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Dawson-Damer Lotus 49 up for auction


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#1 timbo

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Posted 15 June 2014 - 03:01

While reading the May 2014 copy of Octane magazine, and being an Aussie, I couldn't help but notice that the John Dawson-Damer Lotus 49 is up for auction at Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed motoring auction.

While it will more than likely head overseas from Australia, which is disappointing from an Australian point of view, I just hope the car gets exercised in a spirited manner, as it did while it is/was in Australia and not get tucked up in a collectors garage somewhere for no-one to see.

 

http://www.bonhams.c.../21906/lot/342/



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#2 275 GTB-4

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Posted 15 June 2014 - 06:16

hmmmmmm....sad...I wonder if it will be sold with wings?

Edited by 275 GTB-4, 15 June 2014 - 06:17.


#3 timbo

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Posted 15 June 2014 - 06:22

Hmm, I hope the wings are optional extra's. I have never seen it with wings, and it looks so pure. It was built when there was a lot of development  happening, so it may be up to the successful bidder as to how it is confugured.



#4 Tim Murray

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Posted 15 June 2014 - 07:04

But surely that chassis (R8) almost always raced with rear wings in period? When first used in the 1969 Tasman series it ran with the high upright-mounted aerofoils. For most of the rest of its career it carried the smaller chassis-mounted wings. As far as I know, the only race it contested without any form of rear wing was when driven by Attwood at Monaco 1969, immediately after the ban on the high aerofoils.

#5 timbo

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Posted 15 June 2014 - 07:53

Not seeing it raced in the day (I'm not that old, honest), I have only seen it raced in Australian historics, without wings. Perhaps it has more to do with Australian  historic racing cut-off dates for historic groups than how it raced in the day.



#6 Ray Bell

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Posted 15 June 2014 - 10:23

Or, perhaps, the danger of the high wings collapsing...

As they did at Lakeside.

#7 Doug Nye

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Posted 15 June 2014 - 12:03

Anyone racing such a car with strutted wings at Historic level would be barmy - or a thrill-seeker playing the odds. No race promoter would accept it in face of the period FIA ban. We have run such cars on the Goodwood hill at demo level. The Dawson-Damer car offered by Bonhams at the Goodwood FoS this year is presented, as far as possible, in 1969 British GP trim, as driven then by Graham Hill (finishing seventh). I have always had a particular soft spot for the 1967-68 green-and-yellow livery, but 'R8' in 1968-69 GLTL colours is still a lovely thing.

 

DCN



#8 Wirra

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Posted 15 June 2014 - 13:56

Lotus 49 R8 Warwick Farm - Tasman series 1969 - Graham Hill

lotus49r8wf19691s.jpg

Lotus 49 R8 Eastern Creek - Tasman Revival 2010 - John Smith

lotus49r8ec20101s.jpg

Thanks to the Dawson-Damer crew.

 



#9 elansprint72

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Posted 15 June 2014 - 19:09

Good one Wirra!



#10 Doug Nye

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Posted 15 June 2014 - 19:30

Nice photos demonstrating some of the spec differences between 49T and 49B/C...

 

DCN



#11 275 GTB-4

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Posted 15 June 2014 - 22:28

Or, perhaps, the danger of the high wings collapsing...

As they did at Lakeside.


Anyone racing such a car with strutted wings at Historic level would be barmy - or a thrill-seeker playing the odds. No race promoter would accept it in face of the period FIA ban. We have run such cars on the Goodwood hill at demo level. The Dawson-Damer car offered by Bonhams at the Goodwood FoS this year is presented, as far as possible, in 1969 British GP trim, as driven then by Graham Hill (finishing seventh). I have always had a particular soft spot for the 1967-68 green-and-yellow livery, but 'R8' in 1968-69 GLTL colours is still a lovely thing.
 
DCN


Errgh...point of order Lads, I did not say anything about racing the 49 post sale per se...I was just wondering if the Auctioneers or others might suggest that it would look sexier dressed with wings and therefore liable to attract more dosh :rolleyes:



#12 Wirra

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Posted 15 June 2014 - 23:38

More of the Lotus 49 R8

Warwick Farm - Tasman 1969
ghwf3.jpg

Eastern Creek - Tasman Revival 2010
picture0531s.jpg

 



#13 cooper997

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Posted 16 June 2014 - 07:46

The 1st Tasman Revival at Eastern Creek in Dec 2006.

 

The Dawson-Damer collection was still intact then. John Smith took the spoils with the 49..

 

Tasman_Revival_2006_024.jpg
pic upload

 

Tasman_Revival_2006_052.jpg
gif uploader

 

Tasman_Revival_2006_082.jpg
upload image online

 

Stephen

 



#14 Doug Nye

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Posted 16 June 2014 - 08:46

 

Errgh...point of order Lads, I did not say anything about racing the 49 post sale per se...I was just wondering if the Auctioneers or others might suggest that it would look sexier dressed with wings and therefore liable to attract more dosh :rolleyes:

 

 

Fair enough. Re-rigging the car with tall wings was considered but rejected on the grounds that the rest of the car would need to revert to 49T form, without - for example - the top-ducted nose and with earlier-type uprights and different wheels and tyres, or it just would never look anywhere near 'right'.  It is for a future owner of this 49 to select the specification which he or she might prefer. I am sure that Classic Team Lotus would happily restore it into any order a client might require. They do a great job.

 

DCN



#15 Cargo

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Posted 16 June 2014 - 09:31

Thanx cooper and wirra for pictures 😊😊

#16 275 GTB-4

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Posted 17 June 2014 - 00:53

The 1st Tasman Revival at Eastern Creek in Dec 2006.
 
The Dawson-Damer collection was still intact then. John Smith took the spoils with the 49..
 
Tasman_Revival_2006_052.jpg
gif uploader
 
Stephen


An enduring memory I have is being about the same distance away from that engine as in the picture, screaming at maybe 8000 RPM, crisp gear changes, exit to the bridge at Oran Park, clipping the white line within an inch every time around, John Smith the maestro :up:



#17 GMACKIE

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Posted 17 June 2014 - 02:27

How is Smithy?.......anyone know?



#18 Lola5000

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Posted 17 June 2014 - 07:49

How is Smithy?.......anyone know?

 

How is Smithy?.......anyone know?

Whats happened to him?



#19 275 GTB-4

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Posted 17 June 2014 - 09:31

Rob, already discussed...motorcycle accident in the USA....in a wheelchair....good news is that he still has an interest and is expected to be at the Muscle Car Masters with his Supra...believe Jason Bargs will be driving...



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#20 GMACKIE

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Posted 17 June 2014 - 09:39

Scott, I think.



#21 Lola5000

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Posted 17 June 2014 - 10:16

Rob, already discussed...motorcycle accident in the USA....in a wheelchair....good news is that he still has an interest and is expected to be at the Muscle Car Masters with his Supra...believe Jason Bargs will be driving...

Not good.



#22 Ray Bell

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Posted 17 June 2014 - 11:40

No, not good...

He pulled out of a Tennessee servo ('gas station') on a winding 2-lane mountain road, no cars or bikes around, went for the wrong side of the road, around the next bend met another bike coming the other way.

#23 Bill Harding

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Posted 17 June 2014 - 17:24

Just got my Bonhams catalogue and was impressed by (presumably) DCN's excellent work in presenting the history and also some great period shots....definitely the star entry at Bonhams as far as I am concerned

Last saw the car in Adelaide around 2000 when there was a great historic F1 race supporting the V8s and fell in love with it then!

Does anyone know what state the car was in after Mayer Botha's accident?

Are there any period shots of the car after the accident??



#24 Tim Murray

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Posted 17 June 2014 - 17:41

There's a photo in Michael Oliver's book. The left hand side of the monocoque was very crumpled and split, but, as Michael explains, the right hand side was relatively unscathed, so could be used as a template for reconstructing the damaged side.

#25 Charlieman

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Posted 17 June 2014 - 19:54

There's a photo in Michael Oliver's book. The left hand side of the monocoque was very crumpled and split, but, as Michael explains, the right hand side was relatively unscathed, so could be used as a template for reconstructing the damaged side.

Because all cars are symmetrical. 



#26 Doug Nye

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Posted 17 June 2014 - 21:53

More or less as above Bill. The left-side tub skin needed replacing - and various concomitant distortions elsewhere had to be, ahem, corrected... Pretty much like 'my' 'R3' after its NMM appointment with a drive-side tree...   :cry:

 

DCN



#27 275 GTB-4

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Posted 17 June 2014 - 22:31

Scott, I think.


Oops...think you are right...all those Bargwanna's are interchangeable anyway :lol:



#28 arttidesco

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Posted 17 June 2014 - 22:41

02_IMG_6751sc.jpg

 

As displayed by Bonhams on their 'stand' at the VSCC Spring Start meeting in April.

 



#29 DavidI

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Posted 18 June 2014 - 00:43

Sad to see it going overseas, as I have fond memories of seeing it at Lakeside in the early '90s - apart from my being a Lotus fan from childhood, it was the first actual F1 car I had ever seen in person, regardless of era. John Dawson-Damer was driving it himself, not overly hard but frankly at that circuit in that car I didn't blame him (and I'm sure he could drive better than me anyway!) but it meant he had an entertaining dice with a lesser category car (I want to say a Formula Ford, but don't think FFords were an Historic category at that time) which would catch him around the back only to get left behind on the straight.



#30 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 18 June 2014 - 04:14

No, not good...

He pulled out of a Tennessee servo ('gas station') on a winding 2-lane mountain road, no cars or bikes around, went for the wrong side of the road, around the next bend met another bike coming the other way.

Very sad. He is a nice bloke.

When did it happen?



#31 Wirra

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Posted 18 June 2014 - 11:25

No, not good...

He pulled out of a Tennessee servo ('gas station') on a winding 2-lane mountain road, no cars or bikes around, went for the wrong side of the road, around the next bend met another bike coming the other way.

 

I know what Ray is trying to state but in case there is any ambiguity about John's intent contained in this statement, John did what I'm sure most of us have done, in a country where driving is on the opposite side of the road to our own, and accidentally commenced riding on the wrong side of the road when leaving the servo. It's happened to me a couple of times and I now realise just how fortunate I've been.

 

The accident was around August 2012.

 

An absolute TOP BLOKE.


Edited by Wirra, 18 June 2014 - 11:42.


#32 Ray Bell

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Posted 18 June 2014 - 13:35

It happened the first week of October, or maybe in the last couple of days of September...

I got the e-mail about it a few days after I arrived in the US on October 3, 2012.

#33 Robin Fairservice

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Posted 18 June 2014 - 21:09

I drive in the UK occasionally but I live and drive in Canada.  I learned years ago never to cross the road to get gas, or park etc., because inevitably there will be the time when you pull out and happily drive down the wrong side. Therefore I always stop on the side that I am driving on when driving on the left hand side in the UK.



#34 Wirra

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Posted 27 June 2014 - 15:24

600,000 GBP (approx $1.14mAUS) Hammer price


Edited by Wirra, 27 June 2014 - 23:05.


#35 Giraffe

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Posted 28 June 2014 - 10:50

nx0p.jpg

 

£673,500 inc premium.



#36 BRG

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 15:42

Bought by Adrian Newey, according to MotorSport, so not going abroad as the OP feared, and probably not to be tucked away and never run, although whether Adrian will risk racing it himself is another matter.



#37 brucemoxon

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 22:46

The 1st Tasman Revival at Eastern Creek in Dec 2006.

 

The Dawson-Damer collection was still intact then. John Smith took the spoils with the 49..

 

Tasman_Revival_2006_024.jpg
pic upload

 

Tasman_Revival_2006_052.jpg
gif uploader

 

Tasman_Revival_2006_082.jpg
upload image online

 

Stephen

 

 

And there's a much younger and more red-headed Bruce Moxon pointing something out to Auto Action Editor Rob Margeit!

 

Could I have a copy please?

 

 

 

 

BM



#38 cooper997

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Posted 02 August 2014 - 01:24

PM your email Bruce and I'll sort a scan.

Stephen

#39 Supersox

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Posted 02 August 2014 - 14:04

Bought by Adrian Newey, according to MotorSport, so not going abroad as the OP feared, and probably not to be tucked away and never run, although whether Adrian will risk racing it himself is another matter.

In the light of Mr Neweys activities with other real historic cars which he has bought I assume a total re engineering will be the order of the day before the car ever takes to a track again.



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#40 Doug Nye

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Posted 02 August 2014 - 15:58

One can only improve upon what was in practical terms a near-perfect concept by incorporating later lessons and technology.  'R8' is by no means the best of the surviving Type 49s, but one hopes that whatever originality it possesses is still to be respected.  

 

A carbon-composite nose cone would alone save many pounds; a re-tub could save more weight, flexibility, and lap time... It all depends where the heart is.   :cat:



#41 BRG

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Posted 02 August 2014 - 16:14

Apparently the double diffuser that he plans to install will be made of period aluminium....  ;)



#42 john ruston

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Posted 03 August 2014 - 22:13

Let's hope he learns to drive it !

#43 RogerFrench

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Posted 04 August 2014 - 03:29

One can only improve upon what was in practical terms a near-perfect concept by incorporating later lessons and technology.  'R8' is by no means the best of the surviving Type 49s, but one hopes that whatever originality it possesses is still to be respected.  
 
A carbon-composite nose cone would alone save many pounds; a re-tub could save more weight, flexibility, and lap time... It all depends where the heart is.   :cat:


And, provided the originals were kept safe, would preserve them for future owners.

#44 Doug Nye

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Posted 05 August 2014 - 19:20

Indeed - good point.

 

DCN



#45 Supersox

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Posted 06 August 2014 - 17:57

Indeed - good point.

 

DCN

Sadly there is a long and tragic history of one car becoming two at this point !



#46 Doug Nye

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Posted 06 August 2014 - 22:23

Indeed there is...  Thank you so much for the reminder.     :blush:

 

DCN



#47 timbo

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Posted 07 August 2014 - 04:24

That reminds me of some track commentators at an Historic race meeting at Mallala, South Australia a few years ago, when discussing the number of Bugatti's which made their way to Argentina saying (not the correct numbers) of the 37 cars which made their way to Argentina, there are only 55 remaining.