Lotus 18/914- Cape Town 1960

I am the owner and restorer of this car. I have good reason to believe that Von Trips drove it in late 1960 in the Cape Town Grand Prix (see "Sun On The Grid"). Can anyone assist with chassis number records or any other info? Thanks.

Hi 18racer, and welcome to the forum.

I've looked at my copy of Peter McIntosh's Record of South African Formula 1 Racing and I'm afraid we've got an anomaly.

He records von Trips' Scuderia Colonia car as chassis 18-373. Now, I'm by no means an expert on Lotus serials, and I'm missing the vital reference, vol 7 of the Record of GP & Voiturette Racing, which would cover the necessary period.

If it is indeed the von Trips car, it finished 3rd at the Cape GP on December 17th 1960, and then on December 27, failed to finish the South African GP at East London.

Do let us know what you discover. Are you planning to run the car this season? I'll look out for it.

I don't have Sheldon Vol 7 either, but 914 was certainly a Colonia car by early 1961 as it was driven by Bonnier at Pau, alongside Seidel in 373. Colonia entered it several times for Michel May and once for Trintignant in 1961.

My information (from a variety of sources) agrees with Vitesse's. I believe it then became one of the Borgward-powered BKLs, but I don't known anything more about it till it appeared in a Coys auction in 1996

Hi to all of you and thankyou for your replies.
According to "Sun On The Grid" Von Trips was entered in what was described as "the latest F2 car from Lotus..." In 1960, this would be a 1.5L engined car, and we already know that "914" was one of the last Type 18s built (I think serial nos. end at 917 for customer non-Junior 18s). "373" was a 1960 works car and was raced by Surtees on 20/11/60 at Riverside in the US GP and presumably in 2.5 L form. In that case it was a long way from Cape Town with a different engine.
I believe it's more likely that Von Trips drove the then-new "914". Seidel always drove "373" in '61 but drove his Cooper in the SA races in 1960. I wish I could get a definitive answer!
In any case, with the usual caveats that anything can happen in racing we will be at all the HGPCA races in 2002, as well as Monaco and Goodwood (where I hope John Surtees will drive....watch this space). Come and say hello at the GMS:Motorsport truck anytime. We will also be entering my Lotus Eleven in various events throughout the year.