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Historic Lotus Register | A club welcoming those who own or are interested in early Lotus cars, the company, and the people who created and raced them. |
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In October 1974, following correspondence between Chris Draper in Germany and Victor Thomas in England, it was decided to form a Register to involve others with similar early Lotus cars. Vic created an application form for the Lotus Historic Register - by December 1974 there were five members. Early in 1975 Bill Friend joined as member No. 6 and suggested the name be Historic Lotus Register .
Newsletter No. 1 was sent out in April 1975 and No. 2 in July 1975; Bill Friend had designed the HLR badge and the membership had risen to 40. An inaugural meeting was organised by Bill Friend and Alan Hall at Bill's farm near Hatfield, north of London on Sunday 28th September 1975. This was well attended, with cars ranging from a 1954 Mk VIII to the current Mk 76 F1 car loaned for the meeting by Colin Chapman. The second meeting took place at the Prescott Hill Climb in June 1976 and Eric Perrin attended as the first overseas member. Contact was made with the Lotus Eleven Register in the USA, founded independently by Russ Hoenig in 1973, and an exchange of ownership records, early drawings and other information took place.
Since its beginnings, the Historic Lotus Register has developed into a highly specialised source of information on early Lotus cars. For many years the Register focused solely on front‑engined models up to the Type 17, but its scope has gradually widened to include most models up to and including the Type 30 and Type 40, as well as the Type 31, 41, 51 and 61. In 2017, the Type 14 Elite was incorporated following a merger with Club Elite.
The Register is organised through a network of Registrars, each responsible for gathering and maintaining historical and technical information on specific Lotus models. Alongside documenting the histories of these early cars, the Register also serves as a central reference point for technical data, parts availability, and details of specialist suppliers who can provide replacement components and services.
The HLR is an active presence at major historic motoring events, where racing members compete and other owners display their cars. Members also have opportunities to run their cars during occasional circuit test days.
The Newsletter has grown into a magazine HISTORIC LOTUS which is published four times each year to subscribing members.
HLR Ltd, Company Number 9899386, was incorporated on 2nd December 2015 under the Companies Act 2006 as a private company limited by guarantee.
The Historic Lotus Register is not limited to its present range, and it is intended that it should register details of any historic Lotus car marks/types produced in the 1950s and 1960s.