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A.J. Foyt's Lotus 40. Which colour?


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#1 T54

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Posted 07 January 2013 - 15:01

Gentlemen,
A friend of mine wants to produce a small series of 1/32 scale slot cars with the body of the Lotus 40 driven by Foyt at Riverside, then Nassau.
Apparently lr car was damaged in a practice crash at Riverside and could not start the race, then was repaired and went to the Bahamas where it was spectacularly unsuccessful, and parked by an angry A.J.

The question is, was the car plain white or pearl white? Would any of you history sleuths know?
Thanks in advance for your knowledge.
T54


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#2 D-Type

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Posted 07 January 2013 - 15:12

As plain is cheaper than pearl white, I know which colour Chapman would have chosen if he originally supplied the car in white. Which paint was used by the US body shop that did the repairs after Riverside is a different question. Pearl would avoid the problems of colour matching.
I hope you get a sensible answer.

Edited by D-Type, 07 January 2013 - 17:16.


#3 T54

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Posted 07 January 2013 - 15:41

Hi, thanks, but I am pretty sure that Chapman Ltd did not paint the car, it was more that likely done in the USA, possibly by Lotus South West or the Foyt crew itself. The decor is too American for having been done in the UK me think... :)

Edited by T54, 07 January 2013 - 15:41.


#4 Jean L

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Posted 07 January 2013 - 16:06

Riverside: white and dark blue
Nassau: light blue

#5 T54

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Posted 08 January 2013 - 03:04

Jean, thanks, but what I am asking is about the white paint. was it solid white or pearl white.
Regards,

T54

#6 raceannouncer2003

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Posted 08 January 2013 - 06:31

There is a photo at this link:

http://www.vintagemo...A-J-FOYT/Detail

Vince H.

#7 T54

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Posted 09 January 2013 - 14:58

Thanks, I already had seen quite a few pictures, but difficult to find if it is plain white or pearl white... assuming that it would have been originally painted at Lotus in "American colors" like Gurney's type 29 at Indy, that would be plain white. The fancy numbers are likely a later addition, done in Texas or by a sign painter at Riverside, who knows... I guess no one still alive remembers, so plain white it will be!
Regards,

T54

#8 kayemod

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Posted 09 January 2013 - 18:16

...the Lotus 40 driven by Foyt at Riverside...


This doesn't help with the colour, but I read at the time, probably Pete Lyons in Autosport, that AJ got $1500 appearance money for that race. Doesn't sound like much today, but apparently it was noteworthy at the time.


#9 AJB

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Posted 10 January 2013 - 12:36

Thanks, I already had seen quite a few pictures, but difficult to find if it is plain white or pearl white... assuming that it would have been originally painted at Lotus in "American colors" like Gurney's type 29 at Indy, that would be plain white. The fancy numbers are likely a later addition, done in Texas or by a sign painter at Riverside, who knows... I guess no one still alive remembers, so plain white it will be!
Regards,

T54

I don't know about pearlescent paint, but metallic paint looks dreadful in 1/32 scale. Even if the original was pearl, you might find that solid white would be a more accurate scale representation.