According to the article “Will 1965 be the Year? The Development History of the Biggest Lotus”, Motor, 10 Jun. 1965, this Series 2 Lotus 30 was delivered to JC Bamford. This car was ex-Works on an unknown date, body color of “Yellow”, Lotus Ford V8 Serial Number unknown, and ZF 5DS20 Serial Number unknown. It’s assumed the engine and transmission from 30/S2/4 were used for this car.
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30/S2/9
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1965 – Bamford / JCB (replacement car) See 30/S2/4. Driver: Trevor Taylor
1965 Jul 24 – was “burned out” [ref]Nye, Doug, Beautiful Miscalculation, Old Motor, Oct. 1981, p. 40.[/ref] during practice for the 1965 Martini Trophy at Silverstone. 1966 – Peter Sadler 2002? – Junro Nishida (JP) Car has been restored to it’s original JC Bamford yellow paint. 2006 May 20 – Auctioned by Bonhams. Auction estimate: US$ 180,000 – 230,000. Engine No. XE93532 |
1965 Jul 24 – This car was “burned out”during practice for the 1965 Martini Trophy at Silverstone. Doug Nye reports that this car was “destroyed during a testing shunt” [ref]Nye, Doug “Beautiful Miscalculation.” Old Motor. October 1981: p. 41[/ref] The car was being driven by Peter Sadler when it crashed.
This car was replaced by 30/S2/9.
1965 – Bamford / JCB (replacement car for 30/S2/4 which was destroyed in a testing shunt.) [ref]Nye, Doug “Beautiful Miscalculation.” Old Motor. October 1981: p. 41[/ref]
Track tested by John Blunsden for “Motor Racing” magazine. Blunsden described the modifications made to the car –
“Quote article here”
1966 – Peter Sadler Here are some photos of the 1966 Oulton Park Tourist Trophy showing Peter Sadler.
1970s – Several Auto Dealers
1980 – Brian Cocks – Car offered for sale in 1981. Article by Tony Dron on this car featured in “Thoroughbred & Classic Cars”, Sept. 1985. Still owned by Cocks in 1985.
2006 May 20 – Auctioned by Bonhams. Auction estimate: US$ 180,000 – 230,000. Car has been restored to it’s original JC Bamford yellow paint. Engine No. XE93532
“This particular car was track tested by the talented John Blunsden,
associate editor of ?Motor Racing? magazine in the UK, and
contributor to ?Sports Car Graphic? in the US. He described how the JCB Lotus 30 was one of the most heavily modified of its type. In particular the body had been split horizontally to enable the nose section to lift off completely, whereas standard Lotus 30s offered only restricted access via removable hatches. This had only been made possible by complete revision of the cooling system. Separate fuel fillers had also been provided in place of the standard single central filler neck. This car ran on 13-inch wheels when tested and was geared for 153mph at 6,800rpm. A ZF gearbox was fitted at that time and for acceptance by some of the Historic racing authorities today either a ZF of this type ? Ford GT40-like 5DS25 unit ? or perhaps a Hewland LG500 should be fitted, in place of the present after-period DG unit. John Blunsden concluded after his track test of the car at Brands Hatch in 1965 that this was ?A Lotus 30 with a difference?and it?s the difference that matters?.
“It was certainly one of the most extensively developed of the cars in period, and in its JCB yellow livery it was certainly one of the highest profile, instantly recognisable wherever it ran.”
2006 – Present – Classic Team Lotus
2010 Video – Blyton Park
Date Mar 18, 2010
2022 Video – Blyton Park
Driver: Richard Bradley
2025 Video
Driver: Richard Bradley
Last Updated on December 8, 2025 by Kirk Keyes