The Lotus Eleven model had been hugely successful, in both sales and in races. This lightweight, streamlined, low-slung, two-seat "sports racer" tremendously extended Lotus' reputation. However, the Eleven had been launched at the beginning of a period of especially rapid technical development. Soon, tough competitors joined the fight. The next few Lotus sports racers were less notable, until the new Lotus "23" model arrived in 1962 and brought Lotus right back to the top of the class. The Lotus 23 was mainly designed for engines up to 1.3 liters displacement. The Lotus 23B variant, featured here, is similar except for a heavier duty frame to accomodate engines up to 1.6 liters.Lotus 23B serial number 23-S-61 was originally delivered to Ian Phillips of England, painted white with blue stripes. It had been specified with a 1600cc Twin Cam engine and a Hewland 5-speed transmission. It was soon purchased and moved to the United States, where Ed Cicotte raced it actively in Sports Car Club of America's (SCCA's) Central Division throughout the 1960s and 70s. Cicotte changed engines at least twice. For a time, he raced it with a 1.5L Coventry Climax V8 with Colotti transmission. He later fitted a 2.0L BMW engine.
Ed Cicotte sold the car to Ed Dickenson in the 1970s. Dickenson raced the car for awhile with the BMW engine, then began converting the car back to Lotus Twin Cam power in the mid-1980s but didn't complete the project. Dickenson died in 2002, and Don Munuz purchased the unassembled car.
In 2004, Don Munoz completed an extensive restoration of this racecar to original 23B specifications. As shown below, it has been returned to its original configuration with Lotus 1600 Twin-Cam engine. Don has subsequently raced it in three to four Sportcar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) events per year, before deciding to offer it for sale in 2010 when it was bought by Donnybrooke Motorsports in Spring Park, MN. It has been raced and maintained by Donnybrooke since. It has most recently had a transmitter radio installed for track day communication and the suspension has been rebuilt. Also, the harness' have been updated to comply with track specifications.
Features and Specifications| Engine: | MWE-built 1600cc Lotus Twin Cam engine (3.25" bore by 2.864" stroke). Dual Weber 45DCOE carburetors. Lucas distributor. Lucas AB14 electronic ignition amplifier.MSD ignition coil. Accel 8mm Super Stock radio supression core spark plug wires. Dry sump lubrication system. Brian Hart oil pump. Racor tattletale oil filter. Motor has been reworked since these photos were taken.
| | Cooling: | original copper/brass style radiator. RaceTech aluminum oil cooler. (Water and oil plumbed external to the frame).
| | Exhaust: | 4-into-1 stainless steel exhaust header.
| | Transaxle: | Hewland 5-speed. Halfshafts have been upgraded to CV joints in lieu of Metalastic donuts.
| | FrontSusp.: | unequal length, non-parallel dual wishbone suspension. Alford & Alder forged uprights. Koni double-adjustable aluminum-bodied coilover shock absorbers. Eibach springs. Adjustable anti-sway bar.
| | RearSusp.: | inverted lower wishbones, single top links, and twin adjustable trailing links. Lotus proprietary magnesium uprights. Koni double-adjustable aluminum-bodied coilover shock absorbers. Eibach springs. Non-adjustable anti-sway bar.
| | Brakes: | (master) dual Girling master cylinders with remote reservoirs.
(front) Girling aluminum calipers. 9" solid rotors.
(rear) Girling aluminum calipers. 9" solid rotors.
| | Wheels/Tires: | Lotus magnesium racing wheels (13x5 4-lug front, 13x6 6-lug rear). Avon "Historic Formula Ford" tires (5.0/22.0-13 front, 6.5/23.0-13 rear).
| | Electrical: | Odyssey PC680 drycell battery. Tilton Super Starter XLT gear reduction starter.
| | Instruments: | (left to right) AutoMeter voltmeter (8-18V), Smiths coolant temperature (30-110C) Smiths tachometer (0-12000rpm), Smiths oil pressure (0-160psi), and Smiths oil temperature (40-140C) gauges.
| | FuelSystem: | center mounted seven gallon custom fuel cell. Facet (Bendix style) electric fuel pump. Holley adjustable fuel pressure regulator.
| | SafetyEqmt: | RaceTech centralized fire suppression system. Willans six-point cam-lock safety harness. Quick release steering wheel hub, installed on a RaceTech leather wrapped steering wheel.
| | Weight: | ~1000#.
| | RacingClass: | SVRA Group 5. |
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