E-TYPE UK SERIES 1 RESTORATION WINS BEST IN CLASS AT WARREN CLASSIC

E-TYPE UK SERIES 1 RESTORATION WINS BEST IN CLASS AT WARREN CLASSIC

Leading restoration specialist E-Type UK showcased its recently restored and highly original Jaguar E-Type Series 1 at the Warren Classic Concours in North Maldon, Essex, where the period accuracy and incredible attention to detail impressed the Concours judges who awarded it the coveted Best in Class award in the Jaguar class.

The prestigious show, held in the glorious grounds of The Warren Estate, attracts an incredible array of classic and modern automobiles. E-Type UK’s original UK delivered right-hand drive flat-floor, external bonnet latch Series 1 E-Type was an instant hit among the crowds, and the astonishing detail of the build attracted the attention of visitors throughout the weekend.

In order to keep the world-famous British sports car entirely accurate and to period specification, many of the original parts were recommissioned and refitted. When it arrived at the E-Type UK facility, the 54th E-Type to have rolled off the production line had been resprayed in British Racing Green with a beige interior – far from how the car would have looked when it sat on the Coventry factory floor. The in-house body shop team completely stripped down the body and repainted it to its original Imperial Maroon finish.

The team went to incredible lengths to restore this Jaguar to the exact specification it was when it left the factory. The interior was taken from beige back to its flamboyant factory maroon – with a hand-built black hood to cover it. Where possible, each nut, bolt, cable and switch was disassembled, cleaned and returned to the condition it was in in 1961. From original spot weld patterns to an exacting interior trim pattern, every single detail was considered.

Last month, the car was also displayed in the Members Enclosure at the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace. As one of the most prestigious Concours events in the country, it welcomed rare and stunning classics from every corner of the globe. This prestigious Best in Class win at the Warren Classic Concours is a fitting accolade for this exceptional restoration and a true indicator of the superb work of the E-Type UK team.

Founder Marcus Holland commented “We’ve had an exceptionally busy Concours season that has seen E-Type UK and sister company DM Historics restorations shown at several world-class Concours including Pebble Beach, and to finish our Concours season with this Best in Class win further demonstrates the exceptional talent of our restoration team.

E-Type UK Chassis 54

FINDING THE VERY FIRST HELP LOCATE THE LOTUS MARK I

FINDING THE VERY FIRST 

HELP LOCATE THE LOTUS MARK I

Hazel Chapman in the Lotus Mark I. Copyright the Colin Chapman Foundation

• The campaign to find founder Colin Chapman’s first car
• Lotus Mark, I built in London in 1948
• Whereabouts unknown for over 60 years
• The inception of Lotus’ performance-orientated approach
• Search marks 70 years since Chapman’s founding principles

Calling on enthusiasts, collectors and car hunters worldwide, Lotus needs your help in tracking down the long-lost Lotus Mark I, the first car built by company founder Colin Chapman

As the British marque continues its 70th celebrations, it wants fans from around the world to pick up the trail of the most elusive Lotus ever – the competition car that the young engineer hand-built in a small London garage owned by his then girlfriend’s parents. Overcoming the standard car’s limitation Chapman applied innovative approaches to improve its performance in challenging trials competitions.

Despite its existence being well documented, the current whereabouts of the Mark I remain a mystery. Built by Chapman, with the help of friends and his girlfriend (who later became his wife), Hazel, he entered a number of events in 1948 with immediate success. However, Colin was constantly innovating, and was soon hard at work on the Mark II. The first car was sold in November 1950 but, from there, the car’s trail goes cold. Despite much research over the years, its whereabouts have never been established.

Joining Lotus in the hunt for the origin of its species is the son of the company’s founder, and director of Classic Team Lotus, Clive Chapman. “The Mark I is the holy grail of Lotus’ history,” explains Clive. “It’s the first time that my father was able to put his theories for improved performance into practice when designing and building a car. To locate this landmark Lotus, as we celebrate the 70th anniversary, would be a monumental achievement. We want fans to take this opportunity to look in every garage, shed, barn and lock up they’re allowed to. It’s even possible that the Mark I was shipped from the UK, and we’d love to know if it survives in another country.”

Caption: Colin Chapman competing in the Lotus Mark I. Copyright the Colin Chapman Foundation

The birth of the Lotus legend

In 1948 Colin Chapman built his first competition car, following his own theories for improved performance. Chapman’s way of thinking and his principles remain as relevant today as they were 70 years ago and his ethos still allows the company to optimise mass and aerodynamics in order to maximise performance and handling.

Covering everything from suspension configuration and layout, making sure that ground clearance was not compromised, improvements included reinforcing the chassis, cladding the body in lightweight bespoke panels and ensuring that components frequently damaged in competition could be quickly reattached. Applying theories learnt from this formal training as an engineer, Colin was already developing the principles that would go on to define Lotus cars of the future. One notable decision was to extend the rear of the car, and include two spare wheels. This allowed for the better allocation of ballast, distributing weight within the car to maximise traction for each event.

In a lock-up borrowed from Hazel’s parents, Colin re-imagined and re-engineered the Austin Seven to create the first Lotus. Built by hand, and with Hazel (his then-girlfriend) helping where needed, he completed the car in the spring of 1948 and immediately entered it in competitive trials. With Hazel in the passenger seat and Colin behind the wheel, they picked up two class awards in the car’s first events.

Originally finished in bare, unpolished alloy, the car was then painted white, before repainted in red. A restless engineer, Chapman was soon working on the next car, the Mark II, designed using the lessons learned from his first and the experience gain through the competitions he’d entered. As a result, an advert placed in Motor Sport magazine, describing an Austin Seven Special four-seater sports-cum-trials car saw the Mark I sold in November 1950. Chapman received £135 for the car, but the only thing now known about the new owner was that they were based in the north of England.

Over the years many enthusiasts have looked for the car, but to no avail. Lotus has previously called on experts to help locate the lost vehicle but, as the company gears up for the highpoint of its anniversary celebrations at the end of September, it’s hoped that a renewed search, on a global scale, will help track down the landmark car

Source:Lotus Cars