Mansell's Lotus 81 could now be yours
William I'Anson
Our Nige. Red Five. The fastest ‘tache in racing, resplendent in Williams royal blue – with a dash of Camel yellow, naturally.
That’s how we best remember the indomitable Nigel Mansell, a British F1 legend.
However, it was in a different shade of blue that the ’92 champ made his grand prix debut.
Decked out in a rather arresting shade of electric azure and silver, Mansell had his first F1 start at the 1980 Austrian GP, driving for the mercurial Colin Chapman in Lotus 81B.
Its livery was dictated by the notorious David Thieme’s eponymous petrol firm, and Mansell raced with the skin burning off his back after mechanics accidentally (some might say appropriately) spilt fuel down it pre-race.
The British F1 legend made a typically eventful first grand prix start
Grand Prix Photo
Following those heroics, Our Nige would then take the Lotus 81 No1 chassis to his first ever podium the following year at Zolder.
This very car was also driven by all-American great Mario Andretti and the charismatic Elio de Angelis in period too – not a bad provenance.
Now 81/1 could be yours, providing you’ve got a few hundred grand to spare.
Got £130,000 spare?
William I’Anson
Historic dealer William I’Anson is selling the car which was owned by the Lotus car company until 2016, before passing on to the owner who is currently selling it.
I’Anson didn’t reveal the asking price when Motor Sport enquired, but another Lotus 81 (Chassis No3) sold for $159,000 (£131,000) in 2006, so this example could be reasonably expected to go for significantly more.
The 81 made its debut during the 1980 season, and what stands out about this car is that, from a Lotus design perspective, it isn’t that remarkable.
The car was built as a stopgap between two other disastrous Chapman projects: the Lotus 80, conceived as the ultimate ground effect car but prone to such chronic porpoising it was rendered unusable, and the beleaguered twin-chassis 88, which caused such uproar amongst other teams over its legality that it never even made a GP start.
The 81 was the bog-standard rule-pleaser that Lotus used in the meantime, but it still holds a significant place in Hethel history.
Initially wheeled out for Andretti and De Angelis for 1980, the latter gave the car its best result in just its second race with a runner-up spot at that Brazilian GP.
Mansell testing at Paul Ricard in 1981
Grand Prix Photo
Unfortunately the car was unreliable, with Andretti scoring just a single point with it before departing for Alfa Romeo the following year and De Angelis only garnering three more top-sixes that season.
The 81 was used for three more rounds in 1981 until its 91 successor arrived (following the abandonment of the 88), with Mansell clinching his podium at Zolder in its final run out.
By that time though the car was back in John Player Special black and gold, with Thieme arrested for fraud in April 1981.
Mansell would score one more top-three finish under Chapman before the team founder’s untimely death from a heart attack midway through 1982.
The Brit told Motor Sport he thought his F1 journey could have been very different if the brilliant Lotus founder’s life hadn’t been cut short.
“He was an amazing man. Unfortunately he departed prematurely and a great void was created when he died,” he said.
Complete with all naturally-aspirated 1981 mod-cons i.e. a Cosworth DFV
William I’Anson
“I do often wonder ‘what might have been?’ If Colin had still been around, and I’ve thought this many times, I would have won the world title a lot sooner.
“If Colin had been around for a long time the chances are I would never have driven for anybody else.”
Lotus 81/1B has been fully restored and is ready to race at historic events, if you’re ready to take on Zak Brown and co.
For more information about the sale of Lotus 81/1, click here.
