10 replies to this topic

[PeterTRoss]

The first Lotus Twelve to run was #351 with de Dion rear suspension and an MGA gearbox (because the 'Queerbox was not yet ready).

The first test was at Silverstone on 11th March 1957, and the next at Brands Hatch on an unspecified date.

I have three photographs taken during the testing, but am not sure at which circuit they were taken. Can someone help, and also confirm I have put the right names to the right people.


This is the one I think was at Silverstone. L to R Mike Costin, hidden behind is Graham Hill?, Willie Griffiths, Colin Chapman.


This is the one I think may be Brands Hatch, but I don't know the date. L to R Colin Chapman, Ron Flockhart, kneeling Willie Griffiths, unknown (in Esso overalls), Graham Hill, Mike Costin.


This shows Colin Chapman driving the car. It is said to have been taken at the Silverstone testing.

The difference in height under the driver's seat was taken care of by a neat little transfer gear casing containing three equal sized gear wheels which attached to the nose of the BMC A70 differential which in turn fitted inside a Lotus Mk IX casing.

It was raced at Crystal Palace and Brands Hatch in this configuration by Herbert Mackay Fraser, achieving a second place at Crystal Palace. and was then converted to Chapman Strut suspension and sold to Ern Tadgell who took it to Australia where it became the Sabakat, but that is another story! Ern used to joke that he had the only Twelve with a reliable gearbox!

Does anyone know the origin of the name Sabakat?

[Ray Bell]

Definitely a Graham Howard question... I don't know how often he checks the forum these days, however...

I think it's related to Ern Tadgell being in the cropdusting business. I do recall having been told some stories about this all, but it's a very long time ago.

By the way, it wasn't an MGA gearbox, at least as far as I know. I understood it was fitted with an MG Magnette gearbox, which was the same other than having the clutch slave cylinder on top of the bellhousing.

[PeterTRoss]

Ray Bell wrote:

Yes Ray you are quite right. Magnette is what Graham Howard told me, and I forgot when I wrote this.

Graham Howard is really part of the "other story" aout what happened after it got to Australia which we are covering in the HLR magazine "Historic Lotus" Spring issue due out 1st April.

I was hoping keen eyed TNFs would recognise the buildings and the trees in the photographs, and offer some expanation of the origin of the word "Sabakat". Graham Howard thoght it was the name of a US aeroplane, but I can find no record of this.

[M bennett]

Peter I sat down and went through my pile of Lotus 12 photos. Willie Griffiths had the first photo in his own personal collection along with another two others taken from the rear on the same day. One, of the car only, notes "Testing at Silverstone - Note leaking fuel tank then made entirely of glassfibre" There is a puddle of fuel under the tail. The other says- "Same car, Graham bending over- I think this may have been his first own car? " The first photo that you show has "This is the first works X11 to be tested. Silverstone driven by Chapman and Graham" So it would appear to be Silverstone.
All three photos were taken by and copyright- AR Cradock 17 Leahoe Gardens, Hertford (Institute of British Photographers)
Note Graham and Colin are in overalls ready for driving, Willie in a Dark blazer and neat trousers- The car must have been repared well in advance! Very un-Lotus like.
I think the middle of your two photos might be another day/place as the dent in the bonnet in the top picture seems to have disappeared? Mike B

[llmaurice]

With Willie in a neat blazer and trousers it must indeed have been a well prepared car !
Most of the time ,we didn't have time to have a ----------------shave .

[Doug Nye]

Peter it is Silverstone. The scanned photos you reproduce were taken by my late mate Geoff Goddard. The negs are now copyright The GP Library.

DCN

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Doug Nye
Peter it is Silverstone. The scanned photos you reproduce were taken by my late mate Geoff Goddard. The negs are now copyright The GP Library.

It would be easy to tell who took the centre one...

The photographer's reflection is probably nice and clear in the area near the Lotus badge.

[Charles Helps]

The second and third photos in PTR's first post above appear in my 1978 copy of DCN's Theme Lotus and are captioned as Silverstone as Doug says.

However there is another Geoff Goddard picture on page 11 of the book, captioned as Ron Flockart in #351 at Silverstone. The car has a different exhaust system to that on the car in the picture of Colin Chapman going past the tree. Is this the same car bearing in mind Doug's 1978 caption "Colin Chapman testing his second prototype De Dion-axled Lotus 12..." ?

[PeterTRoss]

Mike Bennett and Charles Helps have sharp eyes.

I think the dent in the bonnet is still there in the next picture, but not so pronounced.

The evidence that these were taken on two separate testing sessions is building up. Not only was the exhaust pipe different, but Willie Griffiths has suddenly abandoned his blazer and appeared in overalls, and the dent had reduced. I also seem to remember somewhere that Graham Hill and Colin were reported as driving at the frst test session, and that Ron Floockhart at a later session - perhaps at Brands Hatch?

I don't think we can rely on photo captions as evidence - they can be added years later and can be wrong as I know to my cost!

Here are the two photos that Charles referred to:

This shows Chapman driving.

This shows Ron Flockhart at the wheel.

I have found another image of testing - this one definitely at Silverstone.



I think this is still the de Dion car as evidenced by the long radius arm. Willie Griffiths has some clean overalls this time.

How many de Dion Cars?

My undertanding is that there were just two, the first non-runner at the Motor Show #301, and the later one #351 that was tested. I can see no reason why they would have made another as one would have been enough to compare the de Dion and Strut-type rear suspensions.

[Charles Helps]

Thank goodness Geoff Goddard was around to take the pictures and DCN/the GP Library to preserve the negatives. Have you discussed copyright for use in Historic Lotus?

Not being very good at identifying the later streamline cars, is that an Eleven Le Mans 150 or a 1958 Fifteen carrying the race number 28? It may well be wearing the Lotus trade plate 007 MH which appeared on both types. That information should help to date the 3rd photo in the post above.

[Doug Nye]

The photo of Flockhart driving the car is another Geoff photo and it too was taken at Silverstone. Unfortunately, Geoff did not date his negatives, Publication of GP Library copyright material without talking to us about it would (in other circumstances) be asking for trouble. But since it's you...

DCN