brought the Lotus racing efforts to another level and greatly improved their ability to compete in the fiercely competitive formula series.

The lightweight, powerful, and simple design was the correct combination and the car proved to be rather competitive. It was powered by a 2.5 liter Coventry Climax engine but after rule changes occurred in 1961, the displacement was reduced to 1.5 liters. The chassis was constructed from a space-frame unit and lightweight body panels were bolted on, creating a lightweight, rigid, and strong design.

The first Formula One victory for the Lotus 18 came from a privateer named Rob Walker. This was the start of many podium finishes and a career that would last a rather long time in terms of racing. Lotus introduced the 21 and 24 but it was not until the Lotus 25 did Lotus find a suitable replacement. The Lotus 25 featured a fully stressed monocoque chassis which was the first of its type to be used in Formula One competition. This made the car more rigid and stronger than other cars in F1.

In the very capable hands of Stirling Moss, the Lotus 18 finished first at the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix and also won the American Grand Prix at the end of the season. Lotus finished third in the constructors' championship. Moss repeated his victory at Monaco the following year. At Nurburgring and in very terrible weather, Moss and the Lotus 18 once again finished in first place. At the close of the season, with the Innes Ireland, finished second in the Constructors' Championship.

In the United States, the Lotus 18 dominated the Formula Junior series. Arundel, Clark, and Stacy won nearly all the events that they entered. In Formula Junior specification, the cars were powered by a 1100cc Ford Cosworth engine that produced around 100 horsepower. The brakes are aluminum finned drums and the suspension is comprised of wishbones.

Two Lotus 18 Formula Junior cars were later converted to Formula One specifications. The Lotus 20 and 21 were the successor models to the Lotus 18. The 21 was used in Formula One while the 20 was the Formula Junior entry. Some 18 chassis were rebodied with 21 skins to create the interim Lotus 18/21 hybrid derivative. 27 examples were built by Lotus. 18 were built in 1960 and 9 in 1960.

by Dan Vaughan