In 1969, Lotus co-founder Colin Chapman, asked draughtsman Geoff Ferris to draw up a contender for the lucrative Can-Am Series (Canadian-American sports car racing). With the focus on Formula 1, however, the design never made it past drawings and scale models and the scheme was forgotten.

After rediscovering three drawings of Type 66, Lotus undertook a project to reimagine the racing car, combining the original designs with today’s state-of-the-art racing technology and components. Only ten of these cars will be built for use as track day vehicles and will cost £1 million each to purchase. 

Lotus’ aerodynamic design, termed “sculpted porosity”, is evident in the front wing created to channel air from the front, through and underneath the rear wings, generating more downforce than the vehicle’s total weight at full speed. 

The cockpit enclosure further reduces drag and improves airflow to the rear wing, although the original design had to be tweaked to accommodate modern safety requirements. The period-representative V8 push-rod engine is mid-mounted with iconic Can-Am inspired air intake “trumpets” at the top.