The Lotus-Ford Type 69 is unusual in having been constructed in two distinctly different versions, one a pure multi-tubular spaceframe chassis aimed at ‘affordable’ racing in International Formula 3 and Formula Ford, while a parallel Formula 2 model combined a stressed-skin monocoque forward chassis nacelle with a tubular spaceframe engine bay at the rear. Design was by Dave Baldwin as a development of the preceding Type 59 model. The monocoque innovation for Formula 2 was required by new FIA regulations introduced in 1970 which demanded aircraft-style rubber bag fuel tanks protected by metal sheathing. Dave Baldwin took the opportunity to modify and update the single-seater’s suspension while the famous twin-nostril snub nose of the preceding Type 59 bodywork was replaced by a lowline wedge configuration with underslung ‘shark mouth’ intake to the still nose-mounted radiator. These cars were campaigned successfully in Formula 2, most notably by Jochen Rindt in his Bernie Ecclestone-managed quasi-works car, while other F2 Lotus 69 drivers included new boy Emerson Fittipaldi and veteran double-World Champion Graham Hill. In 1971 2-litre Formula 3 racing the works Lotus 69 – with fuel bags within neat alloy tanks – was driven by Dave Walker to win 25 of his 32 races. This particular car is offered with HSCC documentation (FIA papers awaited) and we understand that it was Andy Sutcliffe’s 1971 F3 mount, later used in 1600cc Formula Atlantic guise through 1972-73 by John Dinsdale. Steve Bradley ran the car from 1974-78 when it passed to Colin Thorpe. The car as offered here was fully restored last year by Lotus specialist Peter Denty, it is equipped with a Colin Holt-prepared Twin-Cam engine and it has been raced only twice since completion of that work.
The Lotus-Ford Type 69 is unusual in having been constructed in two distinctly different versions, one a pure multi-tubular spaceframe chassis aimed at ‘affordable’ racing in International Formula 3 and Formula Ford, while a parallel Formula 2 model combined a stressed-skin monocoque forward chassis nacelle with a tubular spaceframe engine bay at the rear. Design was by Dave Baldwin as a development of the preceding Type 59 model. The monocoque innovation for Formula 2 was required by new FIA regulations introduced in 1970 which demanded aircraft-style rubber bag fuel tanks protected by metal sheathing. Dave Baldwin took the opportunity to modify and update the single-seater’s suspension while the famous twin-nostril snub nose of the preceding Type 59 bodywork was replaced by a lowline wedge configuration with underslung ‘shark mouth’ intake to the still nose-mounted radiator. These cars were campaigned successfully in Formula 2, most notably by Jochen Rindt in his Bernie Ecclestone-managed quasi-works car, while other F2 Lotus 69 drivers included new boy Emerson Fittipaldi and veteran double-World Champion Graham Hill. In 1971 2-litre Formula 3 racing the works Lotus 69 – with fuel bags within neat alloy tanks – was driven by Dave Walker to win 25 of his 32 races. This particular car is offered with HSCC documentation (FIA papers awaited) and we understand that it was Andy Sutcliffe’s 1971 F3 mount, later used in 1600cc Formula Atlantic guise through 1972-73 by John Dinsdale. Steve Bradley ran the car from 1974-78 when it passed to Colin Thorpe. The car as offered here was fully restored last year by Lotus specialist Peter Denty, it is equipped with a Colin Holt-prepared Twin-Cam engine and it has been raced only twice since completion of that work.
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