THE LOTUS 34, CHASSIS #34/3 AVAILABLE NOW!

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Colin Chapman built three Lotus 34’s for the Indianapolis 500 in 1964, each one had the same specifications, Engine: V8, dual overhead camshafts per bank, fuel injected, 255ci. 475bhp at 8,250rpm; Gearbox: ZF two-speed, Suspension: four wheel independent; Chassis: offset to left of centerline by 2 3/8 inches; Brakes: four wheel disc. Single seat speedway racing car. All three were entered by the works team. All three cars were used in practice.
Team Lotus, showed up in 1963 with the then-new (and very controversial!) 15" Firestone tires, but for 1964, Colin Chapman (over the objections of Ford!) brought Dunlop to the Speedway, apparently for the contingency money, depending on whose account you read. Dunlop apparently did not figure on the sustained high speeds of Indy, especially when compared to their normal venue of road racing, and supplied tires with treads that were either too thick, too soft, or both.

As to the history of these three cars after the 1964 Indy 500 there is a considerable amount of confusion, after all it’s been over 44 years. Below is an attempt to chronicle the history of each car, it is confusing but the current owners all want to claim the fame of this extraordinary car.

CHASSIS 34/1 Specifically built for Dan Gurney with a higher windshield to accommodate his height. Dan started in 6th position on the grid in Chassis 34/1. He qualified at a speed of 154.487 mph and was running third when he had to make a pit sop on lap 14. After Jim Clark's car experienced tread "chunking" a subsequent pit stop on lap 96 revealed that strips of tread were missing from the center of Dan’s tyres exactly the same problem, and upon the advice of the Dunlop representatives Ford and Team Lotus withdrew Gurney's car. Dan only finished 110 laps
After Indy the car went to Milwaukee to be driven by Walt Hansgen, unfortunately he crashed the 34/1 & the car was written off.

CHASSIS 34/2 This was the team backup car. This chassis was used in practice for the 1964 Indy 500 by Jim Clark numbered #36 but was not driven in the race. After the race the car was assigned, and driven by A.J. Foyt in the August Milwaukee 200. Later in the season with Parnelli Jones at the wheel it held pole position and won at Trenton in August, and again pole and track record at the Phoenix 150 in November.
For 1965 this car was renumbered to #1 in recognition of Foyt's national championship and appeared at the 65 Indy 500 repainted in pearl white with red and blue trim, and sponsored by Sheraton-Thompson.
A.J. put the car on pole with a new record time of 161.233 mph. Foyt would lead the race early and set fastest lap time edging out Jim Clark in the newer Lotus Type 38. After leading much of the race Foyt retired with gearbox problems on lap 115. A.J. finished 15th and Jim Clark went on to win.
A.J. Foyt used the Lotus to his advantage in the remaining pavement races that year, winning at Trenton in July and September, both times from pole position, coming from the second row to win at Phoenix in November, and finishing second on the paved Langhorne speedway.
Foyt went on to win 5 USAC races in 1965 and finish 2nd in the championship to Mario Andretti. He won the Trenton 150, the Trenton 200 and Phoenix in this chassis. He was on the pole in an amazing 10 of the 18 USAC events that year. He retired the car at the end of the year and it never raced again. He obviously had strong feelings for the car and retained the Lotus-Ford 34 until 1992, when it was purchased by Pat Ryan at the highly publicized 'Garage Sale' of cars and other items from Foyt's personal collection.
The car is currently exactly as it was on the day it was sold complete with many spare parts that were purchased at that same auction and is currently part of the Pat Ryan’s Prisma Collection, on sale for only $450,000.

CHASSIS 34/3 This is the car that Jim Clark raced at the 1964 Indianapolis 500, earning the pole position with a speed 159.337 which was 7 mph faster than the lap record. During the race Jim had severe problems with his Dunlop tyres and only completed 44 laps. His car experienced tread "chunking" midway into the event, which quickly developed into the tread peeling off the tire, the resultant imbalance and extreme vibration breaking the left side rear suspension, and ending his race prematurely.
Parnelli Jones took over the driving chores next, and with chassis 34/3 still painted in Lotus colors but now carrying #98, and equipped with Firestone tyres won the Milwaukee 200 mile race in August of 1964 setting both qualifying and race records,starting from the pole and winning at over 104 mph.
Jim Clark drove the car again at Trenton in September but did not finish. 34/3 was then sold by Ford to J.C. Agajanian, Parnelli Jones patron.
The car returned to the Indy 500 in 1965 painted gold and white with Parnelli driving, and finished second to Jim Clark in his famous Lotus 38.
For the remainder of 1965 Parnelli Jones went on to hold pole, track record and win the June Milwaukee 100, and hold the pole position at the later Milwaukee 150 in August, but retire after 80 laps.
The car was restored around 1995 by Phil Reilly & Co of Corte Madera California and is now owned by Parnelli Jones and is on display at the Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing Collection.

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