Lotus 69 Formula Ford/F2
To see the pictures larger click on the thumbnails
The Lotus 69 was a multi formula single seater. This example is set up for Formula Ford. The Formula 2 cars were generally powered by the Ford/Lotus Twin Cam engine.

Although the Formula Ford cars didn't run wings many owners are now fitting them to give the 'period' appearance as they were fitted to the F2 cars.

This particular car was one of three Lotus 69s bought into New Zealand by their race mechanic owners. This car was used for spares so it has spent most of its life avoiding being crashed. For this reason it has an undamaged chassis and bodywork. The car was purchased by a friend as a rolling car, but requiring finishing. My own small contribution to the project was the fabrication of the exhaust.

The engine is a Ford Kent 1600cc Crossflow being fed by a pair of 45mm DCOE Weber carburettors. The transmission is a Hewland Mk8 four speed .

Front suspension utilises Triumph Herald front uprights and brakes. Outboard shockabsorbers with a lower and upper tubular wishbones. Rear suspension utilises outboard discs, cast alloy uprights.

How does it drive? Having the opertunity to drive the car around the Pukekohe race track for 20 minutes can be summed up simply - "GREAT!!"

Since these photos were taken this particular car has been repowered. The Ford Crossflow engine melted a piston at Pukekohe durring a historic meet. The damage was quite sever as a nuber of parts were coated in aluminium from the melted piston. The camshaft lost teeth from the helical gear, also aluminium went through the drysump pump. For this reason the car has been repowered with a twin cam to bring it closer to a F2 spec car.

I will post some new photos once I have some available.
To see the pictures larger click on the thumbnails
Video Movie of Lotus 69 FF at Pukekohe Racetrack (NZ)
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