New
Lotus 18/21 Climax Formula 1
1961
POA
William I'Anson
1 / 15
Lotus 81 Ground Effect Formula 1
1980 · Essex Racing livery
POA
Listed today at William I'Anson. Last checked today.
Key facts
- Year
- 1980
- Engine
- Cosworth DFV V8
- Fuel
- Petrol
- Drive
- RWD
- Colour
- Essex Racing livery
- Generation
- Lotus 81 (1980 F1 season)
About this car
Chassis 81/1 is the first of just five Lotus 81s built, the ground-effect Formula 1 car that Team Lotus ran in Essex livery in 1980 and 1981. It started 11 World Championship Grands Prix and was driven by Mario Andretti, Elio de Angelis and Nigel Mansell.
Its best results are well documented. De Angelis took second in the 1980 Brazilian Grand Prix, the team's best finish of that season. Mansell then drove it to third in the 1981 Belgian Grand Prix, holding off Gilles Villeneuve's Ferrari for his first Formula 1 podium.
Team Lotus kept the car from new until the current owner, its only private one, bought it in 2016. Classic Team Lotus recommissioned it, and it later ran with OC Racing at the 2018 and 2022 Monaco Historic Grands Prix and in the Masters Historic Formula 1 Series. The Cosworth DFV engine has had a recent rebuild by TMAX Engines. The car comes with current FIA HTP papers and a comprehensive spares package. No price is given on the page.
Written by Vertar from William I'Anson’s listing. Check the details with the dealer before you buy.
Performance
The maker’s official figures for this model, not measurements of this car (Team Lotus 1980 F1 car with Cosworth DFV engine (Cosworth engine spec). Lotus published no factory performance or weight figures, so those are left null.).
- Engine
- 2,993 cc, 8 cylinders
- Engine position
- Mid-engined
- Induction
- Naturally aspirated
Ask William I'Anson about this car
The dealer
Cotswolds-based collectors' car dealer specialising in historic racing cars with period race history, also offering acquisition consultancy, collection management and HMRC-approved bonded storage.
See all 22 cars from William I'Anson
