STORIED ELEVEN'S STALLED RESTORATION

Marque specialist Mike Brotherwood has offered for sale a Lotus Eleven with early racing history.

- COMPILED BY MICHAEL WARE

Its first owner was Bryan Hewitt, who finished second to Holland Birkett in the first race put on by the 750 Motor Club, in 1951, then in 1955 he bought from Colin Chapman the Eleven kit, which he put together with the skill of a trained engineer. In 1977 he wrote in a letter that the Lotus needed: 'A lot of fitting, cutting, re-welding etc to get it all together.' The car had an 1100cc Coventry Climax engine with an MG gearbox, a Ford live rear axle and cable brakes. It was registered XPJ 932.