One of the world’s largest private collections of Lotus racers and road cars is set to go under the hammer on Friday the 29th June 2012 at the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale. This significant Lotus collection of Olav Glasius is expected to realise in excess of £1.5 million ($2.4 million). Dutch textile magnate Olav Glasius has hung up his racing overalls and is auctioning his collection so that others can enjoy these wonderful machines.
The Glasius Lotus Collection cars demonstrate many of the most significant design innovations wrought by Colin Chapman, said Bonhams in a statement.
Olav Glasius’s collection includes 24 Lotus vehicles, covering a huge span of Lotus innovation and achievement from 1953 to the present day. Among impressive historic specimens of Lotus racing cars, ranging from Mark VI through Marks VIII and IX, stands out one of the now extremely rare and immensely desirable Team Lotus works Le Mans veteran Type 11s. There is also an original and unspoiled Formula Junior Lotus 27 and ex-Formula 1/InterContinental Lotus Type 18. Low-mileage road cars include a Lotus Elite Series II and a Lotus Esprit Turbo. The collection includes three prototype or one-off concept cars, including the 1982 Lotus Etna V8 Coupe concept.
James Knight, Group Motoring Director of Bonhams added: We are both honoured and delighted to have been entrusted with the sale of Olav’s superb collection. The Lotus marque is hugely respected and boasts all the credentials you could wish for: an innovative and charismatic owner in Colin Chapman, one of the finest drivers the sport has ever known in Jim Clark, and manufacturer of sports and racing cars that could take on and beat the best the others could offer. We have enjoyed watching Olav successfully compete with his cars at historic racing events, including Goodwood, and it seems fitting that the collection will be offered for sale at the Festival of Speed where Lotus will be the event’s celebrated marque. [Bonhams]
