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Topic starter
13/04/2020 3:06 pm
More cars of Sir Stirling Moss.
In 1993 March Models issued Thundersports LE7, a model f the SMART Lotus Elan from 1963. SMART = Stirling Moss Automobile Racing Team. The car won three of the five races entered, including one at Silverstone. The decals have aged a bit (not faded, as this one spent most of its days in the dark box). But the nicest feature is the laminated card signed by Stirling Moss, John Whitmore, and Frank Costin. Only 150 were made.
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This is the Spark model of the Lotus 18 with which Stirling won the 1960 Monaco GP:
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13/04/2020 4:47 pm
Funny story on that Elan
It won every single race it finished.
Every time it didn't finish...it was because (literally) a wheel fell off!
Hate to say it...but that kind of thing was typical of Lotus racing cars of that era.
Great shots, Harvey. Thank you!
(Frank Costin is one of my heroes. I have that model and autographed card, too.)
Frank's biography, "Flying On Four Wheels", written with Frank's cooperation by Lotus maven Dennis Ortenburger, is a great read. Frank pulls no punches and honors no sacred cows!
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Topic starter
13/04/2020 5:15 pm
Thanks for that addl info John! Question for you...
Does your hood (bonnet) have one hold-down strap or two? I'm wondering if I have one missing - seems like it wouldn't be asymmetrical.
13/04/2020 6:49 pm
Just one, Harvey
Lotus was all about low weight...yes, even the weight of a second leather strap!
And Costin hated the way straps messed with the airflow, so he figured one strap would do the job.
Elan bonnets were thin pieces of fiberglass that could easily be lifted off; and all concerned were worried that could happen at speed if the bonnet was not additionally secured.
Maybe they should have been equally concerned with securing the car's wheels at speed!
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Topic starter
14/04/2020 2:36 am
Every little bit helps!