Researched in depth by respected Lotus historian Graham Capel, and confirmed by the Historic Lotus Register, this Series 1 Short Door Le Mans Eleven chassis is understood to be amongst the first 50 chassis produced with the distinctive non-flanged front swing axle mounting, a feature of the first 25 Lotus Elevens.

Most intriguingly, the chassis incorporates what is now recognised as the rare ‘Chapman strut’ - an additional 5/8-inch vertical tube positioned inboard of the nearside upper spring-damper mounting .A few Team Lotus and important early customer cars had this extra tube welded into the front frame to stiffen against cornering distortion.

Motivation is provided by a 1,460cc Coventry Climax FWB engine fuelled through twin Weber DCOE carburettors and mated to a close-ratio straight-cut four-speed gearbox.

De Dion rear suspension and a detachable rear fin are hallmarks of the model that established Lotus as a force in international sports car racing.

Whilst the car’s earliest...