The Lotus Type 72 was the Formula One car to beat in the early 1970's. The Lotus Type 49 was the dominant car in Formula 1 towards the end of the 1960's, and introduced the Cosworth DFV engine to grand prix racing. Unfortunately, it's intended successors, the 4 wheel drive Type 63 and the gas turbine powered Type 56B, were both flops, so the Type 49 had to struggle on for over 3 seasons. To replace it, Lotus needed a car which would put them on top again. The Type 72 was that car, and it debuted at the 1970 Spanish Grand Prix.
It's wedge shape was derived from the unsuccessful gas turbine powered Type 56B, and it was one of the first grand prix cars to have it's radiators moved from the nose to the sidepods, which improved their efficiency and airflow around the car. Also, it moved the weight bias towards the back of the car, which improved traction. To reduce unsprung weight, the brakes were mounted inboard of the wheels. A large rear wing (for the period), Firestone tires, the proven Cosworth engine and advanced anti-squat and anti-dive suspension geometry (to keep the car level under acceleration and braking, thereby improving the aerodynamics) completed the package.
Initially it was not a success, as the advanced suspension was difficult to set up to allow consistent fast lap times under race conditions. The car was modified initially to 72B standard (the "B" denoting the removal of anti-squat) and then to 72C standard. The "C" car had both anti-squat and anti-dive removed. The car then came good, and driver Jochen Rindt went on to win 4 races in succession, giving him a commanding lead in the driver's world championship.
Another innovation introduced on the Type 72, was that of an airbox over the engine air inlet trumpets, thereby increasing the pressure of the air entering the engine and thus increasing power.
Sadly, Jochen Rindt was killed during practice for the 1970 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. His commanding lead in the championship meant no other driver overtook his points lead that year and he became the sports only posthumous Drivers Champion to date. His replacement was a young Brazilian called Emerson Fittipaldi, who managed to win one further race that year for Lotus, ensuring that they won the Constructors championship as well.
1971 was not a good year for Team Lotus. Still shocked by Rindt's death, and with an out of form Fittipaldi, Lotus did not win any races. The Type 72D was the next version of the car to be introduced, and it is the subject of Exoto's model of the Type 72. "D" specification included modifications to the rear suspension and a new design for the rear wing and the oil tank.
The 1972 season saw the introduction of a new livery for the car. A new sponsorship deal saw the cars painted black and gold, and known as "John Player Specials". This black and gold design was to remain on Lotus GP cars until it was replaced by the yellow of Camel cigarettes in 1987. Fittipaldi won 5 races this year which gained him the driver's championship.
1973 saw Ronnie Peterson join the team. Between them, Fittipaldi and Peterson won 6 races, but were beaten to the driver's crown by Jackie Stewart in a Tyrrell, who won 5 races.
The Type 72 was to have been replaced in 1974 by the new Type 76, but that car turned out to be a flop. Just as they did with the Type 49, Lotus had to soldier on with the Type 72 for longer than anticipated. Peterson and new driver Jacky Ickx managed to win 4 races between them, but the driver's championship went to Fittipaldi, who now drove for McLaren.
The Type 72's final season in 1975 was disastrous, as the car was now well beyond it's sell by date. No amount of modifications could turn it back into the race winner it once was.
This model is by Exoto and is part of their superb Grand Prix Classics range. Exoto generally produce the finest 1:18th scale model cars, and their grand prix range are probably the "best of the best". Certainly, the Exoto GP cars in my collection are some of the best models I have. The level of detail is astonishing, from the spark plug wiring on the engine to the excellent paint finish and even the correctly modelled tire valves on the wheels, this is simply a magnificent model. The latest releases from Exoto and CMC are better in terms of detail than this model of the Lotus 72, but in it's day it was one of the finest 1:18ths available. The car shown is the 1972 British GP winner, and has a driver figure representing Emerson Fittipaldi.
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