Lotus 49/R1 to be reborn at Hethel for the Barber Museum

Famously 49/R1 was revealed to the press on the Lotus Cars test track at Hethel on May 23rd 1967. Colin Chapman drove the car on that special day along with Graham Hill who, just a week later, put her on pole position for the Dutch GP at Zandvoort; four seconds quicker than the 1966 pole time! On race day Jim Clark’s sister car made it a winning debut for the Type 49.

Chassis R1 went on to race in 10 Grand Prix which included victories by Jim Clark in the 1967 Mexican GP and Graham Hill in the 1968 Spanish GP which proved to be the foundation for Hill’s Championship triumph.

Sadly R1 was severely damaged in an accident when being raced by Jackie Oliver at the 1968 Monaco GP. By then the car had been modified quite significantly and re-liveried in the Gold Leaf Team Lotus racing colours. (The damaged monocoque was re-used to construct 49/R9 which was written off in the 1969 season.)

The Barber Museum has amassed the largest collection of Lotus race cars in the world. Founder George Barber is a true enthusiast for the innovative automotive achievements of Colin Chapman, of which the Lotus Type 49 represents his best.
Reconstructing the first Lotus 49 is an exciting way to celebrate 75 years of Formula One. This most significant F1 car was lost to history but, with reference to the original design drawings and incorporating various period components, Classic Team Lotus will revive the car that changed F1 more than any other.

49/R1 will be recreated just as she was when Colin Chapman drove her at Hethel 58 years ago. George Barber and Clive Chapman are excited by the prospect of re-enacting that famous occasion and, following this modern-day reveal, the car will take pride of place amongst the fabulous collection of its stablemates at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. The state of the art FIA certified 2.38 mile race track alongside the fabulous museum building will enable motorsport enthusiasts from all over the world to experience the wonderful sight and sound of one of the greatest F1 cars of all time.

The story of the Lotus 49

The Lotus 49 was created by an extraordinary collaboration of four of the greatest minds in F1 history; Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe of Team Lotus and Mike Costin and Keith Duckworth of Cosworth.

Colin Chapman needed to make the most of the change to three litre engines and decided that ex Team Lotus engineers Costin and Duckworth – who had gone on to found Cosworth – had the talent to do it. Chapman secured essential funding from Ford and the V8 Ford Cosworth engine was born.

Maurice Philippe was tasked with the detail design of a monocoque chassis of a frontal area to match that of the engine, to be attached to the ground breaking fully stressed engine (by just four bolts). To cap it all the Lotus 49 was to be raced by two of F1s greatest drivers; Jim Clark and Graham Hill.

The Hethel launch of the 49 was captured by Ford with some great photography that included the moment when Colin Chapman took to the wheel to get a taste of what he and his colleagues had created. Evidently from his delighted smile he discovered they had done well (see post header image).

The Lotus 49 won on its debut Grand Prix at Zandvoort and its extraordinary power and handling realized the greatest ever step in the speed of F1 cars year on year. Graham Hill raced the Type 49 to win the 1968 World Championship. Jim Clark and Jochen Rindt also raced the Lotus 49 to multiple Grand Prix
victories. Mario Andretti put his Type 49 on pole for his first Grand Prix. Emerson Fittipaldi raced his first three Grand Prix in a Type 49. Quite a roll call.

In 2024 the Lotus Type 49 was awarded the accolade of Race Car of the Century by Motor Sport magazine in the UK. A fitting tribute to the 49’s creators Maurice Philippe, Kieth Duckworth, Mike Costin and Colin Chapman seen above at the Hethel launch with Graham Hill.

First race, first lap, Graham Hill in R1 pulling away at the sta rt of the 1967 Dutch GP

It’s all about the engineering. DFV power takes Jim Clark to victory in R1 at the 1967 Mexican GP

The man behind Barber Motorsports Park and Vintage Museum is Mr George Barber.

The museum is home to the World’s largest collections of motorbikes and Lotus cars housed in a fabulous building.

Adjacent to the museum is a brilliantly landscaped motorsports park. Considered by many to be the best of the best road courses in the US, the Barber Motorsports Park is home to a challenging 2.38 mile road course that will suit 49/R1 perfectly.

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