Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Members Cars => Topic started by: Lotus 47 on Wednesday,November 23, 2016, 08:12:50 PM
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I purchased my S2 Europa in 1987, but always dreamed of owning a Lotus 47.
By pure chance I ended up with 47-GT-3, the Chris Barber car which was driven throughout 1967 & 1968 in the World Sports Car Championships by John Hine.
Chris appears to have been close to Colin Chapman, and had access to some interesting cars.
I think his first Lotus was a Mk IX, followed by an Elite (I thought it was one of the prototypes), an Elan (maybe a 26R), the 47, and finally one of the 62's. Interestingly the Elite has just been restored and featured on a UK TV restoration show. It sold at Silverstone for £121,500.
https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/lotus-elite
I find it fascinating uncovering the history of my car, and I keep finding new things
Years ago my first point of call was the website below. It lists 47-GT-3 as the most competed Lotus 47 at international level. It was singularly unsuccessful! The races were full of breathtaking machines. The factory cars made a big impression though.
http://www.racingsportscars.com/chassis/47-GT-03.html
Just yesterday I chanced upon a Standford university site that has some fab photos of my car in colour. Take a few minutes to look at them. For me they are a fabulous resource to understand what the car should look like.
https://revslib.stanford.edu/catalog/jg032sm2995
https://revslib.stanford.edu/catalog/hj691pd0639
https://revslib.stanford.edu/catalog/cx277rn1759
https://revslib.stanford.edu/catalog/mh035zg8458
If you look closely, there is a trombone on the RH front mudguard. Chris Barber still plays his trombone today.
Lots more to come
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Very interesting, Richard (I missed the trombone though!)! You certainly have had some very significant and interesting Loti! I'm anxious to see more pictures!
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Those are great pictures Richard. What does the car look like today? Are you busy restoring it?
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Very cool. Looking forward to seeing more.
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Here are a few photos of 47-GT-3 at various stage in its life.
http://www.vhrr.com/forum/album.php?albumid=1&pictureid=9
I have collected quite a lot of period photos, but most of them are copyright. I must be careful with what I post on the internet!
The car is pretty much as I bought it in 2009.
The body has been restored and is in primer. The original chassis centre tunnel has been retained, and new front box section, and rear fork fitted. This is fitted into the shell. The original font and rear chassis sections were supplied with car, so I intend to restore those so the car has as much of the original chassis as possible.
Most of the suspension arms were supplied with the car, but no rear uprights, shocks/springs or wheel spinners, no rear hubs. All the expensive bits!
I have a really nice 701M block, and a clean early "half moon" head. I will fit a later head, because these early ones are quite small in the intake runners.
The car came with a brand new set of discs, and rims, excellent gauges, doors, a windscreen, and rear lights from the Lancia Berlina. The light housings need to be cut done.
Most importantly it has its original chassis ID plate, and a continuous list of owners and past registration papers. As a bones, I got a whole car thrown in with it 460047, which I treasure just as much as the 47.
In my years of ownership, I have collected parts for it such as
- brake calipers Girlign 16/3 in alloy
- spinners
- springs/shocks
- correct 2 bolt FT200 with parts for the alternator drive
- rear uprights
- rear hubs
- gear shift linkage
- oil catch tank
- fuel tanks
- fuel Filler
- side windows
The list goes on.
I will start the restoration when my Elan 26/4101 is finished. I will not attempt to restore 2 different car at the same time. The 47 will require a big injection of time and money to complete, and it deserves to be done properly and sympathetically.
See below for the trombone motif. It makes me smile.
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Ahh! Great trombone!! :)
Pretty cool to have a little piece of history! You've got quite a stable, there! Very cool! :beerchug:
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What a fantastic stable of cars!
I look forward to hearing of the 47's restoration once you've completed the Elan (and what a bonus to have 460047 too!)
Mark
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That is fantastic! It is a long journey trying to collect all the right parts but it sounds like you are doing an amazing job finding those hard to find bits.
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Another ex Chris Barber Lotus sold recently at auction.
The restoration of this car was on TV last week.
https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/lotus-elite
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Perhaps some news from Richard? Has the restoration of 47GT3 been completed? In which condition is it now? ;)
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Hey Richard, have you made any progress on your 47. I heard my dad’s old 47 ended up in Australia I was wondering if it was yours. He campaigned it during the early 70s on the west coast of Canada. He and his business partner imported it from England. Unfortunately their record keeping wasn’t the best. I wish I had more info on it.
Ross
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Hey Richard, have you made any progress on your 47. I heard my dad’s old 47 ended up in Australia I was wondering if it was yours. He campaigned it during the early 70s on the west coast of Canada. He and his business partner imported it from England. Unfortunately their record keeping wasn’t the best. I wish I had more info on it.
Ross
Hi Ross,
I was in touch with Richard last summer, the 47 was in stand by awaiting work when time permit but he had collected nearly every part needed.
I am trying to collect every information I can about all 47s. Richard car is not your father's one because it sat in UK untill being bought by Richard.
I sent you a PM concerning your father's car, perhaps I should have some information.
Daniel
hIS CAR IS NOT