Lotus 72 which had been designed by Colin Chapman for 1970 season had the completely new shape achieved by chisel-shaped nose and radiator intakes mounted on the cockpit sides for better air penetration and higher speeds, as opposed to the nose mounted radiators which had been commonplace since the 1950s. The suspension, too, was innovative breakthrough for the coil-springs had been replaced by torsion bars. In a back-to-back test with the Lotus 49, the 72 was 12 mph faster with the same Cosworth engine. In its original form the car had anti-dive suspension which was designed to prevent the nose of the car dipping significantly under braking, and the anti-squat set-up at the rear, which was supposed to stop the car ‘squatting down’ under acceleration. But these characteristics led to poor handling of the car and were subsequently removed. Too modifications, 72B and 72C appeared later in 1970. With anti-squat removed, the car was designated 72B, while 72C had both anti-squat and anti-dive features removed and had an extensively strengthened monocoque. 72D first appeared at the 1971 Monaco Grand Prix. The D differed from C mainly in having more conventional rear suspension that incorporated parallel lower links instead of wishbones and twin radius rod. In 1971 Emerson Fittipaldi was in his 2nd season both in F1 and in the Lotus team. He drove the 72D to the 2nd place in Austria, as well as to 3rs positions in the French and British Grand Prix. This model represents Fittipaldi’s car from the German Grand Prix where he was retired. See also model by Quartzo from the 1971 British Grand Prix.
| Season | Series | Event |
| 1971 | F1WC | German GP |
| Driver | No. | Entrant |
| Emerson Fittipaldi | 8 | Gold Leaf Team Lotus |
| Scale | Manufacturer | Collection |
| 1:43 | IXO | Eaglemoss Lendas Brasileiras do Automobilismo |
| Cat. No. | Quality | Rarity |
| No. 14 | 
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