1961 Lotus 18/21
- Engine
- Coventry Climax (restored to original specification; previously fitted with Ford V8 for Formula Libre)
Lotus 18 chassis 918 is a mid-engined single-seater Formula One car originally delivered to the UDT Laystall team in 1961. During its competitive career it was driven by Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, Maurice Trintignant, Masten Gregory, Olivier Gendebien, Henry Taylor, and Lucien Bianchi, accumulating multiple victories and podium finishes across championship and non-championship events. After years in retirement following an accident in Formula Libre trim, the car was rediscovered in 1993 and fully restored by 1995 to its original specification, subsequently appearing at historic events into the 2010s.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$140,000
- 1961 → 1962Factory deliveryUDT Laystall teampartial documentation
Originally operated by Alfred Moss, father of Stirling Moss. The car was campaigned in multiple Formula One events during this period.
- 1962 → 1963Private saleRob Walker Racing teampartial documentation
Acquired the chassis in a trade arrangement; the car was entered in non-championship and championship Formula One events during this ownership.
- 1963 →Private salePrivateer teampartial documentation
Chassis was fitted with a Ford V8 engine for Formula Libre competition; a subsequent accident ended active racing use and the car was retired for decades.
- 1993 →Acquisition unknownRoger Cowman and Jock Russellpartial documentation
Responsible for locating and identifying the car; their involvement led to commissioning a full restoration by Alan Baillie completed in 1995.
Competition
- 19611961 Silver City TrophyDriver: Stirling Moss1st
Non-championship Formula One event held at Brands Hatch; Moss took the top step of the podium on his first outing in this chassis.
- 1961Formula One World Championship1961 Belgian Grand PrixDriver: Stirling MossDNS — practice accident
Car failed to qualify after a collision involving Cliff Allison during practice sessions at Spa-Francorchamps.
- 19611961 KanonloppetDriver: Stirling Moss1st
Non-championship event at Karlskoga Circuit in Sweden; Moss secured another victory for the chassis.
- 19611961 Natal Grand PrixDriver: Stirling Moss2nd
One of two late-season podium finishes for Moss in this chassis; Henry Taylor, Masten Gregory, and Olivier Gendebien also drove the car at other events during this period.
- 19611961 South African Grand PrixDriver: Stirling Moss2nd
Marked the conclusion of Moss's last full season of racing; this was his fourth podium finish in chassis 918.
- 19621962 Pau Grand PrixDriver: Maurice Trintignant1st
Non-championship event; Trintignant delivered a celebrated recovery drive from last to first place under the Rob Walker entry.
- 1962Formula One World Championship1962 Belgian Grand PrixDriver: Lucien Bianchi9th
Entered by Equipe National Belge; Bianchi, who would later win Le Mans in 1968, drove the chassis at its home-country round.
- 1962-06-011962 Mallory Park raceDriver: Graham Hill3rd
Two-time Formula One champion Graham Hill secured a podium at Mallory Park the month following the Pau victory.
- 20002000 Monterey Historic event
Part of a series of historic appearances following the 1995 restoration to original specification.
- 20002000 Goodwood event
Historic event appearance in the same year as the Monterey outing.
- 20022002 Isle of Man event
One of two documented historic appearances in 2002.
- 20022002 Silverstone event
Second historic event appearance in 2002 alongside the Isle of Man outing.
- 20122012 Sonoma Historics
One of two historic appearances in 2012.
- 20122012 Monterey Historics
Second historic event appearance in 2012.
- 20162016 Lime Rock historic event
Most recent documented historic racing appearance mentioned in the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1963Modification
A Ford V8 engine was installed in place of the original Coventry Climax unit to allow Formula Libre competition; the heavier powerplant proved incompatible with the lightweight chassis.
A subsequent racing accident effectively ended the car's active competition life for several decades.
- 1993Inspection
The car was located and its identity confirmed with assistance from Roger Cowman and Jock Russell.
This identification work preceded the full restoration that followed.
- 1995RestorationAlan Baillie
A full restoration returning the car to its original configuration, including fitment of a Coventry Climax engine and application of the UDT Laystall race livery.
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