10 replies to this topic

[MCS]

Just seen this on a "Norfolk News" Bulletin:

08 October 2004 06:30

The desk where Team Lotus founder Colin Chapman signed all his important deals is being auctioned this month with a guide price of £25,000-£50,000.

Also up for grabs are two Lotus Formula One racing cars from the late 1980s, tons of original spare parts and equipment, and a host of memorabilia from the Norfolk-based team's heyday.

The items are being auctioned at Brighton on October 30 on the instruction of liquidators selling the effects of Investfirm, the company that owned the Lotus FI Racing Car Team.

Douglas Jamieson, of auctioneers Coys, is handling the sale, which is attracting strong interest from racing car enthusiasts.

He said: "The estimate for the cars is £25,000-£50,000 and the desk is estimated at around the same price. It is a very important piece of history.

"It was Colin Chapman's office desk, on which he signed all the contracts and worked at all those years. In itself it is, we think, a very good Victorian partners desk."

Thousands of people turned out in July this year for the 50th anniversary of Team Lotus. The weekend celebration was held at Hethel, near Wymondham, headquarters of Norfolk sports car makers Group Lotus.

Colin Chapman was described by British race ace Sir Jackie Stewart as the greatest, most creative designer of racing cars in the history of motor racing. Under his inspiration, Team Lotus won the world championship seven times and drivers Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi and Mario Andretti all became world champions.

Team Lotus's success continued after Mr Chapman's death in 1982, but the massive financial burden of grand prix racing forced it out of top flight competition in 1994.

Mr Jamieson said all the sale items had to be transported from Norfolk to Brighton and totalled one and a half juggernaut loads.

Details will be posted on the website www.coys.co.uk from about October 20 onwards, when auction catalogues will also be available. Call 0207 584 7444 for more details.

Should be very interesting to see the details...

MCS

[Megatron]

If thats the one where he learned about his 88 being banned, I wonder if it has a big dent on one side?

[MCS]

Just had a quick look through the somewhat ecelctic list.

Noticed there were no reserve prices on a "102/B2" or a "102/D1"

Here's a link...

http://www.coys.co.u...talRows_lots=83

Mark

[Ruairidh]

Lot 283 Ronnie Peterson - Supersweed

[jorism]

Anyone going to the auction?

[Alan Cox]

No reserves on anything being sold by the Lotus F1 Team liquidators.

[MCS]

Originally posted by jorism
Anyone going to the auction?

I'd hoped to when it was announced - but I'm elsewhere in any case now...

I'd be very interested to hear from any TNF attendees though...

Mark

[Arrows4Ever]

Do you have to be absolutely present to participate or can you bet over the net à la Dovebid ?

[David McKinney]

You could have someone there bid on your behalf, or I'm sure you'd be able to take part by phone

[jorism]

Anyone going to the auction or bidding via telephone?

I'd like to know if someone from the mainland is going there..........

[MCS]

My apologies for bringing this back to the top, but I'm just curious as to whether any TNFers went, or if anybody has any idea as to what was sold and for what ???

Thanks
Mark