Vehicle Description
Accompanying signed documentation and statements of prior owners,
both in New Zealand and the USA, confirm this car to be the ex-Jim
Palmer Lotus 20B. Jim Palmer was one of New Zealand's most famous
and successful drivers. He was a local hero, racing his Lotus
against the great Formula 1 cars and drivers of the 1960s in New
Zealand. Palmer raced the Lotus 20B, fitted with a 1,500cc enginein
accordance with the then current F1 regulations, in events
including the New Zealand Grand Prix of 1962. Chris Read, a
historic racer from New Zealand, has stated that he owned and raced
an ex-Palmer Lotus 20B for some 20 years.Grand Prix Classics
re-sold the car in the spring of 1990, as a 'tired old race car' to
a buyer in New York. It was then restored to correct Lotus 20/22
specifications (the Lotus 22 having been the firm's successor
Formula Junior design, introduced in 1962). The Lotus has since
been raced for more than 2 decades in Formula Junior configuration
with historic racing organizations across the USA.The Lotus is in
race ready condition: Under the current owner, a prominent
California collector, this car was restored to her Formula 1 spec
with a new 1,500 cc Lotus F1 engine by UK Lotus expert Geoff
Richardson engineering, includes new rear F1 Spec wheels and tires
and has its original Hewland Mk6 gearbox rebuilt by Hewland
specialists Taylor Engineering. Power is transmitted via a Tilton
clutch and pressure plate. Suspension at the rear is by correct
Lotus 20 reversed A-arms with trailing arms, coil over shocks, load
bearing driveshafts, and sway bar. The disc brakes are the correct
Lotus 22 updates, the rears being inboard as originally configured
by Lotus. The car has a new alloy radiator and new fiberglass
cockpit surround/nose section, and is equipped with Smiths gauges,
a fuel cell, and fire suppression system. This car qualifies for
the historic formula 1 grand prix series; making it a rare and
unique opportunity to join the elite worldwide gentlemen's racing
series.