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The legendary Lotus 18 - Grand Prix winner and barn find

Name: Lotus 18 1960
Brand: Lotus

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Created on October 19, 2012

Text:

Daniel Reinhard

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Archiv Daniel Reinhard

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Archiv Daniel Reinhard

Archiv

Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - impressive exhaust note

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - slim stature and therefore better aerodynamics

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - the dimensions of the roll bar are a piece of history

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - the technology is accessible

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - not much comfort on offer

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - still painted in Lotus colors

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - rudimentary cockpit, gears are changed with the left hand

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - minimal instrumentation

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - the steering wheel bears witness to a rich history

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - the monoposto can be stripped within seconds

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - the small engine fits easily

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - the three-cylinder two-stroke from DKW

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - lattice tubular frame and plastic planking

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - the gearbox in the FJ came from the Renault Dauphine

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - the gearbox at the very back

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - the drive shaft is part of the rear suspension

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - the lightweight body parts are held together in a simple way

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - rear axle suspension with push struts

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - Wobbly magnesium wheels

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - front suspension

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - the tank sits in front of the driver

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - everything was subjected to the slim stature

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - no trace of safety thinking

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - barn find - the radiator for the water

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Lotus 18 Formula Junior (1960) - Barn find - View of the steering system

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Lotus 18 (1960) - Peter Monteverdi at the Marchairuz hill climb in 1960

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Lotus 18 (1960) - at the Marchairuz hill climb in 1960

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Lotus 18 (1960) - Peter Monteverdi at the Arosa snow slalom in 1961

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DKW 3=6 (1956) - front-wheel drive, three cylinders, two-stroke principle - also the basis for the successors 1000 S and 1000 SP

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DKW 3=6 (1957) - the water-cooled three-cylinder two-stroke engine - powerful and compact

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Lotus 18 Formel Junior (1960) - Scheunenfund - der Überrollbügel ist von der Dimensionierung ein Stück Geschichte

Lotus 18 Formel Junior (1960) - Scheunenfund - die Technik ist zugänglich

Lotus 18 Formel Junior (1960) - Scheunenfund - viel Komfort wird nicht geboten

Lotus 18 Formel Junior (1960) - Scheunenfund - immer noch in den Lotus-Farben lackiert

Lotus 18 Formel Junior (1960) - Scheunenfund - rudimentäres Cockpit, geschaltet wird mit der linken Hand

Lotus 18 Formel Junior (1960) - Scheunenfund - minimale Instrumentierung

Summary

With the Lotus 18, Colin Chapman revolutionized Formula 1, but also the smaller monoposto classes. The mid-engined racing car was used in parallel with different engines in the various Formula championships and brought Lotus second place in the constructors' championship in its debut year. Around 125 units were built. This report portrays a still unrestored Formula Junior version of the Lotus 18 with a DKW two-stroke engine, in which Peter Monteverdi once raced.

This article contains the following chapters

Straightforward but efficient technology
Debut in Argentina
Victory with a brand new vehicle
Found in the barn - actually

Estimated reading time: 3min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In 1960, Lotus built the first mid-engined racing car and at the same time set a milestone in motorsport history. This monoposto was used in Formula 1 and Formula 2 with four-cylinder and later eight-cylinder engines from Climax. But the same car was also offered as a Formula Junior, with a factory-fitted Ford 105E engine with 88 hp at 7500 rpm. However, some used a BMC engine and the German Gerhard Mitter even used a two-stroke engine from DKW. From today's perspective, it would be unthinkable to compete in all formula classes with just one chassis. The basic vehicle was also extensively modified by many private owners. The car of the Rob Walker team, for example, had a completely different transmission to the works cars. And the Type 18 was even available with Vanwall, Borgward and Maserati technology.

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