1969 Lotus 70. Ex-Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi, and George Follmer.

Summary

• • Lotus works prototype, chassis 70/01.
  • First driver: Emerson Fitipaldi, shakedown test for Lotus at Snetterton, 1969.
  • First Race: Sebring, 1969. 
  • First Race Driver: 1969 Indy 500 winner, Mario Andretti.
  • First Race Result: Engine failure while leading.
  • Pro Race Wins: George Folmer, 1970, St. Jovite and Mid-Ohio. 
  • 3 Podiums in just 5 races in 1970
  • Total Recorded Races: 21
  • Last Race: 2018
    

History

The Lotus 70 was originally designated as the Lotus 68 in house at Lotus. Colin Chapman commissioned Martin Waide to design the monocoque car, which would be Lotus’ first purpose-built Formula 5000 car. Only 6 original Lotus 70 cars were built, starting with this car, the prototype chassis 70/01. 

According to OldRacingCars.com, the debut for the new Lotus was supposed to be Riverside in September, 1969. However, it wasn’t ready. Instead Lotus retained the car. The November 13, 1969 issue of Motoring News reported that Emerson Fittipaldi next tested the Lotus at Snetterton to shake it down in preparation for the car to be shipped to their race car distributor, Lotus Racing East, in Millerton, New York. There the car acquired its “Lotus East” livery that is currently on the car, and that was on the car when it debuted at Sebring in December, 1969. 

Koshland Racing acquired the Lotus for 1969 Indy 500 winner, Mario Andretti, to race at the L&M Formula 5000 Championship Race at Sebring on December 28th. Waide, and Lotus Components boss Mike Warner, both travelled out to the US to support the car. Andretti put the Lotus on the front row and led handily before his Shelby Ford engine expired on lap 12 – Associated Press photo.

In 1970, Falconer and Dunn – racing out of Culver City, California – bought the Lotus. Their driver was George Follmer. Follmer, in his very first race with the Lotus, put it on the podium at Road America. The next race, at St. Jovite, Follmer finished first, over a minute ahead of second place runner and eventual 1970 Continental Series Champion, John Cannon. Follmer also lapped the entire field with the exception of Cannon. 

In Follmer’s next race, at Lime Rock in September, he and the Lotus would again climb the podium with a second place finish. Mosport was not as kind, as Follmer and the Lotus struggled to a 7th place finish. Follmer and the Lotus were back on form at the Mid Ohio Grand Prix winning the race over John Cannon and the team of Mark Donohue and Roger Penske. To see the car in action during the 1970 F5000 season, including interviews with Follmer and Lotus winning at Mid-Ohio, please watch The Racing Scene. 

Follmer’s last race with chassis 70/01 was at Sebring in October. There, after qualifying 5th, they went out early with overheating problems. 

In 1971, the Lotus 70 was sold to Southern Californian Bruce Eglinton. Eglinton raced the car eight times in 1971, and once in 1972 with no podium results. In 1973 the Lotus made an appearance with Floyd “Butch” Heneger at Road Atlanta, completing only 24 of the race distance 30 laps. 

Rodney Green – of Aurora, Colorado – acquired the Lotus in 1974. He raced the Lotus at least at Mid-Ohio where he and the Lotus retired early. The Lotus was then acquired by Ron Hunter of Denver. Hunter had the car until he passed away in 1987. 

Ken Johnson then purchased the Lotus. Former owner Rodney Green then restored the car for Johnson. Green would later re-acquire the Lotus from Johnson. Green held onto the Lotus until acquired by its current owner in 2017. The car was last raced in 2018 at the Monterey Reunion. To see photos of the car in action, please go to Concept Carz. Since then the Lotus has been professionally maintained in a private collection. 

Description

The Lotus 70 chassis is an aluminum alloy ¾ monocoque with double wishbone front suspension and lower wishbone rear suspension with upper transverse links and radius rods. The engine and gearbox assembly is structural, and can be removed along with the rear suspension as a complete unit from the tub. Damping is by coil over shocks, and braking by outboard Girling ventilated discs. 

Power comes from the Lotus’ original spec Ford 302 V8 breathing through Weber carburetors and mated to a Hewland LG-600 five speed gearbox. 

Today the car is capable of winning any Class A Formula 5000 race anywhere in the world. It can be raced in its original 1969 high wing factory Lotus East configuration in which Andretti raced the car, or its later low wing configuration raced by Follmer. Regardless of which configuration you chose, the car will remain the standout it was from day one. 

This is an iconic Formula 5000 car. It is the original prototype Lotus Formula 5000, chassis number 01. The car was initially tested by future Lotus Formula One World Champion, Emerson Fittipaldi. The car’s racing debut was at Sebring in 1969 driven by 1969 Indy 500 winner, USAC Champion, and future Lotus F1 World Champion, Mario Andretti. Andretti put the car on the front row and led the race before engine trouble. The following year George Follmer took over, winning two races and scoring other top finishes.  

1971 was the end of Lotus customer race car production. This is the last, best, and fastest of the Lotus formula cars obtainable by anyone outside of the works F1 cars, which are now worth hundreds of thousands, or millions more than the cost of this Lotus.

If you want a piece of Lotus racing history, this is it. Please contact us. 

All vehicle descriptions are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. Corrections, and supplemental information, are always welcome. Buyers are responsible for confirming vehicle histories, condition, and authenticity to their own satisfaction prior to purchase. Motorsports Market is not the owner of the vehicle and assumes no liability for errors and omissions.

(c) 1996-2025, Motorsports Market. All Rights Reserved.

Photos

Questions, Comments, Offers?

Please Contact Us if you have any questions or comments, 

or would like to make a non-binding offer.