One of the most significant of all Lotus Grand Prix cars, the ex-Innes Ireland Lotus 21 chassis 933, will go up for sale at Bonham’s Goodwood Auction in September.
While chassis 933 is perhaps best known as the car Innes Ireland drove to Team Lotus’ first Grand Prix victory at Watkins Glen in 1961, the car actually had already enjoyed a substantial history prior to that. Chassis 933 appeared for the first time at the Belgian GP in June 1961. Ireland drove the car again in the French GP in July, running with the leaders and finishing 4th. Chassis 933 finished 10th with Ireland at the British GP and then won the non-championship Solitude race, but was sidelined on the first lap of the German GP with a small fire. Jim Clark then took 933 to 4th at the non-championship Modena GP before it was loaned to Rob Walker for Stirling Moss to drive in the ill-fated Italian Grand Prix, where it had a wheel bearing failure in the race in which von Trips and several spectators were killed. Ireland then won again in 933 at the Flugplatzrennen, another non-title race at Zeltweg. Engine problems saw it retire at the Oulton Park Gold Cup before Ireland’s victory at the US Grand Prix. In December, Jim Clark had another sparkling win in the car at the Rand GP before Trevor Taylor had an accident in it a week later at the Natal race. Taylor then enjoyed his win in the car in January 1962, in the Cape Grand Prix, beating Clark to the win.
Submitted by Ed McDonough
