Lotus Elan IWR GT

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Purchasing classics there

Even the seasoned Lotus enthusiast will be unfamiliar with the Lotus Elan IWR GT from 1965? This is an initiative of entrepreneur and racing team owner Ian Walker who had close ties with Lotus inventor Colin Chapman. Multi-millionaire Walker is partly responsible for the development of the Elan 26R.

In the early sixties he had only one dream, with an Elan the one he devised Index of Thermal Efficiency in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. To bring this adventure to a successful conclusion, on a highly modified Elan chassis was built a rolled coach by aluminum artists Williams & Pritchard previously sketched by Walker. The result, a not bad dark green fastback coupé, became the highlight of the annual London Racing Car Show in 1964.

In May of that year, the Jackie Stewart Scot in the 'Prix de Paris' on the Montlhéry circuit seized fourth place in the general classification and won the class. Swiss glass manufacturer Hermann Huber tried to buy Walker's car right after the finish, but he had other plans. He was politely made clear that the car was not yet for sale.

The 1000 kilometer of the Nürburgring ogled. Unfortunately, due to a defect in the brakes, this special Lotus with Formula 1 driver Mike Spence at the wheel was already briefly driven during training. As a result, Le Mans remained a utopia. The wreck went into the corner and only recovered after the racing season had ended. In the British magazine Autosport of 29 January 1965 an advertisement appeared in which the car was offered for sale. A certain David Goode successfully raced with it until the beginning of 1968. In the meantime, a copy ordered by the aforementioned Huber was almost ready ...

The second and also the last Elan IWR GT had improved considerably on various points compared to the first one. Quite apart from a much stronger one bulkhead, also a anti-roll bar on the rear axle, an oil cooler, a separate brake circuit with assistance, a differential lock and drive shafts with universal joints with Splines instead of the usual Elan donuts. Mind you, it was not a race car, but an ordinary (…) road car with, how wonderful, right-hand drive! At the special request of Huber senior, the bodywork was finished in the so-called French Blue. Harold Radford and his men provided the red leather interior. After the whole thing was done, Chapman drove a respected number of kilometers. After his full agreement, the cart went to Switzerland. When senior passed away, the heirs cleared the collection and so this special Lotus - with only 69.000 kilometers on the counter from new - returned to Great Britain. There the car changed hands several times. The latter brought the car to the auction. The auction house expected to be able to get a price between £ 50.000 and £ 70.000, but it didn't work out…

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