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I've always liked this era of racing cars (as I am confident you are aware from previous threads... ), so when the opportunity came up recently to purchase a complete set of 1963 Lotus 23 molds (with a Maserati Birdcage front thrown in for good measure!), I could not resist.

Interestingly, one of the last 23's made was fitted with an Oldsmobile 244 CID all-aluminum V-8 for USRRC racing. The engine's power proved too much for the light-gauge tube frame, and after one professional race the car was parked and eventually sold off (and still resides here in NorCal, IIRC). Lotus went on to build the slightly bigger (4" wb, 2" track) Type 30/40 with a SBC, but even after several years of trying and numerous updates the design was not competitive against the Genies, McLarens and Chaparrels of the day. As a result Lotus withdrew from sports car racing and decided to concentrate on F-1 cars from then on.