First ever Lotus F1 car set for auction in Monaco

©Bonhams

Revving up the excitement for motorsport enthusiasts and collectors this May in Monte-Carlo, Bonhams "Les Grandes Marques à Monaco” sale will feature a true F1 legend.

The 1957-58 Lotus-Climax Type 12 chassis '353' is not just another race car; it's a cornerstone of British Formula 1 history, and one estimated at €290,000 – 390,000.

The remarkable machine holds a dual distinction: firstly, it's the very first Formula 1 contender built by Lotus, and secondly, it served as the launchpad for the illustrious career of Graham Hill, a future five-time winner of the Monaco Grand Prix and two-time Formula 1 World Champion.

In a departure from his initial triumphs, Lotus founder Colin Chapman took a bold step in late 1956 with the Type 12 design.

This marked his first foray into single-seater racing, a significant shift from the string of ultra-lightweight and aerodynamically sculpted sports-racing cars that had established Lotus's reputation for elegance and engineering prowess.

Read also: Vowles to drive iconic Williams FW08 at Goodwood FOS

Originally built to contest international motor racing's newly launched Formula 2 class through 1957, the Type 12 was eventually fitted with an enlarged 1960cc Coventry Climax F2 engine.

This pioneering machine first hit the track with Graham Hill at Silverstone's 1958 BRDC International Trophy which marked the legendary Briton and Team Lotus's Formula 1 debut. There was no looking back for Hill, Lotus and Chapman thereafter.

©TheCahierArchive

The legend unleashed by chassis '353' would propel Lotus to unimaginable heights.

The marque would go on to claim 74 Grand Prix wins and a staggering seven Formula 1 Constructors' World Championships, with Hill, Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Mario Andretti contributing six F1 Drivers’ titles.

Bonhams’ prestigious Monaco sale will take place at the Villa Le Vigie in Monte-Carlo on May 10, on the same weekend as the 2024 Monaco Historic Grand Prix event.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.