Jim Clark

I have a Word file for British number plates using correct font for the period. Just give me a shout if you want me to send to you. Easy to print your own decals for plates.

I have a couple of Arena roof racks. Perhaps I will put one on my Lotus van.

Pleased to get the van but unfortunately it doesn’t quite fit the bill, as the magazine extract below reveals. 

“Lotus are proud to announce the introduction of a new service to customers. A fully-equipped van is to be sent to as many race meetings as possible to provide a comprehensive “on-the-spot” spares service. Spares for all models of Lotus competition cars will be carried and the service is also available to provide assistance to customers who have technical queries.
The van will be manned by factory personnel, Ray Parsons (when his racing commitments permit, Works Driver and Liaison Engineer, and Rod Sawyer, Sales Executive of Lotus Components Ltd.
As many Lotus chassis are fitted with B.R.M., Cosworth or Holbay engines and Hewland gearboxes, Lotus are indeed fortunate in the co-operation given to them by these firms, who have supplied quantities of spare parts for their products to help complete the stock carried on the Lotus Racing Service Van. This means that not only Lotus customers but all competitors will be able to avail themselves of the service which Lotus hope will become a permanent attraction in the paddocks at all the circuits in the country. Lotus are also indebted to the organisers The British Automobile Racing Club, The British Racing Drivers’ Club and the British Racing and Sports Car Club for their assistance in providing access for the van to their paddocks.”

That shows that the van was not used for towing but carried spares as evidenced by the suppliers names on the side. Not only that, but the article is dated 1965 so the van livery post dates the 1962 Le Mans.

However all is not lost thanks to the excellent services of Scott at Grand Prix Decals. 



The screenshot is from his Facebook site. I have ordered the “Lotus Cars” option and they were posted yesterday. 
Scott is very knowledgeable and helpful and I believe is already known to some of our members. He can be contacted directly on…

dunbarscott@hotmail.com

Stewart, good to know the tampos can be easily removed with nail varnish remover. I'll have a go are removing the 'Cosworth', 'Holbay' & 'Hewland' logos.

Here's another picture of the Lotus van at Le Mans. As you can see, it appears to carry a "Lotus Components" script.

Blimey Ian!
That’s a whole new can of worms, just after the “Lotus Cars” decals arrived today from Grand Prix Decals. I’ll have to see what Scott can come up with.



Latest update..
Scott is onto the case! Watch this space.

Hi Scott, I’ve collected many Le Mans images over the years, but I don’t know where these came from. I’ve tried googling for them, but to no avail.

One thing I’ve often wondered about is how did the other Lotus 23 (#48) get to Le Mans. Did it have an identical Ford Thames and trailer combination, or was there some other set up to get this car there?

On the side of one photo it indistinctly has “Archive Christian Mo??y”