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Lotus 63
Lotus 63
Lotus 63
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Lotus 63
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorTeam Lotus
DesignersColin 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
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

[edit]

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

[edit]
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

[edit]

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

[edit]

(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

[edit]

(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

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Lotus 63

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Lotus 63 was an experimental racing car featuring , developed by for the 1969 World Championship season. Designed by and Maurice Philippe, it built upon the chassis design but incorporated a novel drivetrain system to better utilize the power of its Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine, amid a short-lived trend in F1 for all-wheel-drive vehicles that also included efforts by and . The car first appeared (in practice) at the 1969 , with its racing debut at the , and competed in a total of nine races, including six World Championship Grands Prix. The Lotus 63's development stemmed from Lotus's experience with the gas turbine-powered for the , aiming to address traction issues on slippery tracks with the high-output 2.99-litre engine, which produced approximately 430 horsepower at 10,000 rpm. The car's aluminum weighed around 1,170 to 1,200 pounds and used a five-speed gearbox integrated with a ZF for torque distribution to all four wheels via a split differential. It featured a wedge-shaped body with early aerodynamic wings, elements that influenced the more successful design introduced the following year. In racing, the Lotus 63 was driven primarily by , , and John Miles, though drivers criticized its handling as unstable and understeery, dubbing it a potential "death trap" due to reliability problems and poor from the reversed layout. Its best result was second place for Rindt in a non-championship race, but it scored no points, with finishes including 10th at the (nine laps down) and retirements due to mechanical failures. The project was abandoned after 1969 when banned for 1970, rendering the Lotus 63 a technical curiosity rather than a competitive success. Today, one surviving chassis is preserved at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in the United States, while the other is in a private collection.

Design and Development

Technical Specifications

The Lotus 63 featured an constructed from 18 swg sheet, reinforced with tubular front and rear subframes for structural integrity. This design evolved briefly from the platform, extending the wheelbase to 98 inches while maintaining front and rear track widths of 59 inches, resulting in an overall length of 152 inches, width of 74 inches, and height of 34 inches. The dry weight was approximately 1,200 pounds (544 kg), optimized for the era's . At the heart of the Lotus 63 was its Ferguson-designed system, which integrated a torque-splitting center differential to distribute power variably between the front and rear axles, adjustable from a 50:50 split to as much as 30:70 rear bias. This epicyclic differential took drive at a 90-degree from a modified gearbox positioned behind the driver, enabling effective traction across all wheels without the need for constant front engagement. The system was paired with ZF limited-slip differentials initially at both ends, later simplified to an open front differential for reduced complexity. Power came from a mid-mounted, naturally aspirated Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine displacing 2,993 cc, with twin overhead camshafts, an 11:1 compression ratio, and Lucas fuel injection, delivering around 430 bhp at 10,000 rpm. The engine was rotated 180 degrees to facilitate the drivetrain layout, driving through a non-synchromesh Hewland FG400 5-speed manual gearbox adapted for four-wheel drive via a ZF transfer case. Suspension was independent double wishbone at both ends, with fabricated arms, inboard /damper units, and anti-roll bars for front and rear control. Braking employed inboard Girling ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels, measuring 10.5 inches in diameter and 1.125 inches thick, providing robust integrated into the compact packaging. Aerodynamically, the Lotus 63 introduced a wedge-shaped body profile crafted from glass-reinforced plastic, tapering rearward to generate and improve high-speed stability. It featured initial integrated elements within the bodywork for enhanced airflow management, though these were later modified during development.
ComponentSpecification
Chassis with tubular subframes
Wheelbase
Track (F/R)59 in (1,499 mm)
Dry Weight~1,200 lb (544 kg)
EngineFord Cosworth DFV V8, 2,993 cc, 430 bhp @ 10,000 rpm
Gearbox 5-speed manual, 4WD adapted
SuspensionDouble wishbone, inboard coil springs
BrakesGirling inboard ventilated discs, 10.5 in diameter

Development Background

Following the success of the in the , where it secured multiple victories and the Constructors' Championship for , turned his attention to technology to address emerging challenges in grip and power delivery on increasingly demanding circuits. Inspired by the proven advantages of all-wheel traction in rally cars, such as the that had triumphed at Oulton Park in 1961, Chapman sought to adapt similar principles for grand prix racing, particularly to enhance in wet conditions where rear-wheel-drive cars often struggled with . This conceptual shift was part of broader trends toward harnessing greater engine outputs from the 3.0-liter formula, but Chapman's vision emphasized innovative solutions over mere power increases. The design of the Lotus 63 was led by Maurice Philippe, Lotus's chief designer, who focused on integrating and a lightweight aluminum while incorporating the Ferguson four-wheel-drive system. Chapman provided overall oversight, driving the project's innovative direction and drawing from prior experiments like the turbine-powered for the Indianapolis 500. Development commenced in late 1968, shortly after the Lotus 49's championship triumph, with the first completed in early 1969 at the team's factory. This rapid timeline reflected Chapman's aggressive approach to staying ahead in F1 innovation. Initial testing began at in and at , where test driver John Miles evaluated the car's handling. The four-wheel-drive components, including the Ferguson epicyclic torque-splitting differential and extended driveshafts, added approximately 50 kg to the car's weight compared to rear-wheel-drive rivals like the , pushing the total to around 600 kg and compromising straight-line speed due to transmission losses. Reliability issues plagued the Ferguson system early on, with frequent mechanical failures such as driveshaft breakages and differential overheating, leading Chapman to reposition the project as a wet-weather rather than a primary race car. Despite these hurdles, testing revealed promising traction in wet conditions, where the system provided superior grip and stability over slippery surfaces, validating Chapman's wet-weather rationale. However, in dry running, the Lotus 63 exhibited pronounced understeer and sluggish response due to the and complexity, prompting minor adjustments to suspension geometry and torque distribution before its planned debut. These tweaks aimed to mitigate the car's inherent disadvantages without overhauling the core design.

Racing History

World Championship Appearances

The Lotus 63 made its World Championship debut at the at in on 6 July 1969, driven by development engineer John Miles, who qualified 12th with a time of 3:12.8 but retired on the opening lap due to a fuel pump failure. The car's four-wheel-drive system was intended to provide better traction, but mechanical reliability proved elusive from the outset. At the at on 19 July 1969, Lotus entered two 63s amid a field experimenting with 4WD technology; Miles qualified 14th (1:25.1) and completed 75 of 84 laps to finish a distant 10th and last classified runner, while privateer qualified 16th (1:28.2) but retired after six laps with an engine failure. , Lotus's lead driver, opted for the more familiar rear-wheel-drive Lotus 49B and qualified on pole in wet conditions before retiring late with fuel shortage, highlighting the team's selective use of the 63 for development rather than primary contention. Mid-season, the 63 saw testing at the at Zandvoort on 21 June 1969, where Graham Hill practiced the car and its 4WD configuration demonstrated potential traction benefits in the circuit's variable coastal weather, though no race entry occurred and Mario Andretti's planned participation did not materialize. At the at the Nürburgring on 3 August 1969, Andretti qualified 12th (8:15.4) in the 63 but crashed out on the formation lap in a multi-car incident involving wet patches at the start. Later in the season, at the at on 7 September 1969, John Miles took over driving duties for the 63, qualifying 14th (1:30.56) but retiring after three laps with an engine failure as Rindt reverted to the Lotus 49B for the high-speed track. Lotus entered the 63 at the Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport Park on 20 September 1969 with Miles qualifying 11th (1:20.0) before retiring on lap 40 with gearbox trouble, while Rindt practiced the car but raced the 49B. The season concluded at the at Watkins Glen on 5 October 1969, where Andretti qualified 13th (1:06.52) but retired on lap 3 due to rear suspension damage. Lotus rotated drivers across the seven entries for the 63—primarily Miles, Andretti, and Bonnier, with Rindt largely avoiding it due to handling concerns—employing the car selectively as a , especially in anticipation of wet conditions where its 4WD offered superior grip over rear-drive rivals. Despite glimpses of potential, such as during Dutch testing, the entries were plagued by mechanical failures, resulting in six retirements and one lowly finish with no points scored.

Non-Championship Races

The Lotus 63 saw limited participation in non-championship events during 1969, serving primarily as a testing platform for its innovative four-wheel-drive system amid a landscape of invitational races that allowed teams to experiment with unproven technologies without risking points. These non-championship outings, often held at British circuits, provided opportunities to evaluate the car's traction advantages in varied conditions, contrasting with the high-stakes environment of official Grands Prix. The car's most notable non-championship appearance came at the International Gold Cup at Oulton Park on August 16, 1969, where piloted the works-entered Lotus 63 for Gold Leaf Team Lotus. Qualifying fourth with a time of 1:30.4, behind Jackie Stewart's pole-sitting MS80, Rindt advanced to second place in the 40-lap race, finishing 1:01:50.8 behind winner in the BT26A after a competitive that highlighted the Lotus 63's potential. This result marked the four-wheel-drive car's strongest performance overall, demonstrating improved stability through the circuit's demanding corners, though it trailed Ickx by over a minute due to the 's superior outright pace. Beyond Oulton Park, the Lotus 63 had no official entries in other major non-championship events like the March Race of Champions at , where the team opted for conventional Lotus 49s instead. Privateer driver , who had raced the 63 in World Championship rounds, reportedly used a chassis in a handful of libre formula events later in , but these yielded no competitive results and served mainly as low-key shakedowns rather than formal races. Rindt's post-race assessment underscored the car's mixed traits, praising its enhanced grip in potentially damp sections of the Oulton Park layout—attributable to the Ferguson four-wheel-drive system—but criticizing understeer and awkward handling on dry straights and apexes, which tempered initial optimism before the model's subsequent struggles. This outing briefly validated the 4WD concept as a viable experimental path in non-championship formats, where reliability issues were less punitive.

Legacy and Aftermath

Design Influences

The Lotus 63's aerodynamic innovations, particularly its wedge-shaped rear bodywork and integrated wings, laid foundational elements for subsequent Lotus designs, most notably influencing the bodywork of the introduced in 1970. These features allowed for enhanced generation without significantly increasing vehicle weight, marking a shift toward more efficient aerodynamic profiles in cars. By refining airflow management around the rear, the 63's approach addressed limitations in earlier models like the , enabling better stability at high speeds. This legacy directly contributed to the 72's revolutionary wedge-shaped silhouette, which became a benchmark for aerodynamic efficiency in the early . The system of the Lotus 63, despite its operational challenges, provided critical lessons that informed Lotus's later experimentation with all-wheel drive technology, particularly in the development of the Lotus 56B for the 1971 season. The 63's setup, which distributed power to all wheels via a central gearbox and , highlighted traction benefits in low-grip conditions but also exposed issues with understeer, added weight, and complexity in high-power applications. These insights were carried forward to the 56B, a hybrid design adapted for both and , where similar 4WD principles were tested with a gas turbine engine. Although 4WD proved ultimately impractical for , the 63's efforts underscored persistent traction challenges with engines like the , influencing the sport's emphasis on optimization, with serious all-wheel drive attempts continuing briefly into the early 1970s, such as the Lotus 56B, before the FIA banned systems ahead of the 1983 season. Refinements to the Lotus 63's aluminum monocoque chassis, including its lightweight construction and integration with the reversed Cosworth DFV engine, were adapted into later Lotus projects, such as the Formula 5000-spec Lotus 70 and early prototypes of the 72. The 63's monocoque emphasized structural rigidity around the engine bay to accommodate the novel drivetrain layout, setting integration standards for the DFV that prioritized minimal weight and optimal power delivery in mid-engine configurations. These advancements in chassis design facilitated smoother engine mounting and suspension geometry in successor models, contributing to the 72's celebrated balance and performance. Additionally, components like the inboard front brakes from the 63 were incorporated into the 72, enhancing braking efficiency without compromising aerodynamic cleanliness. Beyond Lotus, the 63's bold 4WD experimentation briefly spurred rivals to pursue similar concepts, including McLaren's M9A and Matra's MS84 in 1969, fostering a short-lived wave of innovation in power distribution. However, the collective shortcomings—such as reduced straight-line speed and handling imbalances—reinforced the dominance of in for decades, with serious all-wheel drive attempts continuing briefly into the early 1970s before being prohibited in 1983. This period of trial ultimately redirected focus toward and tire technology as primary means of improving traction and performance.

Historical Assessment

The Lotus 63 achieved no points in the World Championship across its two appearances in 1969, recording a retirement in the due to mechanical failure and a 10th-place finish at the , where it lagged nine laps behind the winner. It was entered but only used in practice at the without starting the race. Reliability issues, particularly with the engine, gearbox, driveshafts, and fuel systems, led to frequent retirements and underscored the car's developmental rather than competitive nature. Despite these shortcomings, the four-wheel-drive system demonstrated potential in wet conditions, highlighted by Jochen Rindt's second-place finish in the non-championship International Gold Cup at Oulton Park. Ultimately, the Lotus 63 functioned primarily as a testing platform for innovative concepts rather than a viable race contender. The pursuit of the Lotus 63 project diverted significant resources from the proven Lotus 49B, contributing to Team Lotus's third-place finish in the 1969 Constructors' Championship with 47 points, behind -Ford's dominant 66 points. Colin Chapman's ambitious push for , drawing from prior turbine car experiences, split development efforts and hampered the team's title defense against Jackie Stewart's MS80. This strategic gamble, estimated to cost £30,000, reflected Chapman's willingness to innovate aggressively but at the expense of short-term success. In the broader scope of Formula One history, the Lotus 63 was among the early four-wheel-drive experiments, which continued briefly into the early 1970s with designs like the Lotus 56B, before being deemed a technological blind alley as advancements in aerodynamics and tires enhanced rear-wheel-drive performance. Four-wheel drive remained banned after 1983. Surviving chassis include one preserved at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in the United States, while the other is in a private collection (as of 2023). The Lotus 63 drew criticism for its excessive complexity, which imposed a weight penalty of about 75 pounds (34 kg) compared to the Lotus 49B, diminishing its advantages in dry racing and exacerbating handling issues like understeer. Drivers such as labeled it a "death trap" due to these flaws. Yet, the project advanced aerodynamic concepts, including a pioneering wedge-shaped profile that informed subsequent Lotus designs. In retrospective analysis, it stands as an innovative but flawed experiment, embodying the risks of bold engineering in Formula One's evolution.

References

  1. https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/274/Lotus-63-Cosworth.html
  2. http://colinchapmanmuseum.co.uk/?page_id=2149
  3. https://www.oldracingcars.com/lotus/63/
  4. https://www.statsf1.com/en/lotus-63.aspx
  5. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/january-2004/71/x-ray-spec/
  6. https://www.forix.com/8w/4wd69.html
  7. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-2014/88/lunch-john-miles/
  8. https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/spec/887/Lotus-49-Cosworth.html
  9. https://www.racefans.net/2020/04/15/how-moss-gave-f1s-great-white-elephant-its-only-victory/
  10. https://www.oldracingcars.com/f1/results/1969/france/
  11. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1969/16/french-grand-prix-4/
  12. https://www.oldracingcars.com/f1/results/1969/britain/
  13. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1969/14/british-grand-prix-2/
  14. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1969/47/dutch-grand-prix-3/
  15. https://www.oldracingcars.com/f1/results/1969/germany/
  16. https://www.oldracingcars.com/lotus/63/1
  17. https://www.oldracingcars.com/f1/results/1969/italy/
  18. https://www.oldracingcars.com/f1/results/1969/canada/
  19. https://www.oldracingcars.com/f1/results/1969/usa/
  20. https://www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com/john-miles-archive/four-wheel-drive-grand-prix-cars.html
  21. https://www.oldracingcars.com/f1/results/1969/oulton-park-gold-cup/
  22. https://www.oldracingcars.com/f1/results/1969/race-of-champions/
  23. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1969-oulton-park-gold-cup/
  24. https://medium.com/formula-one-forever/the-most-important-car-in-formula-1-history-lotus-72-64237441d098
  25. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2010/mar/08/formula-one-failed-gadgets
  26. https://www.racefans.net/2007/05/10/banned-four-wheel-drive/
  27. https://automedia.revsinstitute.org/lotus-72-cosworth-the-remarkable-story-of-the-long-lived-legend
  28. https://www.oldracingcars.com/mclaren/m9a/
  29. https://www.oldracingcars.com/f1/1969/
  30. https://www.statsf1.com/en/1969.aspx
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