1969 Lotus 70 F5000 of Mario Andretti & George Fullmer

This car is the original Lotus number 1. It started design life dubbed a Lotus 68 and evolved into the Lotus 70. Thus the frame number is 01. A total of 9 Lotus Formula 5000 cars were built. This car was tested in England but missed it’s intended debut. This car was sold to Koshland Competition for Mario Andretti to race at Sebring Fl. on December 28 1969. Mario qualified on the front row with Swede Savage. Mario was leading the race and pulling away before engine failure on lap 12. The technology used by Colin Chapman to create this car was carried forward into the famous John Player specials Formula 1 car which Mario Andretti drove to the World Championship a few years later. History of this Lotus 70 was as follows: Koshland Racing (Ford) for Mario Andretti US 1969: Sebring 28 Dec 1969, Falconer & Dunn (Culver City, CA): driven by George Follmer US 1970 (F&D Boss Ford engine) & was on the podium 4 times in 1970, then said to have been sold to Ron Grable for USAC racing but it appears Follmer continues racing the car until the end of 1970, entered by Brian O’Neil, Sold to Bruce Eglington (South Pasadena, CA): US 1971; US 1972 (one race only); US 1973 (one race only), Sold to Butch Henneger August 1973: US 1973 (R7 Road Atlanta 19 Aug 1973), Sold to Rodney Green (Aurora, CO) US 1974 (first two races only), Later sold to veteran racer Ron Hunter (Denver, CO) who died in June 1987, Sold to Ken Johnson (restored by Rodney Green), Sold to Rodney Green (Kiowa, CO). Today this wonderful F5000 is on display @ Investment Motorcars in Florida. This has the following specs: Engine Builder: Falconer & Dunn Manufacture: Ford Engine Type: Boss 302 SBF Displacement: 5,000 CC Induction: 4 Webber Carburetors Heads: Iron Boss 302 Ford Block: Iron Clutch: Triple Disc Pressure Plate: Steel Fuel System: Fuel Cell Oil/Water System: Weaver Dry Sump/Oil Cooler Ignition: Electronic Battery: 12 Volt Transmission Manufacture: Hewland Transmission Type: LG 600 Chassis Type: Aluminum Monocoque Front Suspension: Fabricated A Arms Nickel Plated Rear Suspension: Fabricated Nickel Plated Shocks: Koni Brakes: Locheed Wheels: Original Magnesium Polished Outer Edges Weight: 1300.7 lbs. Interior Color: Black Interior Material: Vinyl Fire System: 5 lbs. Restraints: Williams Gauges: Original Steering Wheel: Original. It was raced by Mario Andretti at Sebring in 1969…He Won the 1st Pole Position. In 1970 it was raced sucessfully by George Fullmer at: St. Jovite 1970 – 1st Mid Ohio 1970 – 1st Lime Rock 1970 – 2nd Elkhart Lake 1970 – 3rd