c.1962 Lotus 23B Sports-Racer

• Exported new to South Africa in kit form
• 1,600cc Lotus Twin-Cam engine
• Brought back to the UK in the early 1980s
• Present ownership in Portugal since 2007
• Fresh FIA HTP

A small-capacity sports-racer, the Colin Chapman-designed Lotus 23 debuted in 1962 using a widened version of the contemporary Type 20 Formula Junior chassis. The design had originally been intended for engines of up to 1,300cc, but such was its popularity that a 23B version with stronger chassis was introduced to cater for the 1.5/1.6-litre Ford-Lotus Twin-Cam engine. Over 130 of all types were produced and today these versatile little cars are enormously popular in Historic sports car racing worldwide.

The Lotus 23's international debut is the stuff of legend. In May 1962 at the Nürburgring, Jim Clark in a works-entered, Coventry-Climax-engined '23' drove away from a field of much more powerful Ferraris, Porsches and Aston Martins in wet conditions, only to be forced into retirement on lap 12 having been overcome by exhaust fumes. Equally famous is its debut at Le Mans in June '62. Two were entered - a 750cc and 1,000cc - with the intention of challenging for the 'Index of Performance' and 'Index of Thermal Efficiency' awards, traditionally the preserve of French manufacturers. Controversially, both were disallowed on technical grounds, prompting a furious Chapman to vow that Lotus would never race at Le Mans again.

Records held by the Historic Lotus Register show that this car was exported to South Africa as a 'knockdown kit' and built up and raced there before coming back to the UK in the early 1980s. As such, this car does not have a UK-built chassis number but rather a Historic Lotus Register number. It is known within the HLR as an 'Amber' status car, with extensive known history but not an original Lotus-built example (Green being a car that has its original chassis, etc and Red being essentially a replica).

Following its return in the early 1980s the Lotus was raced extensively with Legends Racing before being purchased by the present Portuguese owner from Legends Automotive Ltd in 2007. The vendor is a Lotus enthusiast and has raced the car extensively in Portugal in local events and the Masters series with excellent results, such as two wins at Boavista/Porto. The Lotus was initially serviced by Fabela Motorsports and is now for sale due to a lack of suitable races for this type of car in Portugal. Eligible for Goodwood, Spa 6 Hours, Masters and HSCC, it is offered for sale having been thoroughly inspected by RP Motorsport and comes with fresh FIA HTP.