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Chassis:
Built to house the latest 1,500 cc Coventry Climax FPF twin-cam engine, Lotus produced three or perhaps only two LM150 specification Elevens. The second of these was chassis 322 used by the factory team during the 1957 season. It is not exactly certain where the car debuted but it definitely raced at the Grand Prix de Spa on May 12th. It was driven by Herbert MacKay-Fraser to seventh overall and first in class. It was entered at Le Mans but a dropped valve prevented it from taking the start. It was then raced at Reims where MacKay-Fraser rolled the car and was thrown from the car. It was the first fatal accident for Team Lotus.
A new LM150 Eleven appeared at the International Daily Express Trophy at Silverstone two months later. Although now wearing chassis number 332, later research suggests that it is more likely to have been chassis 322 rebuilt following MacKay-Fraser’s unfortunate accident. What is certain, is that both chassis used the same FPF engine. Driven by factory driver Cliff Allison, it led most of the race before dirty fuel caused an early retirement. The car was then shipped to new owner Carroll Shelby, who had been impressed by the LM150 at Le Mans before the valve dropped. The Texan acquired the car for compatriot Jim Hall to race. He would later become very famous for the Chaparral sports cars but was also a very talented racing driver himself.
Sporting his famous number 66, Hall debuted the Eleven at Nassau where it was campaigned with limited success. The car was then shipped to Miami for the Orange Bowl sports car race. Up against much larger engined rivals, Hall held his own and finished fourth in the first of two races. Following two further outings in March, Hall offered the car for sale. It did not actually find a new owner and was subsequently raced by his good friend and fellow Chaparral racer Hap Sharp. Raced into the 1960s by subsequent owners, it was eventually fitted with two-litre Maserati engine when the original FPF had a catastrophic failure.
Following its contemporary racing career, the LM150 was sold to Mississippi. It was eventually discovered in the early 1980s, abandoned in a field. Soon after, it was sold to a British enthusiast living in the United States. By 1990, it was repatriated but remained in as-found condition until it was acquired by another Lotus enthusiast in 2006. Compared to the owner’s other Lotus Eleven, there were many unique features on this car that all pointed to being one of the LM150s; the bonnet bulge to clear the FPF engine, the wobbly wheels, an exhaust on the right side and brackets for a rear-mounted oil cooler unique to the FPF cars. The car also boasted stronger suspension components and machined steel hubs. On the bodywork, Jim Hall’s number 66 was also discovered under the paint.
Over the following years, the car was restored its LM150 specification. A new body was made to preserve the highly original body that came with the car. Since the work was completed, the rare Eleven has been successfully raced, scoring victories in the Madgewick Cup at the Goodwood Revival in 2017 and again in 2024. It also won ‘Best in Show’ at the 2021 London Concours. In 2023, it was offered for sale on behalf of the owner by William I’Anson.
| Chassis details |
| Manufactured in |
1957 |
| Engine number |
1017 |
| First owner |
Team Lotus |
| Appearances |
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