Classic Team Lotus is reigniting its YouTube channel, and one of the first videos of the new era was some rare footage of the Lotus Mark VIII. The recently unearthed footage has been unseen for decades, and shows the Mark VIII behind the scenes undergoing testing and racing in 1954.

When it was first revealed, the Mark VIII was unlike any other racing car. The streamlined bodywork owed more the aero principles than motoring, which is undersurprising given that it was penned by Frank Costin, who worked for de Havilland. He was the brother of Lotus employee Mike Costin who we interview in Issue 34 of Absolute Lotus magazine (which remains available here).

The grainy footage brings to life Lotus’s early years. Free from commentary, it gives you the opportunity to be a fly on the wall. To learn more about the Mark VIII and Mark IV, you can read Richard Heseltine’s story on the cars in Issue 37, available here.

Absolute Lotus is the bi-monthly magazine for all Lotus owners and enthusiasts.