1963 Lotus

This 1963 Devin C is the 12th of what is believed to be 25 examples built by California-based Devin Enterprises between 1959 and 1965, and was reportedly used for the company’s brochure photo shoot. It was acquired by the seller 10 years ago from the family of the original owner, amateur race car driver and race organizer Homer Christian Amos, who used it for participation in road racing out of Pebble Beach, California early in its life. The Chevrolet Corvair-sourced powertrain features an air-cooled 2.7L flat-six paired with a four-speed manual transaxle, and a 500cfm 4-barrel Edelbrock carburetor has been added. Finished in metallic red over red and black, the car underwent a refurbishment following the seller’s acquisition and has since made appearances at Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The car was driven from Monterey to Vallejo, California in August 2019 following Monterey Car Week, but attempts to start it since have been unsuccessful. This Devin C is now offered in Vallejo with a copy of the brochure photo, a chassis identity plaque, and a clean Arizona title in the seller’s name. Founded in 1954 by racer and entrepreneur Bill Devin, Devin Enterprises sold fiberglass sports cars, bodies, and kits in several configurations through the mid-1960s. The C model featured a Devin-designed ladder chassis and was available as a fully-assembled car. This factory-built example was refurbished under current ownership following a period of storage with the original owner’s family, and according to the seller he received guidance on the project from Tom Schrum, who had worked on the marque with Bill Devin. The body was stripped to bare fiberglass and repainted in a bright red with silver metal flake. The rear swing-axle suspension and hydraulic drum brake system were sourced from the Chevrolet Corvair, from which the “C” designation in the Devin’s model name was derived, while the front end retained the Volkswagen underpinnings of its predecessor the Devin D. 13” wheels feature three-eared spinners and wear Nankang CX-668 tires which were mounted eight years ago. A black soft top is shown in the photo gallery below. Number decals affixed to the doors and hood are said to be removable stick-ons, and six-digit California black plates remain with the car for show purposes. The cabin features bucket seats trimmed in red and black, along with black door panels and a two-spoke steering wheel. The windshield wiper gear is not currently installed, and the car’s wiring is said to require attention. Instrumentation includes a 200-mph speedometer and a 10k-rpm tachometer, which the seller states will require either replacement of the cables or conversion to electric-drive in order to function. The factory crankshaft gear-drive is retained. The five-digit odometer shows 16k miles, and 1,500 miles have been added by the seller, who states the odometer reportedly functioned prior to the car’s time in storage. The Devin C model featured power from various iterations of the Chevrolet Turbo-Air flat-six from the contemporary Corvair, from which the four-speed manual transaxle was also sourced. This example’s 2.7L flat-six was reportedly a replacement installed by the Devin factory early in the car’s life due to the original owner’s preference for a naturally-aspirated engine over the factory turbocharged unit. An Edelbrock 500cfm 4-barrel carburetor has been added in place of the factory four-carburetor setup. Service in August included an oil change, transaxle fluid change, lubrication, and brake system inspection. The car has been in storage with a friend of the seller since it was driven from Monterey to Vallejo, California following 2019 Monterey Car Week, and attempts to start the car in the last two months have been unsuccessful. Additional underside photos are provided in the gallery below, including images of the suspension and brake components. Videos below feature footage of the car driving during Monterey Motorsports Reunion, as well as a highway drive.