Lotus XI at Zandvoort Historic GP

[Splat]

You're right, Malc. Wheel articulation was the reason behind the change of profile. What effect it has to the aerodynamics, I don't know (although I doubt that it's significant at the speeds that an Eleven is capable of). And note my use of the word "artisan". It was aimed at those highly skilled individuals capable of wheeling a flat sheet of metal into artwork. I have trouble wielding a spanner in a competent fashion

[beng4]

No reason to believe that is is a repro at all, Chassis numbers do go into the 500s, ortenbergers book 'the lotus eleven' details chassis number 552, and the s2 owned by vic thomas, founder of the HLR is 550

http://www.historiclotusregister.co.uk/ ... Thomas.htm

But who cares, alot have been re-built on new chassis, retain very little of the original bodywork and probably have a completely different drive train to the one it left the factory with, the definition of a repro and a 'real' one is blurred in my opinion. If we can still see these cars racing and being driven as intended that is all that matters to me, the fact that some have slightly different body styles to each other due to 55 years of racing and repairs makes them all the more interesting.

When i put my car together and was collecting reference shots to understand how they should be put together and where certain bits should be, i soon realised that none are the same, and perhaps the ideal that i was trying to re-create probably isnt out there, and that i should worry less about the spacing of the instruments and the numbers of rivets in a particular panel. The main thing was to just build it to enjoy it!

Ben

[biggles]

...and looking at the restoration pics of Simon Braithwaite's lovely Eleven


http://www.lotuseleven.co.uk/#/418-sre- ... 4543332168


that Ben kindly linked to on our 'Single cockpit' thread, what do we see - a GRP rear clam being used as the pattern for the new ali panels. So, a Lotus being modelled on a Westy??!!

[beng4]

And i take it that the picture was taken in the Shapecraft workshop too!