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The ex-Tonio Hildebrand
1959 Lotus-Climax Seven Series 1
Chassis no. 804

During the early 1960s Dutch amateur racing driver Tonio 'Tony' Hildebrand starred in home events up to and including International status as a floridly-moustachioed, larger-than-life and extrovert character who proved capable of beating robust opposition in his "indecently rapid" Coventry Climax powered Lotus Seven.

We understand that Olav Glasius bought this early-model Lotus Seven in 1996 from a Mr Menick, an artist based in Amsterdam who was a fellow enthusiast member of Club Lotus Holland. Mr Glasius had always wanted to add an early Lotus Seven 'Series 1' to his growing collection, and recalled how much he had enjoyed watching the colourful Tony Hildebrand confronting – and often beating – very much more august, refined and expensive machinery in his Seven on the sand dunes circuit at Zandvoort. Mr Glasius had discussed the possibility of purchasing the