1955 Lotus-Bristol MK X Sports-racer
Registration no. JBW 648
Chassis no. 88
Engine no. BS1 120

Colin Chapman and his energetic young design team at the Lotus Engineering Company - based behind father Stan Chapman's public house, The Railway Hotel in Hornsey, North London - introduced the beautiful Lotus Mark X competition sports car in 1955. At this time Lotus was busy manufacturing the dual-purpose, road/sports Mark VI as well as the Mark VIII sports-racer. Boasting a sleek aerodynamic body designed by Frank Costin, and powered by a 1½-litre MG engine, the latter had proved immensely successful, leading to customers approaching Chapman suggesting that he build a car to accept larger engines. The result was the Bristol-powered Mark X. Among the aforementioned customers were Michael Anthony, Cliff Davis and Peter Scott-Russell, who ordered chassis number '88', the car offered here.

The Mark X was based on the Mark VIII, to which it bore a strong visual resemblance. Beneath the aluminium skin, the spaceframe chassis was altered to accommodate the longer, taller and heavier BMW-based, six-cylinder, Bristol engine; likewise the bodywork, which gained a pronounced bonnet bulge to clear the downdraft carburettors. Disc brakes were fitted all round for the first time on a Lotus, while the fuel tank, fuel pumps, battery and spare wheel were mounted aft of the rear axle to counter-balance the heavy engine. Only some six or seven Mark Xs were made, compared with 270 of its Mark XI successor, only four of which had the Bristol engine. One distinct advantage the Lotus X has over the XI is its generous size, enabling the earlier car to accommodate taller drivers with ease.

Peter Scott-Russell enjoyed considerable success with '88' in its debut season, only to suffer a serious accident the following year during the Daily Express meeting at Silverstone, crashing heavily at Stowe corner. Scott-Russell had raced at various British circuits with the Lotus in 1955/56, including five times at Goodwood, finishing 3rd more than once and beating more powerful cars such as the Jaguar C-Type into the bargain. Prior to the 1956 accident that would enforce his retirement from racing, Scott-Russell had driven a wide variety of cars including a works Triumph TR2 at the 1955 Mille Miglia and a works MG in the 1956 running of the Italian classic. But it is as commentator at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone that Peter is best remembered; indeed, it was he that first coined the phrase: "Silverstone, the Home of British Motor Racing." The history file contains a substantial quantity of contemporary race meeting programmes, including three for Goodwood events and one for the 1955 British Grand Prix at Aintree. Only one other Lotus X has significant in-period Goodwood history. Scott-Russell and 'JBW 648' are featured in Chapter 4 of Anthony Pritchard's book, Lotus – The Sports Racing Cars.

Subsequently rebuilt, 'JBW 648' was advertised for sale by Scott-Russell in Autosport in December 1960: "Gift at £450. Chapman-designed chassis fitted with Bristol engine, Dunlop disc brakes, i.f.s., de Dion rear. In brand new condition, complete except for body." The car's purchaser is not known but in 1972 it passed into the ownership of Ken Rogers. He was followed by Bernard Pigelet (1974) and then Pascal Dousse (1988). The car was painted British Racing Green at this time. In 1990s the Lotus was owned by George Pouponot, who used it on the road for rallying. Some work was carried out on the engine (bill on file).

The current vendor purchased the Lotus from his friend, a prominent figure in the ASI, who had acquired the Lotus circa 2005. The previous owner checked the engine and restored the body, having the nose and front wings remade in aluminium. The rest of the body (centre and rear sections) remains original. The green paint was removed and the car returned to its original bare aluminium finish. In 2013 the Lotus took part in Le Veterane sulle strade dei Vini road rally. We are advised that the engine runs very well and that the car is ready gentle road use but not ready to race. Returning to Goodwood for the first time since 1955, this historic Lotus sports-racer is offered with French registration documents and a UK V5C Registration Certificate.