The Ex - Team Lotus, Innes Ireland
1959 Lotus 15 Series 3
One of the most significant and complete Lotus 15s in existence – ultimate, late production, one of three works Series 3 cars.
Chassis 620-3, originally assigned by the works to Innes Ireland and raced by him under the Team Lotus banner with factory support during the 1959 International season, taking two wins at Crystal Palace.
Winner of the 1961 Macau Grand Prix and 1962 Malay Grand Prix with then owner Peter Heath.
Confirmed as a highly original example by the late Lotus 15 Registrar, Bill Colson, citing its bodywork as still being the original.
Maintained and prepared to the highest standard, featuring the latest specification Crosthwaite & Gardner Coventry Climax FPF engine and long-term care by Hall & Hall, ensuring reliability, usability, and potential front-running performance.
Fully documented and race-ready, offered with FIA HTP valid through December 2026 and eligibility for the world’s finest historic events, including the Goodwood Revival and Le Mans Classic.
Price: £POA
Chassis Number: 620-3
Lotus’ lightweight 15
By the late 1950s, Lotus had firmly established itself as one of Britain’s most innovative and forward-thinking racing constructors. Under the direction of Colin Chapman, the marque pursued a philosophy rooted in lightness, efficiency, and structural ingenuity, producing competition cars that consistently outperformed larger, more powerful rivals. While early Lotus sports cars had evolved from modified road-going designs, Chapman’s ambitions increasingly turned toward purpose-built racing machines conceived solely for competition.
Introduced in 1958, the Lotus 15 was designed from the outset for conquering international competition, featuring a lightweight multi-tubular spaceframe chassis, fully independent suspension, and compact, aerodynamically efficient bodywork. Every aspect of the design reflected Chapman’s core belief that reduced weight and intelligent engineering could offset any deficits in outright power.
The Lotus 15 was offered with Coventry Climax FPF engine, ranging from 1.5-litres through to the incredibly potent 2.5-litre Grand Prix specification unit, allowing customers to tailor their car to regulations and event type. This flexibility, combined with the car’s balance and responsiveness, made it highly competitive across a wide variety of circuits. Although never produced in large numbers, the 15 achieved considerable success in the hands of both works-associated drivers and private entrants, and it laid important groundwork for later Lotus sports-racing designs, including the 17 and the mid-engined 19.
After debuting in the Sussex Trophy at Goodwood in April 1958, the Lotus 15 quickly demonstrated its potential, taking its first outright victory the following month in the hands of Graham Hill at the BRDC International Trophy meeting at Silverstone. From that point, the model established itself as a formidable presence in contemporary sports car racing, valued for its speed, balance, and adaptability.
In the United Kingdom and on the continent, the 15 became a popular choice for both works-associated drivers and leading privateers, raced by the likes of Roy Salvadori, Innes Ireland and Alan Stacey. Its appeal also extended further afield to the United States, where the car’s nimble handling suited the varied American circuit calendar, and a number of examples were campaigned with success on both coasts in SCCA events.
Lotus 15 – Chassis 620
A late production Series 3 Lotus 15, chassis 620-3 was completed at the Lotus factory in Hornsey, North London on 7 March 1959, just a couple of months before the marque moved to its new, larger Cheshunt facility. Originally equipped with a 1.5-litre Coventry Climax FPF engine and ZF S4-12 four-speed gearbox, the car was assigned to Innes Ireland – at the time a works Team Lotus driver in both Formula 1 and Formula 2, and was raced and maintained by Ireland with direct Lotus factory support.
Team Lotus entered the car for the Sussex Trophy at the Goodwood International Meeting on Easter Monday 1959, followed shortly thereafter by the British Empire International Trophy meeting at Oulton Park on 11 April. By early May, chassis 620-3 had been upgraded to 2-litre FPF specification in time for the BRDC International Trophy at Silverstone, again driven by Ireland.
Further appearances followed throughout the season, with a win at Crystal Palace, followed by the Rouen Grand Prix meeting. At the British Grand Prix meeting at Aintree, the car was withdrawn prior to the start following engine failure. An accident at Brands Hatch during the August Bank Holiday meeting brought the season to a premature end.
Rebuilt over the winter, the car was then sold to R.M. Bartrum and raced during the 1960 season for him by a young Shane Summers, achieving notable success including an outright victory at Silverstone on 3rd September 1960. After further international-level appearances later that year, the pale blue 620-3 was offered for sale at £1500 and subsequently acquired by British expatriate businessman Peter Heath.
Prepared with a fresh 2-litre engine by Brit Pierce of Whitehead’s Garage, Farnham – notably Innes Ireland’s mechanic – chassis 620-3 embarked on an extraordinary international chapter of its period racing career.
Heath raced the car extensively in 1961 before shipping it to the Far East, where it ‘roared’ to outright victory in the Macau Grand Prix at the end of the year, followed by a further win in the International Malay Grand Prix in August 1962. A return to Macau later that season ended in retirement despite leading for 15 laps, after which the car continued to compete regionally in the hands of local, Saw Kim Thait.
620-3 subsequently spent time in the ownership of Singapore based Brit, Brian Tyler, who also returned the car to the Malay GP in the late ‘60s, before advertising the now white 620-3 for sale in the UK in 1971.
Tyler recalled selling to a Mr. Bloor, whereafter 620-3 passed through John Harper before residing in the collection of Mr. Nato in Japan. In 1999, Mr. Nato offered 620-3 back to Harper, who returned it to the UK before selling it on in 2000, purchased by historic racer Duncan Dayton. A restoration was then carried out by Sid Hoole, during which the original chassis was jigged and refurbished as required. The car was subsequently raced at Goodwood, Silverstone, Pau, and returned to Macau in 2003.
Sold to Michael Malone in 2005, it was inspected by Lotus 15 Registrar Bill Colson, who confirmed its exceptional originality, including retention of all original bodywork which has subsequently been restored by Shapecraft and remains on the car. Malone would have preparation handled by Hall & Hall, and raced 620-3 in a number of historic events across the world.
Acquired by its current owner in 2020, 620-3 has remained with Hall & Hall for maintenance and preparation. A Crosthwaite & Gardner 2-litre Climax FPF engine powers 620-3, just rebuilt at Hall & Hall complete with Init Racing upgrades, and now with dyno time only. The ZF gearbox was also refreshed at the same time, while the BMC differential unit features a limited slip differential and two alternative ratios accompany the car.
Further parts with 620-3 include a set of spare wheels, two bucket seats, a rear mounted fuel tank, various exhaust silencers and a flight case of running spares.
Presented in outstanding condition following careful long-term stewardship and expert preparation by some of the industry’s leading specialists, chassis 620-3’s early link to Team Lotus, extensive international competition history, and continuous documented life place it among the most significant and desirable of the existing Lotus 15s.
Offered with FIA HTPs valid through December 2026, it is eligible for the most prestigious historic racing events worldwide, including the Sussex Trophy at the Goodwood Revival, Le Mans Classic, major Peter Auto series, and leading MRL Stirling Moss Trophy, Masters Gentleman Drivers and GT & Sports Car Cup grids. 620-3’s pace was shown with a pole position in the 2024 Sussex Trophy at the Goodwood Revival, demonstrating the pace of a potential race-winner.
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