Memorabilia: Lotus 18 - The Autobiography of Stirling Moss’s ‘912’
With Christmas fast approaching gift ideas for anyone who shares our interest in historic motorsport, or more importantly as a heavy hint as to what we like to receive, are always useful, so we aim to share a few suggestions over the next weeks.
Ian Wagstaff’s book Lotus 18 - The Autobiography of Stirling Moss’s ‘912’ tells the story of the car in which Stirling Moss achieved two of his most famous Grand Prix victories. The first World Championship race of the 1½-litre Formula 1 era introduced for 1961 was the Monaco Grand Prix and Ferrari’s powerful new ‘shark-nose’ 156 was expected to dominate, but Moss used all his craft and guile to take a celebrated win in his Lotus 18.
Although Ferrari did prove to be the dominant force that season, Moss scored a second success in this same car, chassis number 912, at the Nürburgring, a race that proved to be the last World Championship Formula 1 victory of his career. The car’s entire 1961 season, and its subsequent life, is covered in fascinating detail in this ‘Great Cars’ book, supported by a fine collection of period photographs.
The in-depth story includes:
- An in-depth account of the dramatic 1961 Monaco Grand Prix includes Stirling Moss’s recollections of his win in his Rob Walker-entered Lotus 18, which famously raced with its side panels removed.
- The car’s seven other World Championship Formula 1 races of the 1961 season covered in full, with special focus on Moss’s victory in the German Grand Prix.
- A third race success in 1961 came when Moss won the non-championship Modena Grand Prix.
- Insights into Rob Walker Racing, the most successful ‘privateer’ team in Formula 1 history, including the recollections of mechanic Tony Cleverly.
- For the 1962 season, the car passed to Count Volpi’s Scuderia SSS Repubblica di Venezia team and took part in five non-championship races, achieving a best result of sixth place for Nino Vaccarella in the Pau Grand Prix.
- Later life, including a spell in Tom Wheatcroft’s Donington Collection.
- Nearly 300 period images, many previously unpublished, plus studio photography.
Wagstaff has twice won the Guild of Motoring Writers’ prestigious book award, the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy, for The British at Le Mans and his biography of Stirling Moss’s mechanic Tony Robinson. He has written two previous books in the ‘Great Cars’ series, Porsche 917 and Maserati 250F, both of which were shortlisted for the RAC Motoring Book of the Year award, respectively in 2015 and 2016.
Standard Edition Hardback RRP: £60.00, ISBN: 978-1-907085-03-1
Page extent: 320 pages with over 300 photographs
