Lotus racing car books - history and models

Lotus 18 : Colin Chapman's U-Turn

Colin Chapman's earlier attempts at building a Formula 1 car had failed due to structural issues caused by extreme lightness. In 1960, he decided to rethink his approach and design a more reliable car.
The result was the Lotus 18, a rear-engine car that set new performance standards. It was driven by top drivers of the time, including Innes Ireland, Jim Clark, and John Surtees. However, it was Stirling Moss who brought the Lotus 18 fame, winning four Grands Prix, including impressive victories over Ferrari at Monaco and the Nürburgring in 1961.

This book covers the history of the Lotus 18 over its seven-year competition career, with season-by-season summaries. It also includes detailed appendices detailing the individual histories of the 28 chassis that were built.

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Lotus 18 : The Autobiography of Stirling Moss's '912' (Great Cars)

This book tells the story of the Lotus 18, the car in which Stirling Moss secured two of his most famous Grand Prix wins. Moss won the 1961 Monaco Grand Prix in this car, despite strong competition from Ferrari's "shark-nose" models. Later that season, Moss achieved another victory at the Nürburgring, marking his final Formula 1 World Championship win.

The book details the car's entire 1961 season and its later use, supported by a collection of period photographs. Moss's memories of the Monaco Grand Prix, where his car famously raced with its side panels removed, provide personal insight into this legendary race.

Additional coverage includes:
- The car's seven other Formula 1 races during the 1961 season, with a focus on Moss's German Grand Prix win.
- Moss's victory at the 1961 Modena Grand Prix.
- Rob Walker Racing, the most successful privateer team in F1, including insights from mechanic Tony Cleverly.
- The car's later years with the Scuderia SSS Repubblica di Venezia team in 1962 and its involvement in non-championship races.
- The car's later life in Tom Wheatcroft's Donington Collection.
Nearly 300 period images, many unpublished, complete the story.

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Lotus 72 : 1970-75

This book, the first in Evro's Formula 1 Greats series, explores the legendary Lotus 72. Introduced in 1970, this wedge-shaped car raced for six seasons, winning 20 World Championship Grands Prix. It secured two Drivers' titles (Jochen Rindt in 1970 and Emerson Fittipaldi in 1972) and three Constructors' titles (1970, 1972, 1973).

Initially, the Lotus 72 raced in the striking red, white, and gold colors before adopting the iconic black and gold John Player Special livery.

Formula 1 journalist Pete Lyons, who covered part of the Lotus 72 era for "Autosport", provides expert commentary on the car's race-by-race career. His analysis is complemented by over 300 stunning photographs.

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Lotus 79 Manual (1977 onwards) - An insight into the design, engineering and operation

The Lotus 79, featuring the iconic black and gold JPS sponsorship livery, was the first Formula 1 car to fully utilize ground-effect aerodynamics. Designed by Colin Chapman and his team, the Lotus 79 dominated the 1978 World Championship, helping Mario Andretti win his only F1 World Championship title.

Andretti and his teammate Ronnie Peterson proved nearly unbeatable, securing four 1-2 finishes during the season. Over its career, the Lotus 79 won 7 races, earned 10 pole positions, and secured the last drivers' and constructors' championships for Lotus.

This manual includes insights from the engineers and drivers involved in the car's success, including Peter Wright and Martin Ogilvie. It features numerous contemporary photos and detailed images of the Lotus 79 in the workshop today, offering a fascinating look at this iconic F1 car.

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