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| Lotus 19 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Lotus Cars |
| Production | 1960–1962 |
| Designer | Colin Chapman |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Group 4 sports car |
| Body style | Fiberglass non-stressed |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Coventry Climax FPF |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 95 in (2,413 mm) |
| Length | 141 in (3,581 mm) |
| Width | 60.5 in (1,537 mm) |
| Height | 31 in (787 mm) |
| Kerb weight | 1,000 lb (454 kg)-1,240 lb (562 kg) (dry) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Lotus 15 |
| Successor | Lotus 23 |
TheLotus 19 orMonte Carlo is amid-engine sports-racing car designed byColin Chapman ofLotus and built from 1960 until 1962.
The 19 is a mid-engine, rear wheel drive sports racer with a fiberglass body over aspace frame, originally designed with 1.5 - 2.75LCoventry Climax FPF engine built forGrand Prix cars, mated to Lotus' own five-speed sequentialtransaxle nicknamed 'Queerbox' which gave a lot of problems on theLotus 15, but was improved in its reliability for theLotus 18. American-engined examples mostly had aColotti transaxle.
Chapman named the car Monte Carlo to honorStirling Moss for his win at the1960 Monaco Grand Prix. Lotus' first F1 victory. This is said to have mimicked and declared competition against theCooperMonaco, which was named after a win at Monaco in 1958.
Towards the end of 1963, John Klug, founder of Pacesetter Homes Racing, commissioned Lotus to build a special 19 to beFord V8 powered. Ford's new lightweight iron block 289 c.i. engine was chosen overOldsmobile's smaller aluminum V8. Roy Campbell finished the car in southern California.Dan Gurney, who had enjoyed considerable success at the wheel of the Arciero Brothers Lotus 19-Climax as the driver.
Because of its unique specification, it was known as the 19B, the only 19 with this designation. Originally delivered in red livery, the car first appeared at Nassau in December 1963. In 1964 it was the fastest sports car in the world, but the car's weak spot was itsColotti transaxle, the failure of which led to a number of retirements. By mid-1965 it was obsolete. It continued racing in southern California and eventually dropped out of sight. Wayne Linden of Roseville, California, found it in a semi trailer waiting to be turned into a dune buggy. He restored it to its early-1964 configuration, except for theColotti, and ran it in mostly Cobra club events. He sold it to Gordon and Nancy Gimble. Today the car regularly appears at vintage car events in the US and may be on display at Cobra Experience museum in Martinez, Calif.
There were seventeen Lotus 19s built, however many were wrecked and some were completely rebuilt.
| Chassis | Original owner | Motor |
|---|---|---|
| 950 | British Racing Partnership | 2.5 Climax |
| 951 | Arciero Brothers | 2.5 Climax |
| 952 | British Racing Partnership sold to Team Rosebud | 2.0 Climax/Ferrari V-12 3.0 in 1963 |
| 953 | British Racing Partnership | 2.5 Climax |
| 954 | J. Frank Harrison | 2.5 Climax later as Harrison Special-289 Ford |
| 955 | Jack Nethercutt | 2.5 Climax |
| 956 | Charles Vogele | 2.5 Climax changed to 2.0 Climax for hillclimbs |
| 957 | Tom Carstens | Empty - 3.5 Buick fitted changed to Chevy V8 |
| 958 | Roy Schechter | 2.5 Climax |
| 959 | Peter Ryan | 2.5 Climax |
| 960 | Robert Publicker | 1.5 Climax |
| 961 | Harry Zweifel | 2.0 Climax for hillclimbs |
| 962 | Rod Carveth | Empty - 3.5 Buick fitted |
| 963 | Henry Olds/Bob Colombosian | Empty - 3.5 Buick fitted |
| 964 | John Coundley | 2.5 Climax |
| 965 | Mecom Racing Team | empty - 2.0 Climax fitted changed to 3.5Buick |
| 966 | John Klug | 289Ford |
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