The Can-Am series racing series ran from 1966 to 1987, leading to some of the wildest cars ever to put tire to tarmac. Engine capacity was unlimited, along with turbo or supercharging. Combined with nearly unrestricted aerodynamics, the series was as close to anything-goes racing as the world had ever seen, before or since, with later cars making anywhere between 1,000 to 1,5000 horsepower. Colin Chapman was ready to throw Lotus’ hat into the Can-Am ring, but his commitment to Formula One precluded the project from ever moving past the design stage. 53 years later, Lotus has resurrected the Type 66 as a period-correct race car, with a pushrod V8 making 818 horsepower — just as Can-Am intended. The construction uses 1960s techniques, with modern touches like power steering, a sequential transmission, and anti-lock brakes. 10 examples of the Type 66 will be built.
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