1963 Lotus Eleven Breadvan

• FIA HTP Papers.
• Highly eligible with Goodwood provenance.
• Road registered.

The Lotus Eleven was a racing car built from 1956 to 1958 and proved to be very competitive particularly in the hands of British racing driver Graham Capel. Graham had seen how successful the Ferrari 250 Breadvan and had been and decided to apply the same principles to his own Lotus Eleven by adding the distinctive long low roofline and pizza oven rear window. Capel’s car finished second in class at Goodwood on 12th September 1962 paving the way for a handful of other Elevens being converted to coupes. Most of the converted Elevens over the proceeding years were converted back to original open specification.

Fascinated by Capel’s story Lotus aficionado David Cooke tracked down Graham Chapel, who still had some of the original Breadvan bodywork including its iconic hardtop. He also had a Lotus Eleven series 2 project which he was in the process of rebuilding. I deal was agreed and David with Capel’s assistance utilised the skill of friend, pre-war Alfa Romeo expert and renowned ‘resurrectionist’ Neil Twyman, the man behind the CEGGA-Ferrari, this Lotus was painstakingly converted. As with Davids CEGGA Ferrari rebuild having access to the original constructor along with drawings proved invaluable, recreating the car as per original, even down to its period correct BMC Squadron Blue bodywork including Capel’s original sponsors David Plumstead Racing.

David enjoyed many successful races in the UK and Europe with the highlight being the Moss Trophy at Goodwood 72 members meeting in 2014. In the hands of Joe Twyman and Olly Bryant the little Breadvan finished half a second behind its more powerful rival the Aston Martin DB4 GT having repeatedly changed places with the Aston.

This much loved unique car will certainly be welcomed at numerous historic events in the UK and abroad.

Supplied with a comprehensive history file including a current V5 registration document along with valid FIA HTP papers.