Fast Chameleon — 1971 Lotus 69-Ford

When you look at any listing of Lotus competition cars built from the first Lotus VI of 1952 through to the mid-1970s, you can observe a change in direction. Prior to the ’70s, any listing will show quite a number of models built, including those for the smaller capacity formulae. Closer inspection will also show that Lotus Components was not only in the field of building competition cars, but the company itself was in competition with the likes of Brabham, Merlyn, Tecno and Chevron for a slice of the production racing car market. For instance, the Lotus 61 and 61M were built strictly for Formula Ford, with 248 built. A staggering number when you think of it.

The early 1970s was a time when Colin Chapman withdrew from the production racecar market to focus more fully on the more profitable roadcar side of the business, as well as maintaining the Lotus position within the heady world of Formula One. Looking at contemporary reports it’s clear that there were many players in the market and buyers could at best be labelled as fickle, those who would not necessarily stay with one marque. It was also the beginnings of litigious days, and there was concern that owners might seek some form of recompense as a result of an accident.