A superb and rare photo of the magnificent Graham Hill with his Lotus Formula One factory racing car,
photographed during F1 Grand Prix practice
in 1967.
The Lotus
car firm was formed as Lotus
Engineering Ltd. by engineer Colin
Chapman, a graduate of University
College, London, in 1952. The first
factory was in old stables behind the Railway Hotel in Hornsey. Team Lotus,
which was split off from Lotus Engineering in 1954, was active and competitive
in Formula One racing from 1958 to 1994. The Lotus Group of Companies was
formed in 1959. This was made up of Lotus Cars Limited and Lotus Components
Limited which focussed on road car and customer competition car production respectively.
Lotus Components Limited became Lotus Racing Limited in 1971 but the newly
renamed entity ceased operation in the same year. The company moved to a
purpose built factory at Cheshunt in 1959 and
since 1966 the company has occupied a modern factory and road test facility at
Hethel, near Wymondham. This site is the former RAF Hethel base and the test
track uses sections of the old runway. Lotus built tens of thousands of
successful racing and road cars and won the Formula One World Championship
seven times. The company also acts as an engineering consultancy, providing
engineering development—particularly of suspension—for other car manufacturers.
The company encouraged its customers to race its cars,
and itself entered Formula One as a team in 1958. A Lotus Formula One
car driven by Stirling Moss won the marque's first Grand Prix in 1960 at Monaco
in a Lotus 18 entered by privateer Rob Walker. Major success came in 1963 with
the Lotus 25, which—with Jim Clark driving—won Lotus its first F1 World Constructors
Championship. Clark's untimely death — he
crashed a Formula Two Lotus 48
in April 1968 after his rear tyre failed in a turn in
Hockenheim — was a severe blow to the team and to Formula One. He was the
dominant driver in the dominant car and remains an inseparable part of Lotus'
early years. That year's championship was won by Clark's
teammate, Graham Hill. Lotus is credited with making the mid-engined layout
popular for Indycars, developing the first monocoque Formula 1 chassis, and the
integration of the engine and transaxle as chassis components. Lotus was also
among the pioneers in Formula 1
in adding wings and shaping the undersurface of the car
to create downforce, as well as the first to move radiators to the sides in the
car to aid in aerodynamic performance, and inventing active suspension. Even
after Chapman's death, until the late 1980s, Lotus continued to be a major
player in Formula 1. Ayrton Senna drove for the team from 1985 to 1987, winning
twice in each year and achieving 17 pole positions. However, by the company's
last Formula 1 race in 1994, the cars were no longer competitive. Lotus won a
total of 79 Grand Prix races. During his lifetime Chapman saw Lotus beat
Ferrari as the first team to achieve 50 Grand Prix victories, despite Ferrari
having won their first nine years sooner. Lotus won the Formula One world
championship title for drivers and manufacturers no less then 6 times. In 1963
(Jim Clark); 1965 (Jim Clark); 1968 (Graham Hill); 1970 (Jochen Rindt); 1972
(Emerson Fittipaldi); 1973 (manufacturers title alone) and in 1978 (Mario
Andretti).
This is a very nice and very rare photo that reflects a wonderful era of
Lotus ‘ automotive history in a wonderful way.
This is your rare chance to own this photo, therefore it is printed
in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 10” (ca. 20 x 26 cm). It makes it perfectly suitable for framing.
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you
buy. For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on
photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright
expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our
archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well
protected in PVC clear files and board backed
envelopes.
We have
photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the
original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and
excellent quality.
After many decades
of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our
archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They
will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a
border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace,
restaurant, bar or club!
First come -
first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any
questions before the auction ends.