While the first rear-engined Lotus single-seater racing design was the epochal Type 18 of 1960, the first to adopt what became the definingly sleek, pretty, and elegant Lotus Formula Junior body shape was the replacement Type 20 of 1961. Featuring the new 115bhp, 1098cc, Cosworth four fed by two twin-choke Webers, a Hewland MkVIII Transaxle, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension and 4-Wheel Hydraulic Disc Brakes, the Type 20 had jam-packed—more or less—the same component parts as the Type 18 into an even smaller, more aerodynamic racing car. The Lotus 20 dominated Formula Junior racing through 1961 with ‘Works’ drivers Trevor Taylor and Peter Arundell shining in particular, winning fifteen times between them. Prior to his sports car and Grand Prix career, private owner/driver Jo Siffert also enjoyed success with seven victories in his Type 20. #22J 901 is believed to have been raced in the UK during the 1960s. Its first known owner in the UK was the well-known racer Alan Baillie and subsequently he sold the car to Bob Hollander in Canada. For many years, it is known to have been ‘vintage’ raced in the US since the 1980s by Mr Robert McClenagan and at that time was maintained then by Mike Gourley at Continental Coachworks. In the mid-2000s, the Lotus joined the renowned collection of the late Robert "Bob" Koons and was subject to a comprehensive restoration in 2009 by noted restorer, Rick Parent. It’s been raced in recent years at prominent events, including SVRA races at Watkins Glen International Raceway, Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the rapid Lotus finished first overall. The car is offered with many records from the restoration, FIA paperwork, as well as HSR, SVRA, and VRG logbooks and a Gold Medallion from SVRA.
