Historic Indy winner runs again after 45 years

After its 1965 Indy 500 victory, the winning Lotus-Ford, chassis number 38/1, went on a promotional tour around the country, left just as it was when it was pushed out of the winner’s circle. The car’s engine never ran again, until 2010.

After the U.S. tour it took up residence in the Henry Ford Museum, where it remained until 2001, when it starred in the 100 Years of Ford Racing festivities. For that it received a superficial cosmetic restoration, then went back to the museum until 2009, when it was shipped to England for a static display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

At that time, and after a painstaking evaluation, The Henry Ford, working with Classic Team Lotus and Clive Chapman, Lotus founder Colin Chapman’s son, decided to completely restore the car to running condition, so it could actively participate in future Goodwood Festivals or other historic racing events.

During that process, the engine was removed and the oil drained for the first time since 1965. The engine was shipped back to Indianapolis, where it was rebuilt by Walt Goodwin, a renowned racing engine restoration expert. It was successfully dyno tested and is now back home in the rear of Lotus-Ford 38/1.

Learn more at http://www.thehenryford.org/