- photo c/o chromecars.de

Great Scot! Jim Clark's Last Lotus 49 For Sale!

The chassis Clark drove to his 25th, and last, Grand Prix victory can be yours!

1y ago
22.8K

Lotus 49, Chassis R4, is being offered for sale by ChromeCars: Automotive Archaeologists in Germany. Chassis R4 has the unique distinction of being the last Grand Prix-winning car of the late Jim Clark, who drove it to victory in the 1968 South African Grand Prix.

photo c/o chromecars.de

photo c/o chromecars.de

A brief history on the Lotus 49 from Karun Chandok's Most Iconic Race Car article:

"It was the first rear-engined car to use the engine as a stress member, as an integral part of the infrastructure, something that every race car in the world has done ever since. The Ford Cosworth DFV that started life in 1967 went on to become one of the most successful engines of all time."

photo c/o chromecars.de

photo c/o chromecars.de

Chassis R4, itself, has quite a unique history:

From chromecars.de:

"The Lotus with the number 49 R4 was built at the end of 1967 and had its first racing assignment in South Africa on January 1, 1968. British racing legend Jim Clark was at the wheel. He not only started from pole position in this race, he also drove the fastest lap and won the race furiously in the end. For Clark it was the 25th triumph in a Grand Prix race and also his last Grand Prix victory.

After Clark's triumph, the Lotus was sold to the Rob Walker Racing team in January 1968 and was supposed to become the new car of Swiss driver Jo Siffert. Its first race was for the 17th Planned March 1968, at the Race of Champions in Brands Hatch. "

Siffert would crash the 49 in pre-race practice. Ironically, he would win the 1968 British GP at Brands Hatch a few months later. This time in a Lotus 49B:

From chromecars.de:

"[After the 1968 Race of Champions] The R4 was then returned to Rob Walker in the Pippbrook garage in Dorking to rebuild the car there. Unfortunately, the car caught fire during welding, which then spread throughout the workshop. In addition to the Lotus 49, a Cooper-Maserati, a Bugatti, a Delage and two new Cosworth engines burned that day. After the fire, the rather short history of the Lotus 49 R4 ended for now ...

[After a crash at the 1999 Goodwood Revival]...the R4 had to be built up again. This time, however, the car was then painted in its original 1968 colors: green and yellow. From then on, the Lotus 49 was shown in various museums and exhibitions within Europe - always in connection with the Classic Team Lotus. "

Truly, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity: To own a car that not only pioneered the future of F1 design, but has its own esteemed racing pedigree.

For a chance to own a piece of motor racing history, visit: www.chromecars.de/showroom/1967-lotus-49-r4-234/

Feel free to post or comment below!

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Comments (5)

  • Do they take kidneys as payment?! 😂😍

      1 year ago
  • So the chasis was crashed and then burned but it's still the same chasis?

      1 year ago
    • Sorry, I wasn’t sure if the post would get too wordy with the additional information. Here’s some more info on what took place between Brands Hatch and the car’s current state, again from chromecars.de:

      “In July 1987, racing team owner...

      Read more
        1 year ago
    • Thank you very much. What an unlucky car.

        1 year ago
  • Such a truly beautiful car. No wings, foils, diffusers, pods, skirts or any other gimmicks attached. The car, wheels engine gearbox, basics beautifully and effectively assembled. The right colours, what more can a real enthusiast want. And to boot that was one of my "home" races that I was privileged to attend. Great car and the next best driver ever outside of Senna.

      1 year ago
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