Colin Chapman Signed Lotus Photograph.

CHAPMAN, Colin.

$3,000.00

Item Number: 140276

Photograph depicting the Gold Leaf Team Lotus transporter in the paddock of the 1968 German GP, boldly signed by Colin Chapman. Team principal Colin Chapman can be seen speaking to Keith Duckworth and Emerson’s 49B is on axle stands in the foreground. From the collection of BRDC chairman and racing driver Peter Stubberfield. In near fine condition. Rare and desirable signed as Chapman passed away at the age of 54.

Colin Chapman was an English design engineer, inventor, and builder in the automotive industry, and founder of Lotus Cars. In 1952 he founded the sports car company Lotus Cars. Chapman initially ran Lotus in his spare time, assisted by a group of enthusiasts. His knowledge of the latest aeronautical engineering techniques would prove vital towards achieving the major automotive technical advances for which he is remembered. His design philosophy focused on cars with light weight and fine handling instead of bulking up on horsepower and spring rates, which he famously summarized as "Adding power makes you faster on the straights. Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere." Under his direction, Team Lotus won seven Formula One Constructors' titles, six Drivers' Championships, and the Indianapolis 500 in the United States, between 1962 and 1978. The production side of Lotus Cars has built tens of thousands of relatively affordable, cutting edge sports cars. Lotus is one of but a handful of English performance car builders still in business after the industrial decline of the 1970s.