According to factory records, 23-S-113 was originally sold in March 1964 to Chris Williams, of Chris Williams Ltd, who purchased the car on behalf of Anders Josefsson of Sweden. The car was supplied ex-factory and painted in ‘Caltex Green’ because Josefsson had secured sponsorship from the Caltex Oil distributor to race it in Sweden. It is likely that Williams’ involvement in the purchase was in order to speed up the delivery process of a limited production car that was in great demand at the time. The fact that Williams was a well established customer of Lotus seems to give credence to this view.

Williams went on to race 23-S-113 in the UK that year entering the Lavant Cup at Goodwood; he also raced it at Oulton Park, Aintree, Silverstone, Mallory Park, and Brands Hatch.

23-S-113 was then shipped in 1965 to Mr Josefsson who raced it himself at Knutstorp, Stockholmsloppet, Velodromeloppet, Skarpnäckloppet and at Solitude in Germany. In late 1965, the car was then sold to Sven ‘Smokey’ Anders who was the promoter of the Swedish Autodrome at Anderstorp. He never raced it but used the car to carry a Swedish flag in the passenger seat at the circuit’s opening ceremony in 1968.

23-S-113 was then stored for the next 20 years until its restoration by Berglind for Asberg in 1989. It received some new bodywork and aluminium panels – presumably the originals had corroded- and a contemporary shade of British Racing Green. The car remained unused, however, and was subsequently bought from Asberg’s estate by the well known historic car specialist Leif Norberg in 1993. Once again, the owner did not run the car. Instead Norberg put it into long term storage in two Swedish museums: Arvika Fordonsmuseum and Rydaholm Museum. It was then sold by Norberg’s widow to the current owner last year.

23-S-113 remains a rare example of an original car with virtually no alteration to the chassis, engine, gearbox, brakes, cooling system, instruments, and ancillaries. It appears not to have been used much during its early life in Sweden and it has not turned a wheel for the last 40 years while being housed in private collections and museums. It is interesting to note too that in common with other Lotus 23s shipped to Sweden— for example, chassis nos. 107, 108— 23-S-113 has crude cut-outs in the rear-wheel arches. This ‘Swedish special’ treatment is likely down to the fact that these cars were used for ice racing as well as tarmac racing.

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Displayed courtesy of Martin Aubert Esq from Monday 11th March to Sunday 17th March 2019.