Lotus 23
Encyclopedia
The Lotus 23 was designed by Colin Chapman
as a small-displacement sports racing car. Nominally a two-seater (to comply with formula rules), it was a purpose-built for racing with a driver alone. The 23 used a wider version of the Lotus 20
space frame
, with the same suspension, clothed in a fibreglass body. Originally intended for engines of 750 cc to 1300 cc (45-80ci), the revised 23B had stronger chassis tubes to take the torque of Ford-based 1.5/1.6 litre Lotus Twincam power plants.
in May, 1962. The tiny 100 bhp Lotus 23 shot away from the field of Porsche
s, Aston Martin
s and Ferrari
s with Jim Clark
at the wheel. Even though some cars had four times the power of the Lotus, after the first lap, in the wet, Clark was 27 seconds ahead of Dan Gurney
's Porsche. Extending his lead on each lap until the track dried, Clark was overcome by exhaust fumes from a damaged exhaust manifold on lap 12 and crashed out.
, a 750 cc and a one liter (45ci & 61ci). Due to political pressure brought to bear by French teams, the 23s were disallowed on technical grounds related to their wobbly-web wheel
s. A furious Chapman vowed, "We will never race again at Le Mans!" - and Team Lotus
has not entered cars till 1997, when Lotus raced one Elise GT1 in the french event.
In spite of these early problems, the Lotus 23 proved a competitive, durable, and popular race car. Over 130 were produced in three versions: the standard 23, 23B, 23C. Today these cars are a mainstay of vintage racing in Europe and the United States.
There are several sources of replicas of Lotus 23 cars.
project, Lee Noble
created a Lotus 23 replica with a wider track than the original to allow for true two seater use. It proved very successful in racing, with over 60 cars produced using either Lotus twincam or Renault
V6 engines. Noble's version continued in production, first by Auriga Design using an Alfa Romeo
engine and transaxle, and now by Mamba Motorsport near Oxford, UK using Ford Duratec Engines.
Colin Chapman
Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman CBE was an influential British designer, inventor, and builder in the automotive industry, and founder of Lotus Cars....
as a small-displacement sports racing car. Nominally a two-seater (to comply with formula rules), it was a purpose-built for racing with a driver alone. The 23 used a wider version of the Lotus 20
Lotus 20
Lotus 20 was a Formula Junior car built by Lotus for the 1962 season as a successor to the Lotus 18.The chassis was a spaceframe, clothed in fibreglass bodywork. It had front double wishbone suspension, but the rear had a lower wishbone with the driveshaft being fixed length and therefore used as...
space frame
Space frame
A space frame or space structure is a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. Space frames can be used to span large areas with few interior supports...
, with the same suspension, clothed in a fibreglass body. Originally intended for engines of 750 cc to 1300 cc (45-80ci), the revised 23B had stronger chassis tubes to take the torque of Ford-based 1.5/1.6 litre Lotus Twincam power plants.
Debut at the Nürburgring
The debut of the 23 was at the NordschleifeNürburgring
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...
in May, 1962. The tiny 100 bhp Lotus 23 shot away from the field of Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
s, Aston Martin
Aston Martin
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...
s and Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
s with Jim Clark
Jim Clark
James "Jim" Clark, Jr OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965....
at the wheel. Even though some cars had four times the power of the Lotus, after the first lap, in the wet, Clark was 27 seconds ahead of Dan Gurney
Dan Gurney
Daniel Sexton Gurney is an American racing driver, race car constructor, and team owner.The son of a Metropolitan Opera star, he was born in Port Jefferson, New York, but moved to California as a teenager...
's Porsche. Extending his lead on each lap until the track dried, Clark was overcome by exhaust fumes from a damaged exhaust manifold on lap 12 and crashed out.
Banned from Le Mans
In June 1962, two 23s were entered at Le Mans1962 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 30th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 23 and 24 1962. It was also the eighth round of the World Sportscar Championship.-Official results:-Did Not Finish:-Statistics:...
, a 750 cc and a one liter (45ci & 61ci). Due to political pressure brought to bear by French teams, the 23s were disallowed on technical grounds related to their wobbly-web wheel
Wobbly-web wheel
The wobbly-web wheel is a form of metal disk wheel where the disk is 'wobbled' into spokes. This provides a stiffer, lightweight wheel.Wobbly-web wheels are best known through their iconic use on Lotus racing cars of the late 1950s and 1960s.- Theory :...
s. A furious Chapman vowed, "We will never race again at Le Mans!" - and Team Lotus
Team Lotus
Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing...
has not entered cars till 1997, when Lotus raced one Elise GT1 in the french event.
In spite of these early problems, the Lotus 23 proved a competitive, durable, and popular race car. Over 130 were produced in three versions: the standard 23, 23B, 23C. Today these cars are a mainstay of vintage racing in Europe and the United States.
Restoration and replication of the Lotus 23
Beginning in the early 1980s a small group of enthusiasts began to make it possible to restore original Lotus 23 by remanufacturing parts. These parts are now easily available. It was at about this time that a Register was established for the Lotus 23. That Register is now part of the Historic Lotus Register of the UK. Enthusiasts for the car can join the Yahoo Group, "L23Registry". Some race organizers and the Historic Motor Sports Association began in 2007 to take steps to restrict race participation by replica cars.There are several sources of replicas of Lotus 23 cars.
Xanthos 23
The Xanthos 23 is the most accurate reproduction of the original car using the same design and materials as the 1960s original. Powered by Lotus twincam, it is still built by Xanthos Sports Cars http://www.XanthosCars.co.uk in the traditional way near Bristol, UK.Noble 23
Following the success of his Ultima GTRUltima GTR
The Ultima GTR is a sports car manufactured by Ultima Sports Ltd of Hinckley, Leicestershire, England, and described by commentators as a supercar. The car is available both in kit form and as a "turnkey" vehicle. The design is mid engined, rear wheel drive layout, with a tubular steel space...
project, Lee Noble
Lee Noble
Lee Noble is a British entrepreneur, car designer and engineer. He is the founder of the sports car companies Noble Automotive Ltd in 1999 and Fenix Automotive in 2009. He is also the designer of some low-volume sports cars, including the Ultima Mk1, Ultima Mk2, Ultima Mk3, Midtec Spyder, and...
created a Lotus 23 replica with a wider track than the original to allow for true two seater use. It proved very successful in racing, with over 60 cars produced using either Lotus twincam or Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
V6 engines. Noble's version continued in production, first by Auriga Design using an Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
engine and transaxle, and now by Mamba Motorsport near Oxford, UK using Ford Duratec Engines.