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Classical Gas 2010 Christmas Quiz

Posted by Michael on Dec 22, '10 1:21 PM for everyone

Here's the first question. There is a prize of a bottle of wine for the right answer, provided I can deliver it while I am trialling!

This famous car was last trialled in 1964 and hopefully will appear on the hills again after some TLC.

Can you identify the car and say who built it and for who?
We would also like to know about the cars competition history.

Members can post their anwers here or you can email mleete24@hotmail.com

Click Here for a bigger version of the picture

Michael

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19 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded

michaelleete wrote on Dec 23, '10

From David Alderson:-

That looks very much like Betsy to me.

michaelleete wrote on Dec 23, '10

michaelleete said

That looks very much like Betsy to me.

You will need to give me a reminder about "Betsy" David but I don't think its this car

michaelleete wrote on Dec 23, '10

From Graham Austin:-

Is this the special built for Ken Wharton?

michaelleete wrote on Dec 23, '10

michaelleete said

Is this the special built for Ken Wharton?

I don't think Ken Wharton ever drove this car Graham

michaelleete wrote on Dec 23, '10

From Tim Smith:-

"lotus trials car built by colin chapman for mike lawson"

Sorry Tim it isn't that car. From Andrew Browns site -"Michael Lawson wanted something better and commissioned Chapman to build a new trials car that could be driven on the road. By now Colin was only really interested in racing and had produced the famous 750 racing Mark III in which he made his name. But Colin needed the money. On the 1st January 1952, Colin Chapman and Michael Allen formed the Lotus Engineering Company, and the first customer car delivered was the one and only Mark IV, registration number LMU 4, designed to be used in trials by Michael Lawson."

LMU was restored some time ago and is now in an American museum. As you can see from the picture our car isn't restored yet.

michaelleete wrote on Dec 23, '10

From Lee Peck:-

"Tucker nipper ??? for the kids ????"

michaelleete wrote on Dec 23, '10

From Stuart Harrold:-

"Is it the Gregory that at this moment is being refurbished in Chalford?"

michaelleete wrote on Dec 23, '10

No its not the "Nipper" Lee. Again this has been restored already. btw I wrote a couple of pieces about the Nipper http://www.classictrials.co.uk/gas98121.htm & http://www.classictrials.co.uk/GAS97071.HTM

Thats a good one Stuart. I can see where you are coming from but its not that car.

michaelleete wrote on Dec 23, '10

From Josh Moss:-

Lotus Mk6 trials car only one made 1953 registration HEL 46. currently owned by Martyn Halliday.

michaelleete wrote on Dec 23, '10

michaelleete said

From Josh Moss:-

Lotus Mk6 trials car only one made 1953 registration HEL 46. currently owned by Martyn Halliday.

Well done Josh - You are right so far (the car Colin Chapman for Mike Lawson was the Lotus Mk4 Tim). Now Josh, can you answer the rest of the question. Who was the car built fo? and we would like to know about the cars competition history.

michaelleete wrote on Dec 23, '10

Here are some pictures of the car in action.

michaelleete wrote on Dec 23, '10

Josh adds some more information but we still haven't answered all the question as the car wasn't built for Arthur Hay.

"The original owner had the car for a year then sold it to Arthur Hay in 1954 and remained in that family until sold a couple of months back to Martyn. the car was last used in 1964"

stuartharrold wrote on Dec 23, '10

Was it built for Sterling Moss?
Stuart

michaelleete wrote on Dec 23, '10

No but the first name is not dissimilar. Also to the best of my knowledge he wasn't a policeman but if he were has an appropriate surname.

andrewgreen wrote on Dec 23, '10

Sinclair Sweeney??

michaelleete wrote on Dec 23, '10

Well done Andrew, the first owner of HEL 46 was Sinclair Sweeny.

simonwoodall wrote on Dec 24, '10

As Josh is not yet eighteen, I presume we are going to swap the winner's bottle of wine for a can of Tango?
:)

michaelleete wrote on Dec 24, '10

I guess Ian just won the quiz!

michaelleete wrote on Dec 24, '10

To summarise the answer. The car is a Lotus VI. It was the very first of the type made and unlike the "racers" that were to follow it had a solid beam front axle and a lofty ground clearance. It was built for Sinclair Sweeny although its only when Arthur Hay bought it is much information available. Big thanks to present owner Martyn Halliday for the pictures and information about the car.
Going to award three prizes. Tim Smith - For spotting it was a Lotus, Josh Moss for knowing it was a MkVI and to Andrew Green for knowing the car was built for Sinclair Sweeny.

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