The chassis is a spaceframe, clothed in fibreglass bodywork. It has front double wishbone suspension, but the rear had a lower wishbone with the driveshaft being fixed length and therefore used as a top link. Originally fitted with Alfindrum brakes at all four corners, it was soon upgraded todiscs in front and inboard drums at the rear. Equipped as standard with theCosworth Mk.IV engine and with either aRenaultDauphine gearbox orHewland-modifiedVW box.
Compared with the Lotus 18, the 20 has a much reduced frontal area and lower centre of gravity, aided by the fact the driving position was reclined so the driver was nearly lying down, compared with being more upright in the Lotus 18.
A 1962 Lotus 20 can be found hanging from the ceiling on the first floor at theCanadian Automotive Museum.
The 20B was mostly the same as the 20, but withsway bar and stock inboard drum brakes in the rear. Occasionally, 20Bs ran withLotus TwinCam, and therefore didn't race as aFormula Junior, but as Formula Libre and in other series such as the Tasman series.[1]
Dave Charlton
