1957 Lotus Type 12 Formula 1 and 2 Single-Seater
- Engine
- 1.5L (F2) or 2.0L (F1 interim) inline-four Coventry Climax FPF; ~141 bhp in F2 configuration
The Lotus-Climax Type 12 chassis 353 holds the distinction of being the first Formula 1 Lotus ever built, campaigned by Team Lotus from late 1957 into 1958. It served as Graham Hill's regular mount in both Formula 2 and Formula 1, including his World Championship debut at the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix — the race Hill would eventually win five times. After works use, the car passed through several private owners before being acquired and sympathetically restored, surviving in remarkably original running condition. Its history is documented in exhaustive detail in a dedicated book endorsed by Clive Chapman of Classic Team Lotus.
Ownership
- 2024-05-10Auction saleSold €175,000 (≈ $193K)
- 1957 → 1958-07-01Factory deliveryTeam Lotus (works entry)full documentation
Campaigned as a factory works entry with Graham Hill as primary driver, running in both F2 and F1 trim across eight races.
- 1958 → 1959Private saleJohn Fisherpartial documentation
Private entrant who ran the car in at least four further races after acquiring it from the works team.
- 1960 →Private saleFrank Gardnerpartial documentation
Australian aspiring racing driver who acquired the car with financial backing from motorsport enthusiast Len Deaton; the car was subsequently shipped to Australia in 1961.
- 1960 →Private saleLen Deatonpartial documentation
Racing enthusiast who co-backed the acquisition alongside Frank Gardner.
- → 1991Acquisition unknownDavid Holyoakepartial documentation
Final Australian custodian before the car was acquired by Bennett and Asser.
- 1991 → 1995Private saleMike Bennett and Don Asserfull documentation
Joint acquisition by restorer/enthusiast Bennett and Lotus devotee Asser; Bennett subsequently authored a detailed illustrated history of the car across four editions.
- 1995 →Private saleMike Bennettfull documentation
Full sole ownership transferred to Bennett, who carried out a loving restoration and preservation over more than three decades, producing a book documenting the car's complete history.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJoe Hillspartial documentation
One of several Australian custodians after the car was shipped to Australia in 1961.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownDavid Conlonpartial documentation
Held the car in Australia as part of a succession of local owners following its arrival in 1961.
Competition
- 1957BRDC International Trophy, SilverstoneDriver: Henry Taylor2nd in F2 class
Racing debut for the car; teammate Ron Flockhart won the F2 class in a sister works Lotus 12, giving Lotus a 1-2 finish.
- 1957Woodcote Cup, GoodwoodDriver: Graham Hill5th
Hill's personal frontline single-seater racing debut in this car, run in F2 trim.
- 1957International Gold Cup, Oulton ParkDriver: Graham Hill11th with fastest lap
Hill set the fastest race lap, demonstrating the car's competitive pace in F2 trim.
- 1958Lavant Cup, GoodwoodDriver: Graham Hill2nd with fastest lap
Hill again set the quickest lap, underlining the car's F2 competitiveness.
- 1958Glover Trophy, GoodwoodDriver: Graham HillRtd
Run in the F2 class alongside F1 entries including the race-winning works Ferrari of Mike Hawthorn and Stirling Moss's Cooper.
- 1958BARC 200, AintreeDriver: Graham Hill7th in F2 class
- 1958BRDC International Trophy, SilverstoneDriver: Graham Hill8th
F1 debut for both the car and Hill as a driver in frontline single-seater racing.
- 1958Formula 1 World ChampionshipMonaco Grand PrixDriver: Graham HillRtd
World Championship GP debut for both the car and Hill, as well as Team Lotus's maiden championship-qualifying Grand Prix appearance.
- 1958Formula 1 World ChampionshipDutch Grand Prix, ZandvoortDriver: Graham HillRtd
- 1958Formula 1 World ChampionshipBelgian Grand Prix, Spa-FrancorchampsDriver: Graham HillRtd
- 1958Coupe de Vitesse, Reims-GueuxDriver: Graham HillRtd
Run in F2 configuration at the French circuit.
- 1958Trophée d'Auvergne, Clermont-FerrandDriver: Maurice MichyRtd
Entered by new owner John Fisher after the car had passed from the works team.
- 1958-12-26Boxing Day Meeting, Brands HatchDriver: Bruce Halford
Run in Formule Libre; result not recorded.
- 1959Syracuse Grand Prix, SicilyDriver: Maria Teresa de FilippisRtd
F2 category entry under John Fisher's ownership.
- 1959London Trophy, Crystal PalaceDriver: Bruce HalfordRtd
F2 entry; last recorded race in the documented 1957-59 competition history.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1991Restoration
Following acquisition by Bennett and Asser, the car underwent a careful restoration and has been maintained and preserved over the subsequent three-plus decades, with an emphasis on retaining originality.
The scope and full detail of the restoration work is documented in a dedicated published history of the chassis authored by Mike Bennett.
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