Lotus 63
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorTeam Lotus
Designer(s)Colin Chapman (Technical Director)
Maurice Philippe (Chief Designer)
Predecessor49
Successor72
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisAluminium monocoque.
Axle track59 in (1,499 mm)
Wheelbase98 in (2,489 mm)
EngineFord Cosworth DFV 2,995 cc (183 cu in) V8, naturally aspirated, mid-mounted.
TransmissionHewland-Lotus 5-speed manual gearbox. Four-wheel drive.
Weight600 kg (1,323 lb)
FuelShell
TyresFirestone
Competition history
Notable entrantsGold Leaf Team Lotus
Ecurie Bonnier
Notable driversUnited Kingdom John Miles
United States Mario Andretti
Sweden Jo Bonnier
Debut1969 French Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
70000
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to
Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

The Lotus 63 was an experimental Formula One car using four-wheel drive, designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe for the 1969 season. Chapman's reasoning behind the car was that the 3 litre engines introduced in 1966 would be better served by building a car that could take full advantage of its power while retaining the Lotus 49's simplicity.

Development

Like the Lotus 56 for the Indy 500 (and later F1), the 63 chassis was designed around a four wheel drive system. This was not totally revolutionary at the time, as four wheel drive had been used on the Ferguson P99 F1 car that won at Oulton Park as early as 1961, but with little development thereafter.

However, it was not a successful design. In fact, the Matra MS84 was the only 4WD F1 which scored points (driven by Johnny Servoz-Gavin, at the 1969 Canadian Grand Prix) something neither Lotus nor McLaren managed, while Cosworth did not even race their 4WD design.[2] The 63 was an evolution of the 49, but featured wedge shaped rear bodywork and integrated wings, which would be used to great effect in the Lotus 72.

Racing history

Graham Hill practising the 63 at the 1969 Dutch Grand Prix.
Mario Andretti racing the 63 at the 1969 German Grand Prix.

John Miles, Lotus' third driver, was entrusted with the task of developing the car, while Graham Hill and Jochen Rindt used the 49 in the early races of 1969. The 63 proved difficult to drive and set up, and the four wheel drive system was especially problematic.[3] After a single test run, Hill flatly refused to drive the car again stating it was a 'deathtrap,' as did Rindt, who agreed with Hill after taking the car to its best result, 2nd in the non-championship Oulton Park Gold Cup. This infuriated Chapman as he saw the 63 as another quantum leap ahead of its rivals, just as its predecessors had been.[4]

The car was entered at the 1969 British Grand Prix as a test run. Whilst Rindt finished fourth in the older 49 behind Jackie Stewart after running short of fuel whilst leading, Miles could only bring the 63 home in 10th place, confirming the car's uncompetitiveness. After several other fruitless outings, the 63 was abandoned.

Aftermath

Parts of the chassis design were worked into the Lotus 72, which debuted in 1970, and four wheel drive technology returned into F1 with the Lotus 56B in 1971.

Like the Lotus 88, the 4WD cars proved to be huge white elephants for Lotus, but it paved the way for better models to follow.[5]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Driver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Points WCC
1969 Gold Leaf Team Lotus Ford Cosworth DFV F RSA ESP MON NED FRA GBR GER ITA CAN USA MEX 42 3rd1
Graham Hill PO PO
John Miles Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret
Mario Andretti Ret Ret
Jochen Rindt PO
Ecurie Bonnier Jo Bonnier Ret

^1 All Points Scored by the Lotus 49

Non-Championship Formula One results

(key)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4
1969 Gold Leaf Team Lotus Ford Cosworth DFV F ROC INT MAD OUL
Jochen Rindt 2

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lotus 63.
  1. ↑ "Lotus 63". www.StatsF1.com. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  2. ↑ "1969 Lotus 63 Cosworth - Images, Specifications and Information". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Lotus Type 63: The Four wheel drive: Four Square | Colin Chapman Archive and Resource". colinchapmanmuseum.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  4. ↑ "8W - Who - Graham Hill". 8w.forix.com. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  5. ↑ Post, Guest (11 April 2018). "R.I.P. John Miles 1943 – 2018". grandprix247.com. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
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