THAT EARLY LOTUS TRANSPORTER
FURTHER to my letter in the February issue about the mystery Lotus transporters, here is a photo I found on the internet of the really early Team Lotus transporter - there are two others in existence, but the other two are both almost from the same rear three-quarters angle, so no photo shows the front cab portion, and I've never seen any reference to it, in all the books on Lotus history so no idea what chassis was used for the base vehicle. This photo was taken at Silverstone and the other two are in the old outside paddock on the slope at Brands Hatch, by the petrol pumps near the tunnel, if you know that layout. Jim Clark is in the photo together with Alan Stacey (I think, from memory) and they are loading or unloading a Lotus 18 Formula Junior, about 1960-61. This is the one that I want to try to replicate using the Dinky race horse box, suitably cut-and-shut modified. Photos of the "Team Lotus racing with Ford of Britain" Lotus Cortina transporters are much easier to find online, so I'm sure you've got plenty of source reference material for your project. So far on mine, I've used about a ton of modelling putty to fill in the roofline and spent several hours sanding it back! It looks quite good. I measured it up as much as possible before I commenced work, to compare it as best as possible to the real thing (without any actual dimensions of course). I reckon the Matchbox model is a bit short but not by much, so I did have thoughts of cutting two up to make a longer one, but the difference was so small, I decide it was probably over ambitious and will leave the wheel base as is. The hardest part now is to get the graphics done - I'll have to make friends with the geniuses at my local print shop!
Andrew Beint, email
ED Ah, right, now I can picture it. That is one ambitious project for sure – very best of luck with that. I’ve done some more searching, but I can’t come up with anything, not even the photo that you’ve found! There must be someone amongst our readers that can help here, hopefully! They’re a very resourceful and super-talented bunch.