£7,000 - £9,000
Lotus Mark VI Replica
Registration Number: N/A
Chassis Number: TBA
Recorded Mileage: TBA
Chapman’s first Lotus-badged car, the MkI was a trials special based on a 1930 Austin Seven which proved immensely competitive in the 750 Motor Club’s burgeoning 750 Formula. Chapman’s competition-focused MkII of 1950 was an effective mount for trials, circuit racing and sprints as well. The MkIII of 1951 was even quicker, resulting in several customer orders. Mk3B then Mk4 models followed, but a proposed Mk5 never got beyond the drawing board, and so we skip to the Mark VI.
To avoid the 60% Purchase Tax on new cars sold in the UK, the Lotus VI would be supplied to customers as a kit of parts in varying states of completeness. Most mechanical components were sourced separately, buyers opted for relatively inexpensive and readily available components from Ford and MG. The Lotus VI is the first Lotus production car, developed by Colin Chapman from his own competition vehicles, around a 25kg space-frame chassis, giving an all-up weight of around 435kg – surely the origins of Chapman’s much-quoted tenet: ‘simplify and add lightness.’ The VI really launched Lotus Cars as a manufacturer of competitive customer racing cars, as they became frequent winners on Britain’s racetracks, regularly beating rivals that were both more powerful, more expensive, or both. With this success as the foundation of his new company, Chapman never looked back.
Well documented online, this Lotus Six replica was built around 10 years ago by Haydn Earl of TheClassicEra. Built to competition specification on a bespoke tubular steel chassis with a welded in roll hoop, the bodywork comprises a fibreglass nose cone, bonnet, scuttle, rear wings and bootlid, the remaining bodywork being constructed of aluminium.
The Six is fitted with a highly modified dry sump 1240cc Ford 100e built by Paul at PRP Autos Engineering. The engine has a lightened/wedged standard crank with big ends (cross drilled), Phoenix Engineering conrods, modified 998cc A+ pistons (slipper type), steel centre main cap, CP75 191 camshaft, ported block with 3-angle valve seats, head skimmed and modified for high flow, a dry sump oil system and aluminium flywheel. Power is distributed via a Ford E93a gearbox. Ford sidevalve axles are fitted front and rear, the front modified to provide camber adjustment, and the rear on a multi-link setup. Suspension is catered for by coilovers all round, with modified 15" Ford pop wheels on each corner, shod with Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres. Stopping is taken care of by a twin leading shoe brake conversion all round with dual circuit hydraulics, meanwhile a steering rack conversion (with quick release wheel) improves handling.
A mostly completed project, the engine is a fresh build that has never been run in, and needs to be mounted into the engine bay correctly, also a propshaft needs to be made. Not as yet road registered as the car was built predominantly for historic track and hillclimb use, as is an enticing proposition for the budding historic racer.
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Free Registration
13.2% inc VAT*
