Lotus to finally build ‘lost’ Type 66 after 53 years

The Type 66 was a Lotus racing car designed for the Can-Am series which was popular in America in the 1960s and 1970s. However, while Colin Chapman toyed with the idea of such a car with Lotus design principles, he never went on to actually build it as he was very much focussed on Formula 1.

For track only
Thus the project never went beyond technical drawings and scale models and it was ‘lost’ in Lotus’ history. Now, on the company’s 75th anniversary, the Type 66 will finally be built as an ultra-exclusive, low-volume track-only car.

While much of its design will reference the original work of Team Lotus draughtsman Geoff Ferris, it also utilises today’s state-of-the-art racing technology and components under the skin.

10 units at over £1 million each
Only 10 units will be made of this ‘rediscovered and reimagined’ Lotus, each expected to cost more than £1 million (about RM5.92 million). The number has been chosen to commemorate the number of races the Type 66 would have competed in during the 1970 season. It’s highly likely that Lotus F1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi would have driven the Type 66 if it had been built.

Crucial to the development of this unique project has been Clive Chapman, Managing Director of Classic Team Lotus and son of Colin Chapman. It was documents held by Clive which allowed the Lotus Design team to bring the car to life 53 years after the designer first put pen to paper.

Many innovative features
The car would have shared many innovative features with the most successful Lotus F1 chassis in the Type 72, which was developed during the same era. These include side-mounted radiators which helped reduce front drag, increase front downforce and channel airflow through and over the car.

The rear of the car would have incorporated a distinctive tail section, resembling the Le Mans endurance cars of the period. These features would have boosted its downforce considerably, compared to rivals, aiding high-speed stability and ultimately the lap times of the Type 66.

Optimised design, engineering and manufacture
Now, with more than half a century of technical progress since it was imagined, it is possible to build the Type 66 with optimised design, engineering and manufacture. Using state-of-the-art computer software, the team digitised a series of 1/4 and 1/10th scale drawings supplied by Clive Chapman and created 3D renders to provide an entirely new perspective of the vehicle.

In order to conform to modern safety standards and to ensure 21st century driver confidence, the original designs were delicately reinterpreted. The original sketches were true to Colin Chapman’s early designs, featuring a cockpit enclosure that would reduce drag and improve airflow to the rear wing.

New features to the vehicle include a modernised driver compartment, inboard fuel cell, sequential transmission and anti-stall system. Everything is contained in a full carbonfibre bodyshell.

Optimised aerodynamics in Lotus DNA
Optimised aerodynamics has been part of the Lotus DNA for all of its 75 years, and the Type 66 is no exception. More than 1,000 hours of Computational Fluid Dynamics work has gone into the programme, resulting in downforce in excess of 800 kgs at 240 km/h. That’s far more than the original underbody design would have been able to manage, enhancing both driver safety and vehicle performance for quicker lap times.

Advanced ‘driver-in-the-loop’ technology has been used to test how the vehicle would perform on racetracks such as Laguna Seca, Silverstone, Fuji and Spa. Thanks to modern-day engineering and ingenuity, the Type 66 now matches the dynamic performance and lap times of a modern GT3 racing  car. On some circuits, such as Laguna Seca, simulator work suggests it could actually be quicker.

1960s-era V8 pushrod engine
At the heart of the Type 66 is a period-representative V8 pushrod engine. It’s mid-mounted for optimised handling, tuned by Lotus to produce more than 830 bhp at 8,800 rpm and more than 746 Nm at 7,400 rpm. Bespoke modern-day components include an aluminium forged crank, rod and pistons.

The iconic Can-Am-inspired air intake ‘trumpets’ are centrally positioned at the top of the engine. These not only smooth out the air intake to create laminar flow, but also greatly improve the volumetric efficiency, allowing for greater combustion and more power.

The chassis is also period-representative, with extruded aluminium sections, bonded joints and aluminium honeycomb panels adding to its authenticity. To ensure drivers can unlock maximum performance when on the track, the Type 66 features modern comforts such as an EPASS motorsport power steering column, a sequential racing gearbox with reverse, a race ABS braking system, an anti-stall multi-plate clutch and a fixed rollover bar.

Taking drivers back in time
“The Type 66 perfectly blends the past and present. It takes drivers back in time, to the iconic design, sound and pure theatre of motorsport more than 50 years ago, with added 21st century performance and safety. This is a truly unique project and, in our 75th anniversary year, it’s the perfect gift from Lotus, to fans worldwide and to a handful of customers,” said Simon Lane, Executive Director, Lotus Advanced Performance.

“While the visual expression is strikingly similar to what could have been – including the period-correct white, red and gold graphics – the technology and mechanical underpinnings of the Lotus Type 66 represent the very best in today’s advanced racing performance,” added Lane.