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After some 2½ days of painstaking examination, Mr Hickman confirmed“with 100% certainty” that the bodyshell is that of “the original Le Mans2.0-litre Elite”.A complete ground-up restoration to its original specification wasthen undertaken by leading specialist Kelvin Jones, representing asix-figure Sterling investment. The re-completed car with 1964cctwin-cam Climax FPF engine, developing some 176bhp at 6,500rpm,has been track-tested satisfactorily on three different circuits. Itis self-evidently today a 2-litre Grand Touring car of prodigiouslycompetitive Historic racing potential.Offered with a comprehensive history file, including the restorationinvoices, aforementioned letter from Ron Hickman, an additionalauthentication letter from Team Elite’s Team Manager Cyril Embrey, acopy of the Le Mans entry form for the LX, various letters from previousowners, copies of the original 1960 Le Mans Official Programmewith 1960 Le Mans Regulations booklet and Team Elite’s Carnet dePassages for the LX.The Lotus Elite ProjectColin Chapman’s Lotus Elite concept – developed in conjunction withhis friend, Lotus owner and accountant Peter Kirwan-Taylor- emergedas a moulded glassfibre monocoque chassis/body unit comprisingthree major mouldings. At the rear a triangular box section providedattachment points for the final drive and rear suspension. The centerlinetransmission tunnel, sills and roof panel all contributed to the bodyshell’sstructural integrity while virtually the only structural-steel item within thestructure was a hoop uniting the roof, scuttle and sills. A sheet steelframe provided front suspension pick-ups while a steel section beneaththe windscreen supported the steering column, instrument panel andhandbrake base.While its structural concept was breathtakingly futuristic by thestandards of the mid-1950s, the finished Elite’s exquisitely proportionedstyling is credited to Peter Kirwan-Taylor. Aerodynamicist Frank Costinis said to have advised upon the finished shape, most particularlyregarding the cut-off ‘Kamm effect’ tail which contributed to the sleeklittle Coupe’s remarkably low drag coefficient of only 0.29.3W.A Bickerton-Jones with the LX, Burton-on-Trent, 1963-644Rob Cochran with the LX, Tetbury, 1964-675Sir John Whitmore reunited with the LX at Goodwoodfor Octane’s feature by Tony Dron, June issue, 20143 474 | Goodwood festival of speed