Lotus 25
The first fully stressed monocoque in Formula One, and the car Jim Clark used to win seven Grands Prix in 1963.
- Power
- 195 bhp
- Top speed
- 155 mph
About the Lotus 25
Colin Chapman's 25 replaced the usual tube frame with an aluminium monocoque that was three times stiffer than the interim Lotus 24 while weighing half as much. The driver lay sharply reclined to keep the car low and narrow, earning it the nickname 'The Bathtub', and power came from the 1.5-litre Coventry Climax FWMV V8. Jim Clark won his first Grand Prix in it at Spa in 1962, then took seven wins and the 1963 title as Lotus won its first Constructors' Championship. Engine trouble at the final round cost Clark the title in both 1962 and 1964, and Clark scored the car's final win at the 1965 French Grand Prix. Seven were built, numbered R1 to R7.
Lotus 25 specs
The Lotus 25 produces 195 bhp (145 kW). It has a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).
| Make | Lotus |
|---|---|
| Model | 25 |
| Years | 1962–1967 |
| Type | Race car |
| Body style | Open-wheel single-seater |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | About 7 built |
| Engine | 1.5L naturally aspirated V8 (Coventry Climax FWMV) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 1,496 cc (1.5 litres) |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated |
| Power | 195 bhp (145 kW) at 9,500 rpm |
| Top speed | 155 mph (250 km/h) |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual (ZF 5DS10) |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Weight | 450 kg (992 lb) |
| Power-to-weight | 433 bhp per tonne |
Typical figures for the standard car; options, markets and model years vary. Where our specs come from
Lotus 25 rarity in CarSpot
The Lotus 25 is a Unicorn card in CarSpot, with a rarity score of 100 out of 100. The rarest tier: hypercars, one-offs and cars built in tiny numbers, typically fewer than about 500. A Unicorn card is worth 320 XP.
Each model's tier starts from a 0–100 score based on its value plus its power or production numbers. Once enough players have spotted a model, how often it is spotted can move it up or down one tier. How CarSpot rarity works
Rarity is a collectible game mechanic, not an assessment of real-world scarcity or value.
Lotus 25 fun facts
- Four of the seven cars, R1, R2, R3 and R5, were written off in accidents between 1962 and 1966, three of them by Trevor Taylor.
- When it first appeared at Zandvoort, John Cooper inspected it and asked Colin Chapman where he had put the frame tubes.
- Colin Chapman's first sketches for the car were reportedly made on napkins over dinner with Frank Costin.
