Sir,

I wish I owned the one and only rear-engined sports-racing Scarab ostensibly shown on opposite lock in the hands of AJ Foyt at Brands in ’64 (July, p41). Would that I could acquit myself as well.

Happily, I do presently own the Buick/Olds V8-engined Lotus 19 that is in your photograph.

It is shown, of course, in Mecom’s typical livery of the period. Originally fitted with a 2-litre CoventryClimax FPF, it was converted to a V8 in the search of more power. Heat from the V8 was a problem for car and driver, as the rough vent in front of the cockpit attests.

Both Lotus and Scarab were in the Mecom stable at the time and AJ, Walt Hansgen and Augie Pabst drove them interchangeably. By the way, I believe that Augie still owns the Scarab.

I am, yours etc,
Richard Roth, New York, USA