LOTUS ELITE - THE LE MANS RACER

The Mk14 Lotus Elite was somewhat of a revolution when launched in 1957, with a glass-fibre monocoque, all alloy overhead cam Coventry Climax engine, independent suspension, and disc brakes all-round.

This example was purchased new by WWII veteran Spitfire pilot ‘Dickie’ Stoop just days before the 1959 running of the Le Mans 24 race. Sadly, the car would not take the start following a road collision after the practice session, rending the car beyond repair while trackside.

Stoop sold the car to fellow racer Guy Godfrey in 1966 who rebuilt the car around a new body. Stoop retained his own registration number OU 4, and the car was reregistered as OKX 84D.

It’s history following this sale is largely unknown, however it appeared for sale in a very 70’s shade of purple, before being stripped for a restoration that unfortunately that owner did not complete.

The car’s current owner purchased the Elite as a catalogue of boxed parts and bare body shell, and crucially, the original buff logbook. Tolman Engineering were commissioned to carry out a full restoration, sympathetic to period, whilst creating a useable and reliable car that works in the 21st century.

• Body shell soda blasted and re-glassed, new diff mount panel
• Painted in period BRG, with correct interior/roof mottled grey and black dashboard
• Off-white roundels with ‘58’ numbers in period font
• Period matched number external number lights
• Modern OEM sound proofing throughout
• Rebuilt 1220cc Coventry Climax engine on 1.5” SU carburettors producing 120bhp
• Ceramic coated stainless exhaust manifold and stainless system
• Rebuilt MG 4 close ratio speed gearbox
• Rebuilt differential
• Refurbished suspension with Tolman Engineering damper system and bespoke rose jointed rear trailing arms
• New bespoke reserve fuel tank fabricated and installed into OSF front wing
• Vickers 3-way fuel cock to switch between main and reserve fuel tanks
• Retrimmed interior and new carpets
• LED headlights
• Solid state dynamo regulator
• New original spec wiring harness
• Original gauges refurbished – internals only
• Original brightwork unrestored but polished