Lotus 20

Lotus 20 in brief

The Lotus 20 was a Formula Junior class car, built for the 1961 season as a successor to the Lotus 18. It's a race car, not a road car, so in this article, we focus mainly on its technology and purpose.

Due to its small size and simple construction, the Formula Junior class was an important training ground for young drivers, and the Lotus 20 was one of its notable representatives.

Technology

The car featured a spaceframe chassis with a fibreglass body. At the front, there were double cross-members, and at the rear, a lower cross-member, with a fixed-length half-shaft serving as the upper link. Initially, all wheels had Alfin drum brakes, later switching to discs at the front and inboard drums at the rear.

The standard engine was the Cosworth Mk.IV, and the gearbox was from the Renault Dauphine or a modified Hewland VW. Compared to the Lotus 18, the 20 had a significantly smaller front overhang and a lower centre of gravity, as the driver sat almost lying down.

Variants and usage

The Lotus 20B was almost identical but came with a stabiliser bar and standard inboard drum brakes at the rear. Sometimes, the 20B was fitted with the Lotus Twin Cam engine, so these cars weren't Formula Junior but competed in Formula Libre and other series, such as the Tasman.

Two Lotus 20s were registered for the 1965 South African Grand Prix — Dave Charlton failed to qualify, while Brian Raubenheimer withdrew due to a gearbox issue in practice.

Where to see and if you can buy one

A 1962 Lotus 20 is on display at the Canadian Automobile Museum — it's suspended from the ceiling on the second floor. More examples reside in private collections and compete in historic racing events, such as the Silverstone Classic.

Original cars are rarely for sale; if a 'Lotus 20' is offered, it's crucial to verify the chassis number and documentation.

Versions

This is a race car, so there are no trims; we list the main variants.

Lotus 20 and its predecessor, the Lotus 18

The Lotus 20 was a step up from the 18: a smaller frontal area and lower centre of gravity helped it become a successful Formula Junior car.

Frequently asked questions