LOTUS Racing Car Simulator – A Blast From My Past

I just about lost it when I came across this poking around on Craig’s List last night.

Here’s the entirety of the guys entry:

“Mid 1960’s, world’s first race car simulator. ‘based around an actual Lotus 31 Formula 3 car…made from standard manufacturing parts’

Featured in the Dead Man’s Treasure episode of The Avengers in 1967, this one is not as shocking as Steed’s drive. Have copy of episode, very cool.

‘Lotus had designed the unit to run very much along the lines of the leading flight-sims of the day’…AutoSimSport

This one comes with modern electrical components for use with recent racing sims such as Grand Prix Legends – a simulation of racing from the same era as this original car.

None other like it outside of England, own a unique piece of history. Race green to your heart’s content ‘virtually’ around the world without using a drop of gasoline.

Or enjoy it as art – whether you stand it on end – as some ex F1 drivers did with their cars, mount it on the ceiling or wall, or just leave it on its tires, it’s a grand piece of art – the simple lines of the 60’s race cars are nothing short of elegant. ”

Now, I’m a pretty big sim guy, and the Big Boss Man here at AutoMoBlog, Chris, well knows. I’ve spent thousands on controllers and cockpits and what not, and normally seeing something like this would have piqued my interest, but it was this part that almost had me jumping out of my seat: “Featured in the Dead Man’s Treasure episode of The Avengers in 1967, this one is not as shocking as Steed’s drive. Have copy of episode, very cool.”

I remember seeing that episode on TV when it was first broadcast, I remember my dad & brothers trying to figure out what kind of car it was. We could all tell that the track was Brands Hatch though.

I remember thinking at the time just how cool it was and boy wouldn’t it be neat to have something like THAT one day.

Well that day came and went many years ago. The processing power we have and the software that’s out there is uunbelievable from the perspective of The Avengers in the 1960s.

But still, how cool would it be to own this rig?

There’s pictures of how it currently looks after the jump.

Filed Under: Lotus • Video Games