The Dinky Lotus Racing Car. Introduced in April 1963, the Lotus racing car, 241, became the third model in Dinky’s new series of F1 cars. The model cost 3/11 and was 3¼ inches (83mm) long. The green race colour was the normal livery of Team Lotus. The model had four wheel suspension, windscreen, a driver in a white overall and green helmet and a green engine cowl through which the car’s replica Coventry Climax engine could be seen. The model was deleted in 1970.

A South African version was made in a lighter green.

In 1952 by Colin Chapman and Colin Dale formed Lotus Engineering. Lotus cars were born out of Lotus Engineering, whose first factory was in stables, behind the Railway Hotel, in Hornsey London. In 1958, Team Lotus was split off from the core business and so began the engagement in completion from 1958-1994. In 1959, Lotus moved to a new factory in Cheshunt and the former RAF base at Hethel, Norfolk. Their cars were characterised by light weight and fine handling.

In 1960, Team Lotus won its first Grand Prix, at Monaco. Stirling Moss won the race driving a Lotus 18. During the 1963 season, Jim Clarke drove a Lotus 25 and won Lotus’s first World Championship. Sadly, Jim Clarke died in a tragic accident at the Hockenheim circuit, driving an F2, Lotus 48. Graham Hill restored Lotus’s winning ways during 1968 and subsequent successes included Grand Prix victories for Jochen Rindt (1970), Emerson Fittipaldi (1972) and Mario Andretti (1978).

Colin Chapman died in 1982, aged 54, with seven World Championships to his name. Since then, Team Lotus has had a variety of owners, including GM, Artoli/Buggatti and currently, Proton (1996-present). The original price was 3/11 . It was available in green finish. Released as Dinky 241 in 1963 withdrawn as Dinky 241 in 1970.