Mark Osborne
Global Director of Motorsport
LOT 19
1956 Lotus Eleven Le Mans Chassis no. 220
Sold for US$117,600 inc. premium
Lot 19
1956 Lotus Eleven Le Mans
1956 Lotus Eleven Le Mans
Chassis no. 220
Chassis no. 220
1460cc Coventry Climax FWB OHV Inline Four-Cylinder Engine
Twin Carburetors
Approximately 140bhp and 120 lb-ft of Torque
Close-Ratio Manual "Dog Box" Transmission
Independent Front Suspension
De Dion Rear Suspension
Four-Wheel Disc Brakes
* One of approximately 150 Series 1 Lotus Elevens built
* Delivered new to the United States in Le Mans specification
* Retains original chassis and aluminum bodywork
* Successfully campaigned in premier historic racing events, including six Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunions
* Freshly rebuilt Coventry Climax engine by Marcovicci-Wenz Engineering
* Race ready with HMSA and VSCCA logbooks and Historic Technical Passport
THE CAR OFFERED
According to Graham Capel's authoritative reference work, Lotus – The Historic Years 1956–58, chassis number 220 was delivered new to the United States in the highly desirable Le Mans specification—precisely the configuration in which it is presented today. One of approximately 270 Lotus Elevens produced in total—and only around 150 early Series 1 examples—this car represents an increasingly rare opportunity to acquire a genuine, correctly configured example retaining its original chassis and bodywork.
Though little is known of the car's earliest competition history, many Lotus Elevens delivered to America in period were sold through importer Jay Chamberlain and actively campaigned in SCCA and regional racing events. Importantly, chassis 220 is believed never to have left the United States.
The documented history of the car resumes in the mid-1980s when it was acquired by Jim Ellis of Cincinnati, Ohio. Ellis undertook a restoration completed in 1988 and notably reported that the car required very little repair to either its frame or aluminum body—an important testament to the preservation of its original structure. In 1991, the Eleven was displayed at the prestigious Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance, where it earned a First in Class award.
Subsequent ownership passed to Morris Gardner of Pittsburgh, Pensylvania, who reportedly stored the car for approximately a decade before it was acquired by Vince Irwin of New York. Irwin returned chassis 220 to active competition, where it quickly demonstrated the dynamic brilliance for which the Eleven has long been celebrated. Among its notable achievements was an overall victory at the Rolex Lime Rock Vintage Festival in 2003.
Over the following years, chassis 220 became a respected and familiar presence within the East Coast historic-racing community. The car participated in numerous premier vintage motorsport events, including the celebrated 50th Anniversary Lotus Eleven Reunion held during the Sebring 12 Hours weekend in 2006. In 2008, it achieved an impressive fourth overall at the Rolex Historic Festival at Lime Rock Park.
Acquired by noted collector and enthusiast Mitch McCullough in Monterey in 2008, chassis 220 has since continued an active and highly visible competition career. Under current ownership, the Lotus has been campaigned at 27 vintage-racing events, including six appearances at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Additional outings have included the Lime Rock Historic Festival, the Thompson Vintage Motorsports Festival, and numerous respected East Coast events.
Mechanically, the Eleven is fitted with the desirable Coventry Climax FWB engine, the larger and more powerful of the two principal powerplants offered in period. Displacing 1460cc, the lightweight overhead-valve four-cylinder has recently benefited from a comprehensive rebuild by specialists Marcovicci-Wenz Engineering of Ronkonkoma, New York. Dyno sheets accompanying the sale indicate output in excess of 140 horsepower and 120 pound-feet of torque—figures that provide exhilarating performance in a car weighing barely over 1,000 pounds.
Importantly, the engine has seen only a single race weekend since completion of the rebuild, most recently demonstrating impressive strength and reliability at the 2025 Thompson Vintage Motorsports Festival. Extensive service documentation accompanies the car, attesting to careful and knowledgeable maintenance throughout its recent history.
Cosmetically, the Lotus presents well following a cosmetic restoration completed in 2017. The elegant Sherwood Green finish compliments the Eleven's aerodynamic lines and recalls the subtle sophistication associated with Team Lotus competition machinery of the period. The car further benefits from the highly desirable full tonneau and streamlined cockpit configuration, while the red interior provides a striking sporting contrast.
Today, chassis 220 represents precisely the sort of Lotus Eleven sought by knowledgeable collectors and historic racers: an authentic, correctly configured Le Mans model retaining its original body and chassis, with proven eligibility for premier international vintage-racing events. Accompanied by current HMSA and VSCCA logbooks, as well as a current Historic Technical Passport, it is prepared and eligible for immediate participation in the world's leading historic motorsport gatherings.
Combining solid provenance, exceptional preservation, active event history, and thrilling on-track potential, Lotus Eleven chassis 220 stands as a superb example of one of Colin Chapman's greatest creations and a defining chapter in the evolution of lightweight sports-racing design. This Lotus Eleven remains every bit as compelling today as it did nearly seventy years ago at its debut.
Footnotes
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