I restored 178 TJH in around 2009 or 10. It is thanks to the present owner that the car can be veiwed here. I took all the photos during restoration but had no part in transferring them on to the present format. WP also has 550 VAR another of my restorations. YES , my head no longer fits through normal doorways! It is due to the present owner that the cars look so pristine.
The same model car that my old man's mate had! He drove it into the ground and then sent it to the scrapper. Events that you never forget, I was a nipper at the time but I was savvy enough to know when a car was a bit special. Same with the Triumph Dolly Sprint and Talbot Sunbeam Lotus my father owned at one time or another.
I used to sometimes see an ex Jim Clark Lotus Cortina on my way to school, over 40 years ago. Have driven and ridden in more powerful ones since but the Lotus is still a very beautiful car.
Sweet, sweet. Exceptionally well done. You must have seen the clips of Jim Clarke at Crystal Palace. I was in restoration many moons ago and I recall a handsome Mk1 Lotus, with twin tanks and twin batteries, which switched to 24 on the starter to handle the increased compression. The green stripe had been painted out as he was fed up being pulled by the boys in blue, but we put it back on! Happy days. Thanks.
The early engines were built by J. A Prestwich Tariff Rd Tottenham London, i did some work there, i also know a guy who worked at the Lotus Factory he worked on every one of these cars.
