LOTUS FORD 63

On the search for more grip the designers of Cosworth, Matra, McLaren and also Lotus decided to bring 4 wheel drive, that before had only be used for military vehicles, to Grand Prix Racing at the end of the sixties. This step seemed to be logical, because the power of the 3.0 litre normally aspirated engines became more and more. First the designer had tried to get more grip in the corners by high wings from the 1968 French Grand Prix on, but when their sizes were cut down dramatically after the Barcelona 1969 accidents of Graham Hill and Jochen Rindt, the 4 wheel projects were forced.

As the sucessor of the Lotus Ford 49, that had made his first appearance back in 1967 as the first Ford Cosworth V8 powered car, the Mk63 entered the scene in 1969. It´s design looked very progressive and the the bodywork was pretty wedge-shaped in spite of the water radiator was still placed in the nose section. Most of the testing work was done by Team Lotus´ Third Man, Briton John Miles. He also drove the Mk63 in 5 Grand Prix of the 1969 season, but the best result, he was able to score, was a 10th place at the British Grand Prix of Silverstone. The Lotus works drivers Graham Hill and Jochen Rindt refused to enter the cockpit of the Mk63, making their boss Colin Chapman getting very angry about. But also their team mate Mario Andretti from the USA, who drove the car in 2 Grand Prix that year, was able to have success. For that reason Chapman decided to construct a new car for the 1970 season, the Mk72, that made Jochen Rindt become world champion, but also getting killed.

Model Designation: Lotus Ford 63 Year: 1969 Designer: Maurice Phillippe Chassis: Lotus Aluminum Engine: Ford Cosworth 3.0 litre DFV V8 Gearbox/Transmission: Hewland DG300, 4 Wheel Drive Tyres: Firestone Drivers: John Miles/GB, Mario Andretti/USA, Joakim Bonnier/S, (Graham Hill/GB) Sponsors: Gold Leaf (Cigarettes), Shell (Fuels and Oils)

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Text: J H , Graphics: project * 2000

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