1968 Lotus 51B Formula Ford

History

Like many Formula Fords, this car’s early history has yet to be fully unearthed. It was reportedly purchased new by an SCCA pro on the East Coast. Many years later, in 2002, the car was owned by Patricio Junco. Junco took the Lotus to Mexico and raced it there. The car later returned to Texas, where it has been raced since 2010. Since 2010 the car has raced a total of 18 times. Its last race was at COTA in 2019.

Description

The Lotus remained in storage until early this year. The owner brought the car to a well known race prep shop in Dallas, Texas. There the car was the subject of a complete going through to make sure all systems were in proper working order. This included, but was not limited to; rebuilding the brake master cylinders, and all four calipers. The frame was inspected and cracks repaired as needed. The gearbox received a new pinion and bearing. The rest of the gearbox checked out fine. A new fuel cell was also installed. The fire system was also updated. The belts still need to be replaced. 

The Lotus is equipped with an Ivey dry sump engine. It was built using an all new block. The owner estimates the engine has 20 races on it. Ivey engines are generally good for 45-50 hours of run time before needing a refresh. At this point, if you are searching for peak performance, you might consider sending the head to Ivey for a refresh, as the head is where most of the power is generated. We did that with our FF engine and went from the back of the grid to the front, just with having the Ivey’s refresh the head. 

The Lotus is equipped with Truechoice Koni double adjustable aluminum shocks. The gauges are Smiths and Racetch. The gearbox is a Hewland with outboard disc brakes. The fuel and oil lines are Aeroquip. The suspension is attached by adjustable heim joints. Exhaust is handled by a stainless steel header. The car will come with a spare set of steel wheels, and four gear sets that should cover most, if not all, major U.S. tracks. 

This Lotus is well prepared and well maintained. It has a few needs, like new belts and new tires, before heading to the track. But otherwise you are getting a really clean, great looking, iconic Lotus 51 Formula Ford – the car that started Formula Ford. It is the last of the generation of the great looking cigar-shaped formula cars from the hey days of early formula car racing. Its appearance is enjoyed by fans and competitors alike, and even looks great standing still in the paddock. Enjoy it, have fun with it at all the vintage racing events, and then get your money back and maybe even a little more when you sell it. What’s not to like there?

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.

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