Radford has unveiled the first model in their modern-day history, which is a Lotus-based sportscar designed as an homage to the 1969 Lotus Type 62 racecar. The Radford Type 62-2 will be produced in 62 examples starting from late 2021. For those who are not familiar with the name, Radford started its life in 1948 as a UK-based coachbuilder, designing and producing several bespoke cars based on Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Mini models.
In 2021, the firm was revived in California, by a team including former F1 champ Jenson Button, TV presenter, and car builder Ant Anstead, car designer Mark Stubbs, and lawyer Roger Behle, starting a collaboration with Lotus Engineering. The Type 62-2 is based on a Lotus-sourced aluminum chassis with a new rear frame for added rigidity. The suspension consists of coil-over springs with four-way adjustable dampers, promising racing-style handling, with Jenson Button describing the car as luxurious, comfortable, and great to drive. Braking is courtesy of AP Racing four-piston calipers on steel or optional carbon-ceramic discs.
The mid-mounted engine is the same Toyota 3.5-liter supercharged V6 found in the new Lotus Emira. The motor produces 430 hp in the “Classic” variant, 500 hp in the “Gold Leaf” thanks to a series of hardware and ECU modifications, and up to 600 hp in the “JPS” which will be unveiled in the future. The base spec will use a six-speed manual gearbox sending power to the rear axle, while the more powerful models will be fitted with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and a limited-slip differential. The carbon fiber bodywork of the Type 62-2 is designed by Mark Stubbs, contributing to the low weight of around 1,000 kg. He did a great job merging retro lines from the original like the side intakes, the gorgeous curves of the fenders, and the (optional) integrated ducktail spoilers, with modern touches like the LED lighting units. Height is only 1,133 mm which is slightly higher than a Lotus Elise but lower than pretty much every other car on the road.
The retro red and white livery of the “Gold Leaf” variant which is reminiscent of the 1968 Lotus Type 48B driven by Graham Hill, makes the car look even more desirable. As for the upcoming “JPS”, this will probably wear the black and gold livery from the 1972 Lotus Type 72D F1 driven by Emmerson Fittipaldi. Radford hasn’t shown pictures of the interior yet, but they gave up a little information on the design. The “uncluttered” dashboard will have a 6-inch digital instrument cluster, while the infotainment will support wi-fi, Bluetooth, and a sound system with five speakers. The cabin will have two seats and a sufficient amount of luggage space.
The company didn’t announce the price of the Type 62-2 but we expect it to be quite expensive considering its exclusive nature. Production will commence towards the end of 2021 in California, with the first deliveries scheduled for early 2022.
