Quite an interesting history.............
Sometime in early 1970s, this Lotus 51 Formula Ford received a transplant with the removal of its original 1600cc Ford engine and Renault gearbox, replaced with a Lotus twin cam engine and Hewland Mk 8 transaxle.
No documented history until the late 1980s when the last owner rebuilt the engine with a Cosworth steel crankshaft and Cosworth steel con rods. The head, off a 1972 Lotus Europa Twin Cam Special, was race prepared by Quicksilver engine services, fitted with race cams, gas flowed, fitted with a beautiful set of stainless steel exhaust pipes, wide Revolution alloy wheels and run as a Formula Atlantic!
Yeah, its true. Even have the SCCA log book showing it as a Formula Atlantic. And was the 1988 MARRS Formula Atlantic champion.
Run in 1987 and 1988, retired and kept nicely stored in a workshop (with occasional runs down country roads in rural Maryland), came into our possession in excellent running order. 80 psi oil pressur,e no smoke, starts instantly and runs perfectly.
All the right stuff is there....alloy fuel tank, oil cooler, dry sump equipment fitted, extra wheels, and all in the most beautiful of Formula Fords. Or, alternatively, one of the slowest Formula Atlantics!
Whatever it is, it IS a real Lotus Formula Car, doesn't look like it was ever damaged, could use some detailing and updating BUT seems ready to go (as far as testing if not competitive racing). I guess the choice is to run it the way it is, sell the all steel twin cam to fnance a decent original 1600cc crossflow, or?
Or...........fit new tires and drive it the way it is. Always an option. But would be a very exciting historic race car with (as a rough guess) maybe 150, 160 or 170 hp. In a VERY light (and beautiful) formila car.
AM number is 109 and Chasiss number L51A FF 111
AND...............what a deal.............buy it now and can include, in the price, a nearly new set of proper treaded vintage race Avon race tires, a variery of spare parts, and a complete 1600 Cortina engine with Weber and manifold, suitable for reconversion of this car back to Formula Ford.
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