Lotus 12

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Lotus 12
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CategoryFormula One, Formula Two
ConstructorTeam Lotus
[[automotive design|DesignerTemplate:Pluralize from text]]Colin Chapman
SuccessorLotus 16
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisAluminium body on multi-tubular space frame
Suspension (front)Double wishbone, coils springs, dampers, anti-roll bar
Suspension (rear)Chapman strut, trailing arms, fixed length drive shaft
Length130.9 in (332.5 cm)
Width60 in (152.4 cm)
Height35 in (88.9 cm)
Axle track48 in (121.9 cm)
Wheelbase87.9 in (223.3 cm)
EngineCoventry Climax FPF 1,965 cc (119.9 cu in) Inline 4-cylinder, DOHC Naturally-aspirated Front engined, longitudinally-mounted
TransmissionAnsdale-Mundy transaxle 5-speed manual ZF diff. with bespoke casing
Power175 bhp (130.5 kW)
Weight320 kg (705.5 lb)
FuelPetrol
BrakesDisc, all-round
TyresDunlop
Competition history
Notable entrantsTeam Lotus
Notable driversTemplate:Flagicon Graham Hill
Template:Flagicon Cliff Allison
Debut1958 Monaco Grand Prix
Last event1959 British Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
90000
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Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

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The Lotus 12 was a British racing car used in Formula Two and Formula One. It debuted at the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix and was Colin Chapman's first single-seat racer.

Design

Colin Chapman's first foray into single-seater racing, the 12 appeared in 1958. It featured a number of important innovations Chapman would use on later models. To better use the power of the Coventry Climax engine, it was designed, as usual, for low weight and low drag, relying on a space frame. It placed the driver as low as possible, reducing the height of transmission tunnel by way of a "conceptually brilliant"[2] five-speed sequential-shift transaxle located in the back. This transaxle was designed by Richard Ansdale and Harry Mundy. The gearbox had a (long-undiagnosed) oil starvation problem, thus earned the nickname "Queerbox" for its unreliability.

Although the first two examples of Lotus 12 had De Dion rear suspension, it also introduced a new suspension configuration with what came to be called "Chapman struts" in the rear, essentially a MacPherson strut with a fixed length halfshaft with universal joints on the ends utilised as a suspension arm.[3]

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:If preview' not found. Lotus 12 was the first Lotus to be fitted with the iconic wobbly-web wheels.[4] Reflecting Chapman's emphasis on engineering for lightness, these were cast in magnesium alloy, a kind of crimped cylinder, resulting in minimum material and maximum strength, without the weaknesses induced by slots in conventional designs.[2]

Despite its engineering advances, the 12 was not a success in F1. In F2, the car won the class in the mixed F1/F2 1958 BRDC International Trophy, driven by Cliff Allison, but in spite of a small number of podiums, was usually drowned in a sea of Coopers.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap.)

Year Teams Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Points WCC
1958 Team Lotus Climax Straight-4 Template:Tfm/datedD ARG MON NED 500 BEL FRA GBR GER POR ITA MOR 3 6th
Cliff Allison 6 6 4 Ret 10 7 10
Graham Hill Ret Ret Ret
Ecurie Demi Litre Template:Tfm/datedD Ivor Bueb 11*
1959 Dennis Taylor Climax Straight-4 Template:Tfm/datedD MON 500 NED FRA GBR GER POR ITA USA 5 4th1
Dennis Taylor DNQ

Page Template:Citation/styles.css has no content.^1 All points scored using the Lotus 16. * F2 driver

Notes

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Ultimate Car Page Lotus 12". Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b Setright, p. 1225
  3. ^ Setright, pp. 1225–6
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ludvigsen, Karl (2010). Colin Chapman: Inside the Innovator. Haynes Publishing. pp. 119–121. ISBN 978-1-84425-413-2.

Sources

  • Setright, L. J. K. Lotus: The golden mean, in Northey, Tom (ed.) World of Automobiles (London: Orbis, 1974), Volume 11, pp. 1221–34.

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Type 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Owner Colin Chapman David Wickins General Motors Romano Artioli Proton Holdings
Sports racer VIII IX Eleven 15 17 19 23 30 40 47 62 105 106 114 115
Mark VI Seven
Roadster Elan Elan Elise
Coupé Elite Elan
Europa Esprit Esprit Esprit
Grand tourer Elan +2 Elite
Eclat Excel
Saloon Cortina Cortina Carlton
Racing cars
Related cars
Concept cars
Key figures
Group Lotus

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