1961 Ford Thames Replica Lotus Cars Ltd Van

• Replica of Lotus Cars' Ford Zephyr six-engined Ford Thames Van
• Painstakingly built in the Netherlands with no expense spared
• Converted from left- to right-hand drive
• Present enthusiast ownership since 2012

This remarkable triumph of enthusiastic restoration depicts one of the medium-capacity Thames vans deployed by the emergent Lotus company to transport components during the 1960s. Lotus had used two types of Thames van, one for delivering Lotus Elan and Elite kits to customers by towed-trailer, while the other for racing team use was equipped with a 2½-litre Ford Zephyr six-cylinder engine necessary to tow at sustained high speeds on European motorways. Olav Glasius liked the idea of reproducing such a vehicle as part of his Lotus Collection, and managed to acquire a suitable vehicle, formerly used by a local fire brigade, from a catering company in a town in central Holland.

The Thames was still in 'fire brigade red' with a flashing blue light on the roof. The van was fully stripped and an inside and out bare-metal re-spray undertaken. The engine bay was enlarged to accommodate the acquired Army Surplus 2.5-litre Ford Zephyr engine, and with help from the British 400E club quantities of new parts were sourced, including a new laminated windscreen from Sweden. Every part was renewed or overhauled, and the steering and pedals moved from left- to right-hand-drive, while the signwriting in Lotus yellow was applied in period style, by hand. While the original petrol-engined Thames vans featured vacuum-driven windscreen wipers which, by common consent, were 'utterly useless', the diesel model was equipped with electric wipers. This type was adopted for use on the Glasius Collection 'tribute' van, as now offered here.

When Olav Glasius raced his Team Elite Type 14 at the Goodwood Revival, this Lotus-liveried Ford Thames van accompanied it as a service vehicle-cum-paddock tender. It was widely admired then and still is wherever it appears. For the Lotus collector who wants everything, this superb vehicle is a 'must have'. It certainly is a lovely thing, and fun too.

All the aforementioned work was carried out in the Netherlands and it turned out to be an enormous project, pursued with unswerving determination 'purely for fun'. In total the rebuild cost in excess of £50,000 – a labour of love indeed. Only around 800 miles had been covered since this mammoth restoration when the Thames van was offered for sale at Bonhams' Goodwood Festival of Speed auction in June 2012 (Lot 257). Purchased there by our vendor, an active enthusiast who regularly attends shows and rallies, it joined his stable of cars and since acquisition has been well cared for, looked after by an in-house team responsible for day to day maintenance.