1955 LOTUS X BRISTOL

Lot 31
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Estimation :
320000 - 380000 EUR
1955 LOTUS X BRISTOL
French registration title Chassis n°88 Rare elegance, sublime finish Perfectly documented track record Noble and powerful Bristol engine Lotus design Ideal for Goodwood! After having made his debut by building trial specials on the basis of Austin Sven, Colin Chapman creates Lotus Engineering Company Limited and markets his first production car: the Mk VI, which will be produced in a little more than 100 units. The adventure, and the success, are on the way. In 1954, Chapman started building a racing car, the Mk VIII, with an MG engine, followed by the Mk IX, with a Coventry-Climax engine. And if the Lotus Eleven is also passed to the posterity, with a very fleshed out prize list, few people remember the Mk X or Lotus Ten... However, this special order which will give birth to four other cars, is a clever mixture of what is done best at the time to run in 2 litre class, a “big displacement” at Lotus! Typical Lotus tubular chassis, wheels with Rudge hubs, Salisbury axle, disc brakes on all four wheels and – last but not least – an OHV 6-cylinder engine from the Bristol aircraft manufacturer. In fact an “unlicensed” derivative of the very successful pre-war BMW 328. Chapman opted for an engine specially developed for competition, called BS Series, with increased compression ratio and specific camshafts, developing no less than 145 HP. One of the five cars will be equipped with a Connaught F2 engine. With a finished package that weighs only 560kg dry on the scale, this is very promising. All five of these cars have raced and survived. “JBW 648” (the historical registration of our car) was ordered new by a true gentleman driver by the name of Peter Scott-Russell (PSR for his friends). At the wheel of this car, the man who made a name for himself with a Bentley 4.5L and a Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica, was to scour the English club races. Oulton Park, Aintree, Crystal Palace, Snetterton, Castle Combe, Silverstone or Goodwood: we often find this beautiful crew in front of Lister, Aston Martin or Jaguar cars, which are much more accomplished and performing. It was at the wheel of a JBW 648 that he suffered a serious accident at Silverstone in May 1956, putting an end to his career. He would console himself, once he had recovered, by becoming one of the most prolific Grand Prix commentators, officiating until the early 1980s. The man who was nicknamed “The Voice of Silverstone” passed away in 2007, but his car survived him. The Lotus X Chassis 88 emerged at the beginning of the 1970s in historic races in England, before crossing the English Channel in the hands of Bernard Pigelet, a motorist of the first hour and a lifelong friend of Jacques Potherat. It then made a tour in Italy, before returning to France a few years ago. This is a rare opportunity to acquire an authentic race car with a proven track record, eligible for historic competitions, notably at Goodwood. An unbeatable price/pleasure ratio to compete with Jaguar Type C and other Lister Knobbly... 
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