The Lotus 49 that was driven by British Formula 1 legend Graham Hill will be sold by Auctioneer Bonhams at this year’s Goodwood festival of speed, Classic and Sports Car reports.
The Lotus 49B is the last of its kind to be sold from the renowned collection of the late John Dawson-Damer, who died tragically in a racing accident at Goodwood 14 years ago.
The iconic Lotus was designed by Colin Chapman and built in 1968, and was the first car to be powered by a Ford Cosworth DFV engine. The car was driven by the likes of Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt and Emerson Fittipaldi, as well as by Graham Hill.?The car was badly damaged after it was raced by Dave Charlton in South Africa in 1972, but former owner Dawson-Damer later acquired the car and took it upon himself to restore it back to its former glory.
Bonhams’ group motoring director, James Knight, commented that the car is a true “landmark” in Formula 1 design, and when it was created it “raised the bar” for all other manufacturers. Knight said that even though the car was driven by Hill, it was Richard Attwood that set the fastest lap in 1969 on the Monaco track, and it was private owner Dave Charlton that drove the lotus to become a South African national champion.
Of the 12 Lotus 49Bs that were built, only seven remain, and it is predicted that the car will fetch up to £1 million when it is put to auction.?The Goodwood festival of speed will take place from 26-29 June this year. Bonhams’ ‘Collector’s Motor Cars and Automobilia’ auction will take place on the 27th.