Become A Period Racing Driver With This 1956 Lotus Eleven Le Mans

The Lotus Eleven is one of the British car manufacturer’s most iconic racing cars, and one of them is up for grabs on Bring A Trailer.

Colin Chapman designed the Eleven and approximately 270 examples were built between 1956 and 1958, with one of them claiming a class victory at the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans and a seventh-place overall finish.

Despite what its name may suggest, this particular car never competed at the world’s most famous endurance race, but does have quite an interesting history nevertheless.

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As described by British Race Car, this Lotus Eleven Le Mans was the 30th example built and raced at Crystal Palace and Silverstone in 1956 and 1957. The original owner, Tony Ellis, parted ways with it in December 1957 and sold it to Danish racer Frede Andersen.

As is so often the case with cars like this, its ownership history is a little murky in the late 1960s and 1970s, but in 1986 it was reportedly purchased by a man named Carl Larsen, who had it shipped to Minneapolis where it underwent a 10-year restoration, during which it received a new spaceframe.

Jeff Snook acquired it in February 2000 and has driven it at 24 individual events, including races at Watkins Glen, Mid Ohio, Road America and Sebring. It is being sold with a bill of sale in Ohio, spare parts, and a host of official documentation.

Beneath the sleek bodywork is a 1.46-liter engine with dual Weber 40 DCOE carburetors, Carrillo rods, Petronix ignition and a forged crankshaft. The unit was rebuilt in 2016 with bored and honed cylinders, JE pistons, ARP studs, new coated main and road bearings, and a custom main bearing cap girdle.