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Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Daggie Bekijk Berichten
Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Porker Bekijk BerichtenEvora Cup
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Lotus Cortina Mk I met een interessante geschiedenis.
Classic Driver
The earliest, lowest mileage and most infamous Lotus Cortina of all time....."The Great Train Robbery getaway car"
An incredible 3,963 miles from new!
The Lotus Cortina is a car that attracts a passionate following. Born as a Group 2 homologation car, Colin Chapman fitted the 1558cc engine born from the tuning work of Cosworth on the twin cam Ford Kent engine to the Cortina body as part of the Ford push into motorsport.
Matched to the close ratio gearbox from the Lotus Elan and with drastically altered rear suspension as well as lightweight alloy panels, it was am immediate sensation.
This is a truly historic example. The fifteenth car off the production line, it is the eariiest surviving example, and also has the lowest mileage. It was purchased new by Bruce Reynolds of the Great Train Robbery fame as the getaway car from the scene of the robbery to the hideout.
He used the car to develop and finalise the 27 mile route across twisty B roads, using the legendary capabilities of the Cortina to the full. Shadowed by Roy James driving a Mini Cooper S, he must have quickly realised he had the perfect getaway car.
The final trip was to the lookout point for the train, and being acutely aware that the tyre tracks could be matched to the car, he decided to book it in with John Willment, of GT 40 fame, at his Ford ‘Total Performance Centre’ for uprated tyres to be fitted. He aimed to collect it after the robbery, which took place of the 8th August 1963.
Of course, this never happened, and the Police located and impounded the car. The story, told by Bruce Reynolds was fully documented in a feature on him and the car is in the December 1997 issue of Classic Cars magazine.
Fast forward to 4th February 1969, to “The Great Train Robbery Special Auction”, held by British Car Auctions at Measham, and the original certificate within the history file confirms that Lot 128 was the Lotus Cortina BMK 723 A, offered along with the furniture and effects of Bruce Reynolds.
It was acquired by an enthusiast who kept the car in a private collection, unused – and it even retained the original tyres from 1963.
This owner decided to sell the car, and it was offered by Linden Alcock & Co at the Collectors car specialist auction at the Park Hall Ballroom, Wormelow, Hereford, on Tuesday 22nd April 1980, Lot Number 71 – the original catalogue and a follow up letter still within the history file.
Colin Chapman always knew of this car, and was very keen to own it and telephoned Linden Alcock from his Hereford office and arranged for an agent to attend the sale and acquire the car for the sum of £4,500 – a huge sum at the time when compared to the value of an Aston Martin DB4 GT or Ferrari 275 GTB/4. It was then displayed at the Lotus factory, until being sold in 1998 – still wearing its original tyres that are still fitted today.
The car was acquired for a world record price at the time in excess of £30,000 – the same figure was paid at the same auction for a Porsche 3 litre RSR! Although there was speculation it had returned to a member of the Great Train Robbery gang, it was in fact acquired by one of the world’s foremost Lotus Cortina experts, to add to his growing collection.
Since acquisition, it has featured in many press articles and TV appearances, and offers a truly unique opportunity to own piece of motoring history, both as a rare early example but also for its place in one of the most interesting and famous episodes of British social history.
The most infamous Lotus Cortina of all.
The lowest mileage Lotus Cortina of all.
Probably the earliest surviving example.
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Lotus Eleven, op de 6 hours of Spa een paar exemplaren irl gezien...simpelweg prachtig in al z'n eenvoud
En omdat de originele XI behoorlijk duur zijn, zijn er kitcar-versies van Westfield: http://www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/XI.html
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Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Daggie Bekijk Berichten
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Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Porker Bekijk Berichten
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Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door quadrifoglio Bekijk BerichtenDat kan best wel leuk worden...
S2 Exige S Sprint
Maar wel zalige wagens om over zo'n baantjes mee te scheuren!
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Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Koentjes007 Bekijk BerichtenIk vind de kleurencombo niet zo geslaagd iig
De kleurcombinatie staat wel enorm knap op een Elan
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