Photography courtesy Bonhams
Take six Ariel Arrow two-stroke engines, slap them together in a V formation, then wedge it into a Lotus 23B. The result? This Lotus-Rotorvic sports racer.
As the seller explains, the 1482cc V12 engine was initially devised by Lotus engine specialist R.V.'Ron' Marchant as a potential F1 power unit. However, new regulations for 1966 made the engine ineligible.
While that led to Colin Chapman losing interest in the engine, Marchant did not. Instead, the unique powerplant found its way into a modified Lotus 23B chassis.
In the early 2000s, the Lotus-Rotorvic was noted to have been painstakingly rebuilt before reemerging in the public eye at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Later, at the 2016 Goodwood Revival Meeting, the car finally competed in its first competitive race in over 50 years. Despite suffering a piston failure at the event, the Lotus-Rotorvic is today billed as “track-ready.”
Find this 1965 Lotus-Rotorvic 23B 1.5-litre V12-Engined Sports-Racing Prototype for auction from Bonhams, price available upon application.
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Price
Price upon request
Color
Blue
