​1960 Lotus Elite Competition Coupe

Chassis #1182 is an exceptionally special little Elite. It was registered in April 1960, a Moonstone White Type 14 Elite at the time with a stage one Coventry Climax FWE engine.

The car was gifted new to Innes Ireland as a perk of his 1960 Formula One contract with Team Lotus, a season that proved to be successful for him with three podiums in the all new Lotus Type 18.

The car was personally handed over to Ireland by Colin Chapman as is shown in pictures present in the extensive history file. Ireland owned the car for little more than a year, using it strictly as a road car to drive to races and other press events.

In early 1961 the Elite was sold to RAF pilot and amateur driver Tom Threlfall who had previously bought a Lotus Eleven from Ireland. Threlfall was relatively new to the world of racing, having started in an MGA in 1958. The car was originally prepared to stage 3 tune for racing and was later fitted with uprated suspension, a NACA bonnet duct and long range fuel tanks.

Threlfall campaigned 1182 successfully between 1961 and 1963, racing all around Europe. Including podiums at Spa, Brussels, Silverstone, Snetterton, Castle Coombe and Charterhall. In a letter written by Threlfall to a future owner he reminisces about beating three works Porsche’s in order to secure his podium finish at Spa in 1961.

1182 also raced in both the 1962 and 1963 Tourist Trophies at Goodwood against the likes of Graham Hill, Roy Salvadori, John Surtees and Jim Clark. These races were dominated by Ferrari and funnily enough the 1962 race was won by Innes Ireland, racing against his old car in an all new 250 GTO.

At the end of the 1963 season Threlfall retired from racing after getting married. His brother had been tragically killed in a racing accident a few years prior and he stated that he feared the same thing would happen to him and he did not want to upset his new wife. The car was sold in 1964 but did enter further races with the new owner.

Today the car is in outstanding condition after a two year ground up restoration by respected specialist Hawker Racing. It would make an ideal entrant to the ideal entrant for Goodwood Revival or Members Meeting and we’d love to see it return to the historic circuit 60 years later!