It is probably one of the most successful Formula 1 monoposti ever, the Lotus 49. First entered in 1967, it won its debut race with Jim Clark at the wheel. Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt and Emerson Fittipaldi, among many others, later drove the racing car and drove it to many successes over a period of three years. No other Formula 1 car of modern times has had such a long career.
One of twelve Lotus 49s built
Twelve Lotus 49s were built, about a handful still exist today.
The car offered by Bonhams at the Goodwood Festival of Speed auction on June 27, 2014 is chassis 49-R8, built in October 1968.
As the 49B, the elegant single-seater continued to feature the ingenious chassis construction devised by designer Colin Chapman and designer Maurice Philippe. The Ford-Cosworth DFV V8 engine was bolted to the monocoque that ended behind the driver's seat, which in turn carried the gearbox and rear suspension.
Long and successful racing career
"49-R8" was driven by Graham Hill and Richard Attwood, who took pole position in Monaco in 1969, and was later sold to privateer Joakim Bonnier. In 1970, the car made its way to South Africa and was successfully entered in national championships there.
Two years later, an Australian took over the racing car and restored it to its original condition. As part of John Dawson-Damer's collection, the monoposto was always in race-ready condition.
While most of the Dawson-Damer collection was already sold by Bonhams in 2008, the Lotus 49B from 1968 is now the last car to go under the hammer.
Further information can be found on the Bonhams website.
