Lotus appeals for help to find its first-ever car
Norfolk-based sports car manufacturer calls on enthusiasts, collectors and car hunters to help track down the long-lost Lotus Mark I
Celebrations for sports car maker Lotus’ 70th anniversary continue, and to help the festivities on their way the brand is aiming to track down its first ever car – the Lotus Mark I.
Hand-built by founder Colin Chapman in 1948, the Mark I kick-started the company thanks to considerable success in trials and competitions. It’s the first vehicle where Chapman applied his now-famous mantra – ‘simplify and add lightness’.
The car has been missing for more than 60 years, and Lotus aims to recover it – appealing to owners’ clubs, car enthusiasts, collectors and hunters. Chapman’s son Clive, the director of Classic Team Lotus is spearheading the hunt.
“The Mark I is the holy grail of Lotus’ history,” he said. “It’s the first time 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 the Mark I was shipped from the UK, and we’d love to know if it survives in another country.”
Built by Chapman with the aid of his friends and then-girlfriend (later wife) Hazel, the Mark I was sold in 1950 as the burgeoning company focused on its successor. From there, its whereabouts remain unknown, despite much research over the years.
Based on an Austin Seven Special four-seater, the car was originally finished in unpolished bare metal before being painted white, then red. In the car’s first events in early 1948 it picked up two class awards.
Chapman totally re-engineered the Seven for trials, cladding the body in lightweight panels, reinforcing the chassis and altering frequently damaged components for ease of repair. He also extended the rear of the car, adding a second spare wheel for optimal weight distribution.
Lotus hopes to have located the Mark I by the end of September, when its anniversary celebrations will hit their peak.
