Nigel Mansell's first Lotus F1 car up for sale

The Showroom
September 25th 2025
Lotus 81 Nigel Mansell Mario Andretti Elio De Angelis

Mansell's Lotus 81 could now be yours

William I'Anson

September 25th 2025

Our Nige. Red Five. The fastest ‘tache in racing, resplendent in Williams royal blue – with a dash of Camel yellow, naturally.

That’s how we best remember the indomitable Nigel Mansell, a British F1 legend.

However, it was in a different shade of blue that the ’92 champ made his grand prix debut.

Decked out in a rather arresting shade of electric azure and silver, Mansell had his first F1 start at the 1980 Austrian GP, driving for the mercurial Colin Chapman in Lotus 81B.

Nigel Mansell Lotus 1980

The British F1 legend made a typically eventful first grand prix start

Grand Prix Photo

Its livery was dictated by the notorious David Thieme’s eponymous petrol firm, and Mansell raced with the skin burning off his back after mechanics accidently (some might say appropriately) spilt fuel down it pre-race.

Following those heroics, the Our Nige would then take the Lotus 81 No1 chassis to his first ever podium for following year at Zolder.

This very car was also driven by All-American great Mario Andretti and the charismatic Elio de Angelis in period too – not a bad provenance.

Now 81/1 could be yours, providing you’ve got a few hundred grand spare.

Lotus 81 x

Got £130,000 spare?

William I'Anson

Historic dealer William I’Anson is selling the car which was owned by Lotus the car company until 2016, before passing on to the owner who is currently selling it.

I’Anson didn’t reveal the asking price when Motor Sport enquired, but another Lotus 81 (Chassis No3) sold for $159,000 (£131,000) in 2006, so this example could be reasonably expected to go for significantly more.

From the archive

The 81 made its debut during the 1980 season, and what stands out about this car is that, from a Lotus design perspective, it isn’t that remarkable.

The car was built as a stopgap between two other disastrous Champman projects: the Lotus 80, conceived as the ultimate ground effect car but prone to such chronic porpoiosing it was rendered unusable, and the beleaguered twin-chassis 88, which caused such uproar amongst other teams over its legality that it never even made a GP start.

The 81 was the bog-standard rule-pleaser that Lotus used in the meantime, but it still holds a significant place in Hethel history.

Initially wheeled out for Andretti and De Angelis for 1980, the latter gave the car its best result in just its second race with a runner-up spot at that Brazilian GP.

Nigel Mansell Lotus 1981 testing at Paul RIcard

Mansell testing at Paul Ricard in 1981

Grand Prix Photo

Unfortunately the car was unreliable, with Andretti scoring just a single point with it before departing for Lotus and De Angelis only garnering three more top-sixes that season.

The 81 was used for three more rounds the next year until its 91 successor arrived (following the abandonment of the 88), with Mansell clinching his podium at Zolder in its final run out.

From the archive

By that time though the car was back in John Player Special black and gold, with Thieme arrested for fraud in April 1981.

Mansell would score one more top-three under Chapman before his untimely death for a heart attack midway through 1982.

The Brit told Motor Sport he thought his F1 journey could have been very different if the brilliant Lotus founder’s life hadn’t been cut short.

“He was an amazing man. Unfortunately he departed prematurely and a great void was created when he died,” he said.

Lotus 81

Complete with all naturally-aspirated 1981 mod-cons i.e. a Cosworth DFV

William I'Anson

“I do often wonder ‘what might have been?’ If Colin had still been around, and I’ve thought this many times, I would have won the world title a lot sooner.

“If Colin had been around for a long time the chances are I would never have driven for anybody else.”

Lotus 81/1B has been fully restored and is ready to race at historic events, if you’re ready to take on Zak Brown and co.

For more information about the sale of Lotus 81/1, click here.

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