Lotus racing cars: books - history and technology

Lotus 18 : Colin Chapman's U-Turn

Colin Chapman's previous attempts at producing a Formula 1 car had been a complete disappointment. Despite being technically advanced, extreme lightness led to numerous structural failures.
In 1960, Chapman decided to start with a clean sheet of paper, assessing the basic requirements for a contemporary Formula 1 car, and identifying how to achieve them in the most straightforward, uncomplicated way. The result was one of Chapman's greatest creations - the Lotus 18 - a trendsetting, rear-engined car that was to set new performance standards from the outset.
Driven by some of the top drivers of the era - including Innes Ireland, Jim Clark, and John Surtees - it was Stirling Moss who made the car's name, winning four Grands Prix, including his sensational victories over Ferrari, against all odds, at Monaco and the Nurburgring in 1961.

This book descibes the history of the Lotus 18 throughout its 7-year competition career, via season by season summaries, and provides detailed appendices charting the individual histories of all 28 chassis that were built.

Lotus 18 : The Autobiography of Stirling Moss's '912' (Great Cars)

This lavish book tells the story of the car in which Stirling Moss achieved two of his most famous Grand Prix victories. The first World Championship race of the 1.5-litre Formula 1 era introduced for 1961 was the Monaco Grand Prix and Ferrari's powerful new 'shark-nose' cars were expected to dominate it, but Moss used all his craft and guile to take a celebrated win in his Lotus 18.

Although Ferrari did prove to be the dominant force that season, Moss scored a second success in this same car, chassis number 912, at the Nürburgring, a race that turned out to be the last World Championship Formula 1 victory of his career.
The car's entire 1961 season, and its subsequent life, is covered in fascinating detail in this 'Great Cars' book, supported by a fine collection of period photographs.

An in-depth account of the dramatic 1961 Monaco Grand Prix includes Stirling Moss's recollections of his win in his Rob Walker-entered Lotus 18, which famously raced with its side panels removed.

Features:
- The car's seven other World Championship Formula 1 races of the 1961 season covered in full, with special focus on Moss's victory in the German Grand Prix.
- A third race success came in 1961 when Moss won the non-championship Modena Grand Prix.
- Insights into Rob Walker Racing, the most successful 'privateer' team in Formula 1 history, including the recollections of mechanic Tony Cleverly.
- For the 1962 season, the car passed to Count Volpi's Scuderia SSS Repubblica di Venezia team and took part in five non-championship races, achieving a best result of sixth place for Nino Vaccarella in the Pau Grand Prix.
- Later life, including a spell in Tom Wheatcroft's Donington Collection.
- Nearly 300 period images, many previously unpublished, supported by a portfolio of studio photography.

Lotus 72 Manual (1970 onwards) - An insight into owning, racing and maintaining Lotus's legendary Formule 1 car

Conceived by Colin Chapman, the Lotus 72 is one of the most successful Formula 1 cars ever made. This innovative car - with its wedge-shaped profile, side-mounted radiators and inboard front brakes - was driven during 1970 by Jochen Rindt, Formula 1's posthumous World Champion, and also gave Emerson Fittipaldi the World Champion's crown in 1972.
Here, in this new Haynes Manual, is a unique perspective on what it takes to restore, maintain and race a Lotus 72, as well as an insight into the design and engineering of this legendary racing car.

Lotus 72 : 1970-75

This book, the first in Evro's new Formula 1 Greats series, covers one of the most revered Formula 1 cars ever made. Introduced in 1970, the wedge-shaped Lotus 72 competed for six seasons, winning 20 World Championship Grands Prix, two Drivers' titles (for Jochen Rindt in 1970 and Emerson Fittipaldi in 1972) and three Constructors' titles (in 1970, 1972 and 1973). It was racing first in Lotus's evocative red, white and gold livery, then the equally eye-catching black and gold of the John Player Special period.

Pete Lyons, Autosport's renowned Formula 1 reporter for part of the Lotus 72 era, explores the car's entire race-by-race career in his insightful commentary accompanying a magnificent array of more than 300 photos.

Lotus 79 Manual (1977 onwards) - An insight into the design, engineering and operation

The Lotus 79, with its classic JPS black and gold sponsorship colours, was the first F1 car to fully exploit the potential of ground-effect aerodynamics. Designed by Colin Chapman and his engineering team, the Lotus 79 dominated the 1978 World Championship, taking US driver Mario Andretti to his only F1 World Championship.

Lotus's two drivers, Mario Andretti and 'Super Swede' Ronnie Peterson proved almost unbeatable, with four 1-2 finishes during the season. During its career, the Lotus 79 won 7 races, took 10 pole positions, and won the last drivers' and constructors' championships for Lotus.

Featuring input from the engineers and drivers who were instrumental in the car's success, including Peter Wright and Martin Ogilvie, this Manual includes numerous contemporary photographs, in addition to detailed images of Lotus 79 in the workshop today. A fascinating insight into an iconic F1 car.