1965-66 Lotus 25?

[Orso]

I found out that Jo Bonnier drove a Lotus 25 late 1965 early 1966 and I notice that the rear bodywork differ from the Tamiya kit. I haven't found many pics of this but I wonder if it was the same as the Lotus 33? So what is needed to build a late Lotus 25?

[alexpayne]

Apart from the body work if you intend to make a 25/33 you need wider wheels ( The ones from the Tamiya Honda RA272 are ok) a different exhaust system and a slightly wider track.
Have a look at this pic:http://www.oldracingcars.com/lotus/33/
And here: http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/cg/269/L ... limax.html

[Orso]

I have the wide wheels from Indycals that I think will work. This car had the high mounted exhaust pipes but the body work is different than the Tamiya kit.
I am a bit lost with the Lotus 25, Lotus 25/33 and lotus 33.

[PJE]

Bjorn, from looking at my Lotus books it looks like the car you're talking about was chassis R6. It was driven by Bonnier at the 1966 South African GP and then was used by MGM in the filming of Grand Prix. I didn't find a photo of the car though as he drove it. If you can share the photo(s) that you have I'll try to help you out.

Paul Erlendson

[Orso]

These pictures are from the Non Championship VIII Rand Grand Prix 4 december 1965 - Kyalami

6503_Bonnier_Lotus_33.jpg (22.61 KiB) Viewed 351 times

6503_Rand_GP_Lotus_33_Jo_Bonnier_note_tape_over.jpg (22.28 KiB) Viewed 351 times

I haven't found pictures from the 1966 race.

[PJE]

Ok, sorry I’ve taken so long. I was right as this was indeed chassis R6, which was a Lotus 25B. It was entered in the Rand GP by Rob Walker. This is the same car that Jim Clark drove to win the 1964 British GP.
The main work for this conversion involves the rear suspension. The upper and lower rear wishbones are anchored forward of the normal location, with the lower having a fairing. The rear suspension is pretty much Lotus 33. If you start looking for photos of R6 you should see the differences.
I would use the Honda RA272 Goodyear tires with the Indycals wheels. If you don’t have the Firestone tire decals you can get them from Indycals. Michael also has a Lotus 25 decal sheet that will work.
The bodywork and engine cover does look like it is from a Lotus 33. Check with our good friend James Cabanes. He should be able to supply you with the Lotus 33 cover and possibly the bodywork.
Hope this helps.

Paul Erlendson

[Orso]

Coming back to this topic. Would the upcoming Lotus 33 from Ebbro be a good starting point for this?

[PJE]

Coming back to this topic. Would the upcoming Lotus 33 from Ebbro be a good starting point for this?

I think it would be perfect. From what I can see it has all the ingredients to replicate this car.

Paul Erlendson

[Steffen_T]

It’s defiantly a better starting point, but it all depends on if you can get the original Lotus 25 exhaust-system under the new Lotus 33 engine cover.
My interpretation of this picture is that all trees within the yellow rectangle are the original Tamiya trees. All the other trees are new by Ebbro.

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvMqoezrSyk/YJ-D8RHmw-I/AAAAAAADOzM/TuweEI4mOj0ndjyDRxroCbZMgqTRLp0OwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/EBBRO%2B%25286%2529.jpg

So you get all parts for the Lotus 25 exhaust from Tamiya, and the new Lotus 33 exhaust from Ebbro.
I will probably try to build a Gerhard Mitter Lotus. He raced the same configuration in 1965 at the Nürburgring.