THE ENGINEERING

Type 12 gained fame for 4 innovations (and some notoriety for number 3):

The Chapman Strut
The 12 started out with a de Dion rear suspension, similar to the Lotus Eleven. Experience soon revealed though that the handling was affected by the changing load of the rear-mounted fuel tank.

As a solution, Colin Chapman introduced a new suspension configuration which came to be known as the ‘Chapman Strut’. It allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically (i.e. reacting to a bump on the road) independently of the others.

This arrangement benefited both un-sprung and overall weight, and reduced to a minimum the camber changes caused by fuel loading — resulting in predictable handling at speed.

An innovation for generations
At the front end was a double wishbone set-up with the top wishbone doubling as an anti-roll bar, plus coil-spring/damper units. A set-up that became the characteristic Lotus independent front end for a whole generation of Lotus race and road cars.

The wobbly-web wheels
Lotus 12 was the first Lotus to be fitted with the iconic wobbly-web wheels. Reflecting Chapman's emphasis on engineering for lightness, these were cast in magnesium alloy, a kind of crimped cylinder, resulting in minimum material and maximum strength, without the weaknesses induced by slots in conventional designs.

5-speed sequential gearbox
The 5-speed sequential gearbox, brilliantly located in the back of Type 12, was designed by Richard Ansdale and Harry Mundy. The propshaft was set so low that it passed under the driver’s seat.

It struggled with a (long-undiagnosed) oil starvation problem though, hence earning the nickname "Queerbox" for its unreliability.

THE RACING YEARS

Lotus Type 12 debuted at the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix. Since the planned Type 16 wasn’t ready in time, the 12 was re-engineered to take a 1960cc engine and entered into several Formula 1 races in the ‘58 and ‘59 season — with its final race in the British GP at Silverstone.

THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Despite its iconic status as the first Lotus single-seater, it was not a success on the track. Even with four Team Lotus cars and three privateer entries, the Type 12 never won a race that year. In fact, it was only ever victorious once, at a meeting at Crystal Palace in 1958.

THE DRIVERS

The Lotus 12 was driven by British racing drivers Graham Hill and Cliff Allison in its debut at the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix. The 12 didn’t lead Lotus to any victories, but Allison did achieve the first Formula One points for Team Lotus at the Dutch Grand Prix behind the dunes in Zandvoort that same year.