The retro Type 62-2 is the first model by revived coachbuilder Radford.
Inspired by the Lotus Type 62 racer from the 1960s, just 62 of these bespoke creations will be made.
Production is expected to start late in 2021, with first deliveries arriving to customers early in 2022.
Pricing has yet to be announced, but it’s unlikely any of these special creations will make their way Down Under.
The project has been fronted by an array of automotive expertise: former Formula One world champion Jenson Button (who is also Radford’s co-founder), presenter and broadcaster Ant Anstead and designer Mark Stubbs.
Underneath the retro bodywork are the underpinnings of Lotus’ new mid-engine sports car, the Emira.
The Type 62-2 is powered by a Toyota-derived supercharged V6 engine which can be mated either to a manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual clutch automatic.
Two specifications will be available at launch: Classic or Gold Leaf.
The Classic will be capped at ‘just’ 320kW of power, whereas the Gold Leaf edition gains upgraded conrods, pistons, camshafts and electronic mapping to produce around 372kW or roughly 500 metric horsepower.
The Gold Leaf edition also has the option of a limited-slip differential if you select the dual-clutch transmission and also has advanced ABS and traction control features.
Classic models will come standard with 17-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels, which increases to 18-inch front and 19-inch rear with the Gold Leaf cars.
All of the Type 62-2 models are built upon an aluminium chassis and coil-over spring suspension with four-way adjustable dampers. Hydraulic nose lift is an optional extra to make navigating driveways that little bit less painful.
On the exterior, Radford has tried to be as faithful as possible to the original racer, fitting wide wheel arches, side air intakes and rear ducktail spoilers that all hark back to the Lotus of the past.
Images of the interior have yet to be revealed but the company says there will be enough luggage space for two people, a six-inch digital driver display, a five-speaker sound system and integrated LED lights.
Just don’t expect the Radford 62-2 to be cheap. There’ll be only 62 of them, remember?
