LOT 107
1969 Lotus Type 59 Formula 3 Racing Single-Seater Chassis no. 59/F3/28
Sold for £63,250 inc. premium
Lot 107
1969 Lotus Type 59 Formula 3 Racing Single-Seater Chassis no. 59/F3/28
1969 Lotus Type 59 Formula 3 Racing Single-Seater
Chassis no. 59/F3/28
Chassis no. 59/F3/28
*Original Gold Leaf Team Lotus car
*Race winning car in period with Bev Bond
*Used in the movie "Rush"
*Eligible for Historic F3 and Goodwood Members Meeting
*Race winning car in period with Bev Bond
*Used in the movie "Rush"
*Eligible for Historic F3 and Goodwood Members Meeting
Footnotes
The magnificent Lotus marque's 1969 minor-Formulae 'Car of the Year' was the twin-nostril Lotus Type 59, such as this most attractive example. The design doubled as both Formula 2 and Formula 3 armament for some of the top drivers in both categories.
The Lotus Type 59 made its debut as a Formula 3 car at the Brands Hatch Boxing Day meeting of December 26, 1968. It was based upon a simple yet sophisticated square-tube spaceframe chassis designed by engineer Dave Baldwin of Lotus Components Ltd. Front suspension was by upper and lower wishbones with outboard coil-spring/damper units interposed, while at the rear a conventional system featured reversed lower wishbones, single top links and twin radius rods on each side – again with outboard coil-spring/damper units.
Special cast-magnesium rear uprights were used while the familiar old modified Triumph Herald components reappeared at the front. Cast-magnesium spoked wheels were retained by centre-lock fixings, and while the front disc brakes were buried conventionally within the wheels, the rear discs were mounted in direct airflow just inboard of the hubs. The entire oil system, including the tank, pump, cooler and catch-tank, were mounted on the Hewland gearbox, and in initial form power was provided by a Holbay-Ford R68 down-draught carbureted engine. In Formula 3 trim – as here – the car was contemporarily right on the 400kg minimum weight limit (c. 881lbs).
In Formula 3, Gold Leaf Team Lotus ran Holbay-powered Type 59s for Roy Pike and Morris Nunn, while Lotus Components arranged deals with a bevy of leading drivers to campaign sister cars. This maximized feedback of set-up information aiding development, and the cars became extremely successful later in the year. For the first time here was a Lotus customer car which was really forgiving, manoeuverable and easy to handle, and such tolerant behaviour allowed its drivers to take some tremendous liberties in relative security.
The Swedish driver Freddy Kottulinsky scored the Type 59's first big win, at Brno, Czechoslovakia that June. Pike and Nunn scored a Gold Leaf 1-2 at Mallory Park in July, and that same race saw Brazilian newcomer Emerson Fittipaldi make his debut in an F3 Lotus 59, finishing fifth. Emerson went on to win three of nine races in his F3 Lotus 59 and in his second race at Brands Hatch he finished second behind Bev Bond's Brabham. His first win followed at Mallory Park and eight more late-season wins saw him clinch the Lombank Formula 3 Championship after just a half-year.
Such success persuaded Bev Bond to swap from Brabham to Lotus, and the Type 59 offered here was his car after he secured a third team place in the works Gold Leaf 59s in September 1969. He closed the 1969 season with three 2nd places and one 3rd with Lotus. This particular Lotus 59 began life as one of four Formula 3 Gold Leaf Team Lotus machines raced in period by Bev Bond and Dave Walker, with some of the team cars being loaned in addition to future Formula 1 greats, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson and James Hunt.
Bev Bond had further success with this car, then in uprated 59A specification, winning the 1970 prestigious British Empire Trophy at Oulton Park, having fought from the back of the grid to snatch the lead from future Formula 1 world champion James Hunt on the final lap, and indeed final corner, of the race. In the cars history file is a copy of a telegram sent by Colin Chapman after that race congratulating Bond on his win. In the 1970 Formula 3 season Bond gained a further two wins, three second places and four third places, as well as numerous pole positions and finishes in the top ten.
At the end of the 1-Litre "screamer" era, the car was updated to Lotus 69 specification and allocated the chassis number 69/43/46. In the early 70s the car was owned by a Tony Whiteley of Pontefract, and then a Mr G Pybus. It was purchased from Mr Pybus in barn find condition by hillclimb racer, Ken Snailham in 1983, who then sold it to a James Wigmore in 1985. Mr Wigmore had the car restored to original 59 specification early in his ownership.
This car has been owned by the vendor for ten years, and was reunited with Bev Bond in 2010 at the Oulton Park Gold Cup, where Bond recognized it as his old car due to a repair completed to the chassis in period. In 2012 it achieved a win at Dijon Prenois in the Historic F3 race there, as well as a podium at Paul Ricard.
The car also featured in the 2013 Ron Howard movie 'Rush', portraying James Hunt's F3 car on-screen, for which role its body panels were plasti-dipped green, before being subsequently re-liveried in its original works GLTL colours as offered here. The car is equipped with a 997cc Cosworth MAE 4-cylinder 'screamer' engine, driving through a Hewland gearbox. It is accompanied by a documentation file including period photographs, race results from more recent races and expired FIA paperwork. New FIA papers will be applied for after the sale at the vendors expense.
The spartan cockpit features three dash-mounted gauges along with a set of TRS harnesses and other safety equipment. Prudent reconditioning work will be needed before the car is returned to serious high-speed competition. We certainly recommend interested collectors and users to give it the closest consideration.
Saleroom notices
Please note the chassis number could not be located.
Additional information
Looking for a similar item?
Our Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistSpecialist section
Motor Cars (Europe)
Client Services (UK)
Shipping (UK)
Auction Viewings
- 6 April 2019, 09:00 - 17:30 BST
- 7 April 2019, 09:00 - 13:00 BST
Bid now on these items
United Kingdom
1899 Phébus 2¼hp Motor Tricycle
£50,000 - £60,000
United KingdomOffered without reserve
1910 Brasier 12/18HP 12C Tourer
£40,000 - £60,000
United Kingdom
1911 Delaunay-Belleville 26HP Tourer
£70,000 - £100,000
United Kingdom
1913 Hotchkiss Model AD 20/30 Tourer
£50,000 - £60,000
United Kingdom
1902 Beaufort 8hp Two-Seater Phaeton
£50,000 - £70,000
United KingdomOffered without reserve
c.1901 Gladiator Four-Seat Rear-Entrance Tonneau
£50,000 - £70,000
