Lotus 30 and 40 Scale Models
Over the years, many model cars have been made of the Lotus 30 and 40. They were extremely popular as slot cars, and still seem to have a large following. A recent search on E-bay.com turned up over a dozen model and slot cars for sale.
From the days in ’66 when Ford Motor Co. was using this car as a show car, there was a 1:24 scale model (plastic) Willment 30/40 made. John Markey showed Dick Keyes his model, and it has all of the distinctive vents and ducts of this particular car. No manufacturers name is cast into it, however.
Hawk
1:32nd scale models Hawk Lotus 30 Kit #02, #644, and #10625 (not shown)
SMTS
In 1995, SMTS (Scale Model Technical Services) Brunel Road, Hastings, Sussex
TN38 9 RT UK released a 1:43 scale model in resin of the Willment
Team Lotus 30 with racing car No. 16. This was Brian Muir’s car
number driven at Mallory Park in 1966.
Pictured above – SMTS cars:
RL34 1964 Lotus 30 – Jim Clark paint scheme
RL46 1964 Lotus 30 S2 – Jim Clark paint scheme
RL35 1965 Lotus 40 – Jim Clark
The RL46 kit also comes with a decal set to prepare the car as the “Race Proved by Willment” Team Lotus 30 – the same car that eventually became the Pink Stamps Special Lotus 30.
Other Lotus 30 and 40 Models –
Carrera made a Lotus 30 slot car that appears to be
the Willment Lotus 30 in that it has the distinctive front brake
air scoops and the chopped tail, but the car is painted green.
Tamiya made a 1:24 scale (#G7) and 1:32 scale (#AA002).
These are very early Tamiya releases and the quality is not quite
what one expects from current Tamiya models. Also is the very
rare Tamiya-Mokei slot kit (ref#2408-350).
Tamiya also made was a ‘Mini Racer’ Lotus 30 that was a special edition in limited numbers.
Strombecker made a 1:24 scale model of the Lotus
30 which looked to be well detailed (Kit Ref #8512-795). They also
made a 1:32 scale slot car.
Cox is said to have made a fantastic slot car renditions
of the Lotus 30 and 40 – Lotus 30/40 Kit: 775000. The Lotus 40
was 1:24 scale and came fully assembled.
GAMA 1:40 scale die-cast model (ref. #9603), which is oddly (amusingly?) referred to as a Ford GT 40 on the box art.
K&B also has a Lotus 30 slot car.
Stabo made a 1:24 scale Lotus 40 slot in 1965.
Eurcha made a 1:24 scale transparent Lotus 30 slot
car body for it’s Petite GP line.
Fleischmann made a Ford Lotus (40) slot that runs on Scalextric/Carrera tracks (1:24). I have seen one that was blue and one that was orange. I’m not sure if there were factory colours.
Russkit made a ‘Carrera Sidewinder Series 1:24 scale slot that came with a transparent body and a 6-volt motor. The kit has a very nice display box with a photo of the finished car in Team Lotus colors sitting on a nicely detail slot car track. It looks like the original retail price was $8.00.
Pactra made a 1:24 scale Competition Scratch-Build Kit’ Lotus 30 with a body color that is a beautiful metallic green. It is interesting to note that the box shows a drawing of two race cars on a track – but neither car is a Lotus!
The Russkit and Pactra are both highly desireable – recent
models in mint condition in boxes both went for over US$200 on
eBay.
Last Updated on April 7, 2019 by Kirk Keyes
Bob Allen
25 Sep 2020Spark Models have done excellent representations of the 30 in the following versions:
TEAM WILLMENT, NO.17 ZELTWEG 1965 MUIR
NO.1 GOODWOOD 1964 CLARK
NO.15, 3RD RIVERSIDE 1964 JIM CLARK
They are well executed and make the SMTS versions look rather dated now, good though they were in their day.
By the way, excellent website: I’ve only just stumbled on it and it’s great to see the much maligned 30/40 celebrated. I loved the look of it when I was young and oh, how I wanted that Hawk model kit which was obscure in England. However, one question: how does the 30/40 qualify as the biggest and hairiest Lotus that Chapman built? Surely that accolade goes to the 70, doesn’t it?
Kirk Keyes
25 Sep 2020Thanks for the info on the Spark model, Bob!
Great question about the Lotus 70. It was an awesome car as well, and certainly qualifies for big and hairy. The 70 had similar engine sizes, but I think the 70 was generally considered to have better handling. So that leaves the 30 as hairiest.
Glad you’re enjoying the website!