Ex-Colin Chapman 1957 Lotus 11 1500
In the workshop is the legendary 1957 Lotus 11 1500! Here are some photos its arrival into the workshop. This isn’t just any Lotus Eleven it’s an ex-works team car driven by none other than Colin Chapman himself at the 1957 Le Mans 24 Hours. With its sleek aerodynamic lines, lightweight frame and 1500cc Coventry Climax engine, this piece of racing history embodies everything brilliant about 1950s British motorsport engineering. The HVR team carefully received and inspected the car and as shared works are underway to preserve its incredible legacy. We can’t wait for it to stretch its legs on the track in the near future.
In the workshop is the legendary 1957 Lotus 11 1500! Here are some photos its arrival into the workshop. This isn’t just any Lotus Eleven it’s an ex-works team car driven by none other than Colin Chapman himself at the 1957 Le Mans 24 Hours. With its sleek aerodynamic lines, lightweight frame and 1500cc Coventry Climax engine, this piece of racing history embodies everything brilliant about 1950s British motorsport engineering. The HVR team carefully received and inspected the car and as shared works are underway to preserve its incredible legacy. We can’t wait for it to stretch its legs on the track in the near future.

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Once raced by Jack Brabham and later Australian legend Lex Davison, the historic Cooper T53 ‘F2-17-60’ has a remarkable pedigree across Grand Prix and international events. After decades of varied use and modification HVR Australia had the pleasure of performing a full mechanical recommissioning to historic Formula 1 specification. The team’s work brought the car back to exacting standards, preserving authenticity and performance. Now owned by a passionate historic racing competitor this storied machine competes in elite European events including the Goodwood Revival and Monaco Historic Grand Prix, continuing its legacy on the world stage.
Technically, the T53 is powered by a 1.5-litre Coventry Climax FPF four-cylinder engine, mounted longitudinally in the rear, a key innovation of its era. It drives through a Cooper/Knight C5S five-speed transaxle. The chassis is a steel tubular spaceframe with independent suspension all round, double wishbones and coil-over shocks up front and upper transverse links with lower wishbones and coil springs at the rear. Four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes provide stopping power and the car runs on period-correct magnesium alloy wheels. With a dry weight under 500kg, its power-to-weight ratio is thrilling, making it a pure driver’s car.

Ex-Colin Chapman 1957 Lotus 11 1500

Full mechanical recommissioning

Date: 5th August 2025
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
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