The first mid-engined car to win the Indianapolis 500, with Scotsman Jim Clark taking it to success in the 1965 edition, the Lotus 38 entered the history of American racing, in which he made his appearance until 1967 and in '66 Clark himself managed to finish in second position making also record the fastest lap. Eight copies of it were produced, some intended for private teams. Designed by the brilliant Colin Chapman and Len Terry specifically to take part in the fastest race in the world, this single-seater built on a monocoque aluminum chassis was equipped with a 90 ° aspirated Ford V8 engine of 4,195 cm³, with a power of 500 hp , mounted longitudinally and already used on the Lotus 34 of which it was in effect an evolution.