1955 Lotus Mk6 (#60) Ex-Sir John Whitmore

• Introduced in 1953, the Mk 6 is regarded as the first true Lotus
• It features a tubular space-frame steel chassis that weighed 25kg and stressed aluminium body panels form the floor, scuttle and sides
• #60 is powered by a Ford 100E with a rare Elva overhead inlet-valve conversion. Buckler three-speed, close-ratio gearbox
• Owned and raced in the late fifties by Sir John Whitmore (1961 British Saloon Car Champion)
• More recently it has competed in the Paul Matty Hill Climb Championship
• Fascinating history file containing dozens of photos, invoices, race results and FIA Historic paperwork
• Complete with a spare set of wheels with road tyres

First things first, these little cars are known as Mk VI, Mk 6, Mark 6 or simply Lotus 6. The majority of people seem to refer to them as Mk VI, however the Chassis Plates on the cars are stamped M6/--- so we will stick with Mk 6, although a full page advert in a period magazine placed by Lotus (copy in the history file) refers to it as the new Lotus 6. 

Known as Colin Chapman's first production car, the Lotus Mk 6 was, however, sold mostly in component or "kit" configuration. This allowed a number of different powertrains to be fitted and helped it to conform to a variety of racing formulae. First offered in 1952, the Mk6 was built on a sophisticated Chapman-designed multi-tubular chassis constructed by Progress Chassis. The firm of Williams and Pritchard shaped the aluminium bodywork, while the mechanical components were sourced from the Ford Prefect.

Quickly becoming a favourite among British club racers, the Mk6 introduced, for the first time in a series production car, Chapman's philosophy of "adding lightness" to boost performance. The tube-frame chassis weighed only 25kg (55 pounds) and the Mk6's total weight, depending on the drivetrain, was some 432kg (952 pounds). Despite the modest outputs from the engines used — which ranged from an 1172cc slide-valve Ford four up to a Coventry Climax — the car showed a top end of over 90 mph and lived up to Lotus advertising's claim for the Mk 6: "It's faster than you think!"

Sir John Henry Douglas Whitmore, 2nd Baronet of Orsett Hall, Grays, Essex was a very well known and established racing driver of the sixties. Born into a land-owning family, John first turned to motorsports in 1956 and, after a spell of rallying and sprinting, began circuit racing with his Lotus 6 road car (this car #60) in 1958. The car was entered for 7 events (Oulton and Snetterton) with some success. On one occasion, Lotus boss Colin Chapman was having trouble shaking of young Whitmore who obviously impressed him, as early in 1959, he offered him a works drive at the Le Mans 24-Hours sharing a Lotus Elite with Jim Clark, the pair finishing 2nd in class. British Saloon Car Champion in 1961 driving a Mini, Sir John later became associated with Ford, driving a GT40 at Le Mans and the Targa Florio and subsequently was a member of Carroll Shelby's World Sportscar Championship-winning team. A brilliant career that began with this little Lotus, #60

We do not have the early history of the car to hand but it would make an interesting research project for the car's new owner We believe it was fully restored around 1994/5 and there are some pictures in the file of the car in the back of a pick-up truck, resembling an Airfix Kit, prior to its restoration. However, when it was purchased on 02/07/2003 by its recent, long term owner, David Richardson from Malvern, it appears to have been restored. The car was sold to David by Cristophe Schwarz, who himself had bought it on 29/12/2002 and according to the Bill of Sale, it was accompanied by the original nose section and rear wings, Brooklands windscreen, History File and VSCC papers. There are simply dozens and dozens of invoices in the box file relating to David Richardson’s almost 20 years with the car and they amount to thousands of pounds. To appreciate the way this little car has been rebuilt, refreshed and generally maintained during this period, it’s worth spending a couple of hours with the file. It’s fascinating reading and also contains the original Buff Logbook (3/05/1955), FIA, HSCC and VSCC identity papers, the FIA HTP issued 8/08/2003, an Aldon Rolling Road print out, Ford Side-valve Owner’s Club Spares List, a v/rare illustrated period catalogue from Aquaplane, acres of invoices, set-up sheets, correspondence with Lotus and Elva, V5s, MOTs, an original advert for the Lotus 6- ‘Faster than you think’, and numerous photos.

This is an important piece of Lotus and British Motorsport History, it’s still competitive in the right hands, is in excellent overall condition, and will offer its next custodian the chance to join the remarkably friendly bunch of Mark 6 owners.

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