Clubman Track Car - 4A-GZE Turbo - Ray Eldershaw

A rare opportunity to own a Lotus 7 Type Clubman crafted by renowned 1960s race car engineer Ray Eldershaw — a name synonymous with precision fabrication and grassroots motorsport excellence in Australia’s golden era of club racing.

Ray is an Australian motorsport engineer best known for his influential role in touring car racing during the 1970s and 1980s. With a background in mechanical engineering and race car preparation, Eldershaw became highly respected for his meticulous approach to chassis setup, suspension geometry, and race strategy. He worked closely with leading drivers and teams in Australian touring car competition, contributing to the development and competitiveness of Ford-based race cars during a formative period in the sport. His technical expertise and analytical mindset helped elevate professional standards within Australian motorsport, leaving a lasting impact on race engineering practices in the country.

Built in the true spirit of the original lightweight Clubman formula, this Eldershaw track car delivers the raw, mechanical purity that made the Lotus 7 legendary... but with performance that far exceeds period specification. No driver aids — just mechanical grip, balance, and commitment.

At its heart is a Toyota 4A-GZE turbocharged engine, delivering strong, reliable boosted performance in an ultra-light chassis. Known for its robust internals and torque-rich characteristics, the 4A-GZE provides explosive acceleration perfectly suited to sprint and circuit work.

Power is transmitted through a 5-speed close-ratio gearbox with direct top gear, ensuring optimal spacing for fast corner exits and maximum drive. A Ford Escort differential with three ratio options allows tailoring of gearing to suit circuit layout or driver preference. With disc brakes on all four corners, stopping performance matches the car’s formidable pace, offering confidence under late braking into tight turns.

Included with the sale are three complete sets of wheels (built by Ray himself) as well as an extensive spare parts inventory.

To give you an idea as to the Clubman’s pace, the car is capable of a 1:08 at Wakefield and possibly even quicker at the hands of a more experienced driver. These sorts of lap times place the car firmly in serious club-level competition territory, demonstrating the effectiveness of the chassis balance, gearing setup, and power delivery combination.

This is motorsport distilled to its essentials — a lightweight, high-power Clubman engineered by a respected figure from Australia’s racing heritage and developed into a genuinely rapid modern track weapon. Due to Ray’s retirement from racing, the Clubman is reluctantly offered to the market and must be sold.