The first mid-engined racing car from Lotus, introduced at the 1959 Brands Hatch boxing day meeting in Formula Junior spec.

Driven to a respectable 3rd place by Alan Stacy. In true Lotus tradition, adhering to the family motto ‘In adversity we thrive’, the completely new car was just finished in the paddock that day, with a borrowed engine.

The Lotus 18 was totally dominant in Formula Junior in 1960, with Stacy, Arundel and Clark winning nearly all of the events, resulting in several national championships for Jim Clark. Non team Lotus driver Stirling Moss scored Lotus’ first GP win at Monaco in the Rob Walker 18, and following several other GP wins and good placings, Lotus were runners up in the 1960 World Championship, after Cooper. The type 18 was also successful in 1.5 litre F2 that year, with four wins to it’s credit. Without doubt, the 18 can be said to be a true landmark car in the history of Lotus.

Our 18 is a bit special. It is one of only two Formula Junior cars to be converted for F1 use. It was purchased from the factory by Peter Ellis, and raced in FJ events in 1960, scoring first, second and third places. The next owner, Jack Holme took the car to South Africa, where he converted this 18 to run in South African F1 races, using a four cylinder Climax engine.

Competing in South African GP’s from 1961 to 1963, Holme scored a best result of 13th place in the 1963 Rand GP at Kyalami. Our Lotus 18 is now back in original FJ spec, with an 100bhp, 1100cc Ford Cosworth engine, the correct Renault transaxle (fitted with close ratio gears), the correct spec. aluminium finned drum brakes, all rebuilt and professionally race prepared and complete with current UK issued FIA papers.