1961 Ford Thames Van

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1961 Zephyr 6-engineg Ford Thames Replica Lotus Cars Ltd. Van
Chassis no. N400 VZ11012011

This remarkable triumph of enthusiastic small-commercial restoration depicts one of the medium-capacity Thames vans deployed by the emergent Lotus company to carry car kits, engines, gearbox, axles etc during the 1960s. Lotus had used two types of Thames van, one intended to deliver Lotus Elan and Elite kits to customers by towed-trailer while the alternative for racing team use was equipped with a 2½-litre Ford Zephyr 6-cylinder engine necessary to tow at sustained high-speed on European motorways, and to punch the vehicle and its load "over the Alps". Olav Glasius simply liked the idea of reproducing such a vehicle as part of his Lotus Collection but whilst the idea was simple the process turned out to be highly complicated and, as so often with this collection, a true labor of love – As Olav Glasius explains:

"I heard a rumor that a very low mile