Jimmy Clark's Indy winning Lotus on display in the Henry Ford Museum, in what Andrew Ferguson called "...disgusting condition" The crazed and broken fiberglass is hard to see, but the bent suspension arms are very obvious.
The Henry Ford Museum, located in Dearborn, Michigan, is the home of many significant artifacts of American history. Henry Ford himself had commissioned the museum and the adjacent Greenfield village, to preserve the significant artifacts of American history and industry for future generations. Under it's roof are the machines of American industry, transportation, and domestic life. Some of the more fascinating exhibits are the steam locomotives, early aircraft, and of course, automobiles.
Among the many cars on display are a number of racing cars, especially those from Ford's considerable involvement in motor sports. Such as Henry Ford's first race car, the carriage-like "Sweepstakes", and the lethal looking "999", in which Henry beat none other than the famous Barney Oldfield. Another significant Ford is the Mk IV in which Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt won the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1967. But the one car of particular significance to Lotus enthusiasts is the green and yellow Lotus-Ford, #82, driven by Jimmy Clark to win the Indianapolis 500 in 1965.
Twenty-two years ago, Luann and I had visited the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village while honeymooning in Michigan. It was then that we first saw Clark's Lotus-Ford among the other racing cars the museum. Unfortunately it was considerably worse for wear. Some of the suspension arms were bent, much of the fiberglass was cracked, and the paint was chipped and crazed all over. It was in pretty sad condition, certainly not befitting that of a valued museum display.
Clark's winning car, designated a Lotus 38 by the factory, was Lotus' third attempt at the hallowed brickyard (Does anybody know why they call it the brickyard?). He finished a close but controversial second to Parnelli Jones in 1963, while a chunking Dunlop tire wrecked the rear suspension for a DNF in 1964. In 1965, Clark qualified #82 on the front row, second to AJ Foyt who was driving in a revamped version of the previous year's Lotus. Soon after the start though, Clark passed Foyt and went on to completely dominate the rest of the race.
After the race, Ford Motor Company took possession of the car, using it for promotions and company displays. Then in March 1977, Ford donated the car to the Henry Ford Museum where was put on display. Some years later, there was controversy swirling around that the car in the museum was not the car Jimmy drove to Victory Lane in 1965. Responding to a letter from the museum regarding the allegations, Andrew Ferguson, former Team Lotus Manager, called such contentions "complete rubbish." Ferguson went on to explain that following the race, Team Lotus turned the car over to Ford Motor Company, as stipulated in their contract agreement.
Andrew Ferguson authored the book "Team Lotus, The Indianapolis Years" which was published in 1996. In it, he lamented over the "disgusting condition" in which Jimmy's car was allowed to fall while in Ford's care, demonstrating a "lack of understanding and respect". Indeed.
Last August, Luann and I returned to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village for a short vacation, this time with our children. There have been quite a few changes made to the museum over the years since we had been there last, with many new exhibits. As we wandered to the race car exhibit, I wondered what I would find of Jimmy Clark's Lotus. To my delight, there was #82, resplendent in its green and yellow Team Lotus livery. In 1991, it had undergone a total restoration, and now looked just like the day they rolled it onto the grid before that Memorial Day race in 1965. Now it looks like the proud "500" Champion that it is.
Jun Clark's restored Indy winner on display at the Henry Ford Museum in August, 2004. Unfortunately, the race car exhibit is located way in the back of the building, where the lighting is poor, and large pillars blocked the best view of the car. An alarm system prevented entry into the exhibit and an unobscured view from the left side. I could not persuade the museum authorities to let me inside the exhibit for two minutes to get a few good shots.
