Lotus Type 56 Gas Turbine 1968

[CORRUPTEDDISC]

This little wedge shaped beauty is one of the most radical racing cars of all time. The Type 56 was designed by Lotus for the Indy 500, was powered by a 500 bhp Pratt & Whitney gas turbine engine, had only one gear, and was all wheel drive. It is capable of running laps at speeds in excess of 171 mph.

It dominated most of the '68 Indy 500, and almost won, but due to a simple mechanical fault right at the end of the race, it sadly didn't.

As anyone who's seen my other gas turbine powered suggestion (the Howmet TX) knows, I love gas turbine cars, and would be hugely happy if one featured in GranTurismo.

 

[shardlojik]

As an aside there was also the F1 version which was the 56B. Though it wasn't very successful and only ran in three races. Fittipaldi dragged it to 8th at the 1971 Italian GP.

 

[TexRex]

Guts and glory.

And a couple technical drawings, the latter highlighting the drive layout of the aforementioned F1 version.

This one's always held a special place in my heart, despite the fact that I've never been a big IndyCar fan. The Indy version (one of them, anyhow) went through a deep restoration a number of years back, of which I had numerous pictures detailing the monocoque and drivetrain with those gorgeous inboard brakes fore and aft--sadly I lost them at some point. It was and is a beautiful machine and the metalwork applied in construction of the exhaust shroud (not well-represented in any of the above images) is incredible.

 

[Pete05]

Guts and glory.

And a couple technical drawings, the latter highlighting the drive layout of the aforementioned F1 version.

This one's always held a special place in my heart, despite the fact that I've never been a big IndyCar fan. The Indy version (one of them, anyhow) went through a deep restoration a number of years back, of which I had numerous pictures detailing the monocoque and drivetrain with those gorgeous inboard brakes fore and aft--sadly I lost them at some point. It was and is a beautiful machine and the metalwork applied in construction of the exhaust shroud (not well-represented in any of the above images) is incredible.

👍 & For the extra technical details & drawings.
I was going to suggest this but you beat me to it.

 

[GBalao888]

GT sure needs some jet-engined cars

 

[ClydeYellow]

It only had one gear: "sho long, shuckers".

And if you're a die-cast geek like me, True Scale Miniatures produces an excellent 1:18 replica of the cars that raced at the 1968 Indy 500, and the 56B that raced sporadically in the 1971 F1 season. They look sooo real, and they will only cost you your firstborn's soul!

 

[Pete05]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_56

 

[Panoz]

Few photos I took when I was at Indianapolis a few weeks ago.

 

[TexRex]

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Few photos I took when I was at Indianapolis a few weeks ago.

It's a very withdrawn looking machine. At first glance you wouldn't see anything especially unusual except for that "that's an interesting way of gathering the exhaust at the top there" exhaust system, but then you notice the axles and boots at the front and think perhaps it's a little different. Also funny contrast to see what's being wrenched on in the background.
Here's another peak under that orange.

 

[Panoz]

It's a very withdrawn looking machine. At first glance you wouldn't see anything especially unusual except for that "that's an interesting way of gathering the exhaust at the top there" exhaust system, but then you notice the axles and boots at the front and think perhaps it's a little different. Also funny contrast to see what's being wrenched on in the background.

It's was a historic event at the track, the first photo was taken on the first day. Walking though the garages, I notice no one was around the Lotus 56 at that moment and 2 or 3 empty garages separated it from me.

Almost like a photo shoot.

Edit:

The other Lotus 56s in the IMS Museum.

 

[TexRex]

The Indy version (one of them, anyhow) went through a deep restoration a number of years back, of which I had numerous pictures detailing the monocoque and drivetrain with those gorgeous inboard brakes fore and aft--sadly I lost them at some point.

Three cheers for sticktoitiveness!!!

 

[Pete05]

Three cheers for sticktoitiveness!!!

Absolutely brilliant

 

[cbarbosa]

Voted! 👍

Interesting concept.