8th-Sep-21, 01:00 PM
The Lotus 63 was an experimental F1 car, designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe for the 1969 season. Chapman's reasoning behind the car was that the 3 litre engines introduced in 1966 would be better served by building a car that could take full advantage of its power while retaining the Lotus 49's simplicity.
Like theLotus 56 for the Indy 500 (and later F1), the 63 chassis was designed around a 4wd system. This was not totally revolutionary at the time, as four wheel drive had been used on the Fergusson F1 car that won atOulton Park as early as 1961, but with little development thereafter. However, it was not a successful design. In fact, the Matra MS 84 was the only 4WD F1 which scored points (driven byJohnny Servoz Gavin, at the 1969 Canadian GP) something neither Lotus nor Mclaren managed, while Cosworth did not even race their 4WD design.The 63 was an evolution of the 49, but featured wedge shaped rear bodywork and integrated wings, which would be used to great effect in the Lotus 72.
The car was entered at the 1969 British Grand Prix as a test run. Whilst Rindt finished fourth in the older 49 behindJackie Stewart after running short of fuel whilst leading, Miles could only bring the 63 home in 10th place, confirming the car's uncompetitiveness. After several other fruitless outings, the 63 was abandoned, but parts of the chassis design were worked into theLotus 72, which debuted in 1970.
The four wheel drive technology returned into F1 with the Lotus 56B in 1971.
Like the Lotus 88 , the 4WD cars proved to be huge white elephants for Lotus, but it paved the way for better models to follow.
The model is based on the Betta and classic Fibreglass body:
This is a wonderful build by a friend from Chech Rep - workmanship is sublime.
Hope you enjoy this.
Like theLotus 56 for the Indy 500 (and later F1), the 63 chassis was designed around a 4wd system. This was not totally revolutionary at the time, as four wheel drive had been used on the Fergusson F1 car that won atOulton Park as early as 1961, but with little development thereafter. However, it was not a successful design. In fact, the Matra MS 84 was the only 4WD F1 which scored points (driven byJohnny Servoz Gavin, at the 1969 Canadian GP) something neither Lotus nor Mclaren managed, while Cosworth did not even race their 4WD design.The 63 was an evolution of the 49, but featured wedge shaped rear bodywork and integrated wings, which would be used to great effect in the Lotus 72.
The car was entered at the 1969 British Grand Prix as a test run. Whilst Rindt finished fourth in the older 49 behindJackie Stewart after running short of fuel whilst leading, Miles could only bring the 63 home in 10th place, confirming the car's uncompetitiveness. After several other fruitless outings, the 63 was abandoned, but parts of the chassis design were worked into theLotus 72, which debuted in 1970.
The four wheel drive technology returned into F1 with the Lotus 56B in 1971.
Like the Lotus 88 , the 4WD cars proved to be huge white elephants for Lotus, but it paved the way for better models to follow.
The model is based on the Betta and classic Fibreglass body:
This is a wonderful build by a friend from Chech Rep - workmanship is sublime.
Hope you enjoy this.
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