Originally, the car was bought and used in the midlands in 1962. It then passed through just two owners – covering only 13,762 miles from new – until it sat in a barn in the midlands for circa 43 years. After much persuasion the UK’s largest private Lotus collector, agreed to let Lee acquire this Lotus Elan Type 26 barn find in 2017. Over the course of two years, Lee & Elan legend Neil Myers have painstakingly rescued the rare Bourne bodied S1 car, to create a special homologated lightweight FIA Appendix K race car.
Every part of the car is authentic, & where safe, every original nut, bolt & washer has been replated, or other irreplaceable components restored so that the originality of this car is one of, if not the best example that exists. The original Lotus Twin Cam engine now produces circa 184bhp having been race engineered for endurance events, with a strong torque curve right up to its 8,250rpm red line. The original gearbox casing has been utilised, with ultra-close straight-cut gear ratios driving a part-magnesium differential.
The cars precious Bourne body has been meticulously modified as an Elan would have been in the 60’s, to produce a light race car with subtly flared arches to accommodate the original wide Magnesium race wheels & Avon period race tyres, whilst shaving nearly 30kgs of weight from the fibre glass shell. Other race modifications such as underbody diff cooling has been subtly added. The shell has then been honed & repainted in its original light grey gelcoat colour to an exacting match, with a lightweight original spec cellulose paint to finish. In true perfectionist detail, Lee had a bespoke colour matched to the original blue, which has been officially logged as “Poppy Blue” named after his first daughter. He hopes she will enjoy racing the car in years to come.
Eligible for Spa Six Hours, Masters GT European Series, Goodwood Revival & Le Mans Classic, this very rare & original car is a one off. So much so that the organisers of Spa Six Hours renumbered their grid of 103 entries, to make race number 26 applicable to this special Lotus Type 26.
The car was entered at Spa Six Hours in memory of Lee’s Dad Jim & Uncle Howard who despite living fit & healthy lives, sadly both passed away prematurely with terminal cancer within 3 months of one another in 2012.
This car is developing a wonderful story & we cherish her enormously but that said, will be raced hard, qualified 56th at Spa & within an hour was in 20th place before having to retire due to a driver miss hap
For a closer look at the process, click here...
