THE ENGINEERING

LOTUS TYPE 12 INNOVATIONS: CHAPMAN STRUT & QUEERBOX

The Lotus Type 12 engineering gained fame for 4 innovations (and a touch of 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 suspension’. 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

Type 12 was the first Lotus to be fitted with the iconic Lotus 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 Lotus “Queerbox” gearbox for its unreliability.

THE RACING YEARS

LOTUS TYPE 12 IN THE EARLY F1 SEASONS

The Lotus Type 12 history began with its Formula 1 debut 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

FIRST LOTUS F1 CAR RESULTS

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.

But its debut laid the foundation for Team Lotus and soon proved to be the beginning of an adventure that would transform the sport.

THE DRIVERS

GRAHAM HILL AND CLIFF ALLISON IN THE LOTUS TYPE 12

The Type 12 marked Graham Hill’s Lotus debut, who raced together with Cliff Allison for Lotus at the Monaco GP. While The 12 didn’t lead Lotus to any victories, Allison did achieve Team Lotus’ first points at the 1958 Dutch Grand Prix behind the dunes in Zandvoort.