1969 Lotus 59 F3 ex-Emerson Fittipaldi (FIA)

The 1,000cc Formula 3 series was the spiritual successor to Formula Junior and ran from 1964 through 1970. It was the proving ground for those aspiring to climb from amateur status to the professional levels of motorsport and naturally, all of the regulars like Lotus, Brabham, Cooper and Chevron showed up to the party all powered by tuned Ford Anglia engines.

Initially modified to produced in the region of 90bhp, later development of the engines by Cosworth, Holbay, Techno and others saw power output climb to over 105bhp produced at a rarefied 10,000rpm. Even at that very high state of tune, the engines were generally reliable and required only one rebuild per season. The cost was also reasonable for the day with engines typically selling in the range of £600 in 1964. The cylinder head featured a modification to the original design with downdraught intake ports allowing a more direct path for the air/fuel mixture to flow at increased velocity into the combustion chamber. This, along with the appropriate camshaft and valves, enabled the engines to rev like a Japanese motorcycle, producing a symphony of sound that gave the cars their nickname - 'screamers'.

The Lotus 59 was perhaps one of Lotus’ greatest Junior Formula designs, spawning race-winning entries in Formula Ford, Formula B, Formula 3, and Formula 2 — such was the flexibility of the design by Dave Baldwin (who later worked with Ensign and Van Diemen). It was built around a space frame made of square and round steel tubing covered in a fibreglass bodywork and featured conventional suspension design and outboard brakes both front and rear. Hubs and wheels were knock-on type and the gearbox was a traditional Hewland.

As with any 56 year old single-seater, it can be very difficult to piece together exactly where it was deployed some six decades ago. However, we understand that Chassis #59-F3-08 was supplied new to Jim Russell in 1969, where it was built and prepared for the season by his brother in law, Ralph Firman (who later founded Van Diemen). Jim Russell’s eponymous team fielded a single car in the 1969 British F3 season for a young Brazilian Formula Ford graduate: Emerson Fittipaldi.

Despite a poor start, Fittipaldi dominated the 1969 championship with nine wins, propelling him to a Works Lotus F2 drive in 1970 and then Formula 1 by the end of the same year. He would go on to become a double F1 World Champion, IndyCar Champion and Indy 500 winner, earning his place in the Motorsport Hall of Fame as one of the sport’s true greats.

#59-F3-08 was severely damaged during practice at Brands Hatch in 1969 and it's understood that the Lotus works supplied a replacement tubular frame, around which the car was rebuilt in time for the final round of the championship at Thruxton. Needless to say, he won.

The car was retained by Jim Russell for 1970 and was campaigned by Emerson’s brother Wilson at various races, including Monaco.

In 1971, the car underwent an entirely new change of scene when it was bought by Lotus veteran, Pete Lovely, shipped to Washington, USA and converted to Type 69 bodywork complete with wings. Washington was where the car remained until 2012, when, after Lovely’s passing, it was returned to the UK by John Counsel.

Aware of the car’s history, Counsel had one aim - to restore the car to its original condition. For this, he contracted marque specialist, Peter Denty, to fully restore the car to its 1969 specification, regardless of cost. Powered by the correct 1,000cc Ford Holbay engine, Hewland Mk8 transmission and crucially, the correct 1969 livery, the car presents as well now as it did when the restoration was completed. The original screen has been changed for a shorter version to better suit a taller driver, but a brand new, period-correct item is included. This is not to say the car has been a 'show queen', it has enjoyed two appearances at Goodwood, a handful of sprints and was a guest of honour at Jim Russell’s funeral in 2019.

It’s supplied with HSCC and FIA papers valid until 2028, in-date belts and extinguisher, and we understand is completely on the button. The car’s history points to the fact that it is the former Fittipaldi car, and indeed both FIA and HSCC papers were issued on that basis.