Lotus Period Pictures

[Bibs]

MBW are no longer hosting any non-Mercedes events which is a shame. I may have plans for another event next year though, watch this space! 

[Bravo73]

On 29/12/2023 at 20:48, Bravo73 said:

Where ACBC was conceived? 🤷‍♂️

 

On 29/12/2023 at 20:54, Bibs said:

44 Beech Drive, N2. Where ACBC was born and grew up! 

So I was probably right! 😂

[C8RKH]

On 17/12/2023 at 00:21, drdoom said:

 . . . and my formerly owned, forever loved 1964 Elan

That's a hell of a starter motor upgrade. 

Love the front bumper by the way, uber sharp and clean looking.

On 22/12/2023 at 14:13, Bibs said:

Mansell's first go in an F1 car - Type 79.

 

I see the gaffer tape is already out, breaking it that quickly was a super effort, even for Mansell, who was known to be hard on his machinery iirc.

13 minutes ago, Bravo73 said:

 

So I was probably right! 😂

Probably, but not necessarily.

[Jack Stone]

On 15/12/2023 at 13:23, Bibs said:

@Mark Blanchard Unfortunately, this isn't a period pic from 1975 but actually a bit of pastiche, presumably set up during the making of the film Rush at Blackbushe in 2012 with the old JP-TL transporter. The Type 72 is decked out in 1975 signage (e.g. Duckhams Q, Ronnie running number "5"). But you can see that the transporter bears the name of Emerson Fittipaldi, who left TL at end of 1973. 

The old JPS transporter (that now resides in a side-road in Chertsey) was used in the filming of Rush: https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/action-at-blackbushe/

I snapped a pic of my V8 Esprit with the JP-TL transporter a couple of years back.

[Jack Stone]

On 28/12/2023 at 09:17, Bibs said:

Lotus Cars China recreated the iconic Esprit/Cessna 414 G-PRIX/Chapman pic for the Shanghai Eletre launch in March (see below). Clive told me that the 414 displayed in Shanghai was a fibreglass mock-up, but amazingly the original TL Chancellor is flying today back in its JP-TL colours, on US reg N414BW. Based in Germany.

 

 

[C8RKH]

July 2023 photo....

[Gjk]

Looks great in JPS livery 👍

[C8RKH]

@Gjk previous post said it was US code but based in Germany. Other than that, no idea.

[Gjk]

I deleted that post @C8RKH as after posting, thought it was a bit too obvious. Interesting fact, I guess just because of the country of reg the aircraft doesn’t have to “live” there. Could be a good tax dodge? 🤷‍♂️

[C8RKH]

@Gjk Photo is here: https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/11010226 and says it was taken in Germany. Plane ownership details here: https://www.aviationdb.com/Aviation/Aircraft/4/N414BW.shtm

Could well be a tax dodge. Every one seems to be dodging these days lol...

[Gjk]

I can dodge tax better than I can a days work tomorrow @C8RKH… 😉

[NG5]

That is the genuine aircraft, serial number 414A-0049. It was sold to the states in 24-Aug-1979 and de-registered from the UK register then and re-registered in states hence the N registration. It has obviously be repainted in its 'historic' livery. Aircraft can be painted and show markings which are not normally allowed or of different countries if there is good reason and permision from the registering authority is obtained. This is most common for war birds, loads of ww2 german marked aircraft on the UK register. 

The N414BW in white is it's real registration, G-PRIX is just part of the paint job. 

Nicely done and i for one am happy it's back in its JPS livery. 

[NG5]

https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/search?registration=G-AIST&exact=true&source=g-info

G-AIST But you would never know looking at it. 

And this is G-CIPB

https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/G-CIPB.html

[Bravo73]

On 01/01/2024 at 04:10, Gjk said:

I guess just because of the country of reg the aircraft doesn’t have to “live” there. Could be a good tax dodge? 🤷‍♂️

It is normally for licensing reasons, rather than tax reasons. It is less onerous to get (and maintain) a licence under the FAA system (rather than the EASA or CAA systems). 

[Gjk]

Would that not make maintenance a problem as the MRO facility would need the correct license and all parts would have to come with a 8130-3 release?

[Bravo73]

I dunno. I presume that there are plenty of FAA approved MROs in Europe. 

I have never owned an N reg aircraft. Or, any aircraft for that matter! I just drive ‘em. 😉

[Gjk]

I totally agree @Bravo73. I just don’t understand why you would keep a American registration in Europe? I can’t get my head around why a MRO facility that’s geared up for “puddle hoppers” would go to such lengths to get FAA approval as the aircraft type wasn’t really designed for transatlantic flight.

Am I, 1. overthinking this or 2. missing something? 🧐

 

[Jack Stone]

Could be to do with the aircraft's ownership/financing. Although the owner is German-based (Kai Nieklausen), the Cirium fleet database shows the "trust owner" as a US company: Sky West Aviation Inc. There are plenty of 414s on the German reg, so it is unlikely to be cert related. Although transferring assets between different registers can be problematic.

[Bravo73]

18 hours ago, Gjk said:

I just don’t understand why you would keep an American registration in Europe?

I’ve already told you - it is for licensing purposes. It is easier (and cheaper) to get, then maintain, a US/FAA flying licence. 

17 hours ago, Jack Stone said:

Could be to do with the aircraft's ownership/financing. Although the owner is German-based (Kai Nieklausen), the Cirium fleet database shows the "trust owner" as a US company: Sky West Aviation Inc. 

N reg aircraft have to be owned by an American entity. Hence the use of US based trusts. 

The actual owner(s) will be based in Germany. 
 

Anyway, do all of these posts about owning and operating N reg aircraft require a thread of their own? 🤔

[Mark Blanchard]

Here's a shot of Chapman at the Geneva Motorshow in 1981 looking at the "new" turbo diesel Covini B24 Supercar 

I've always had an interest in 1970s supercars and today worked out this car was actually a rebadged Lombardi FL1 from 1972.  Anyone who had Top Trumps "Prototypes" cards in the 70s might remember this car.  Rarer than hens teeth.  

Ferruccio Covini bought the prototype, removed the Lancia 2000 engine and installed a turbo diesel, added rear buttresses, resprayed it white and called it a Covini.

https://www.lotusespritturbo.com/Lombardi_FL1.htm

 

Lombardi at the 1972 Turin Motorshow:

And he later rename it again a Covini Sirio and added a body kit from Halfords .

[Bibs]

[snowrx]

Interesting hoist on that gantry!

[Bibs]

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Can you please remove that Camel banner, There’s something behind it that I would like to take a closer look at.

[exeterjeep]

what could AI do with it.