TITLE: LOTUS ELITE Cars at Auto Lemon - Used Car History Check

Cars Directory: LOTUS ELITE Auto, Automobile, Automotive, Car, Cars, Classic, Classic Car, Used Cars, New Cars, Used Car, New Car

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LOTUS ELITE CAR

CARS > USED CAR HISTORY > LOTUS ELITE

LOTUS ELITE (1959-1963) CAR HISTORY

Car review on LOTUS ELITE

If the Seven was a Spartan club racer, then the Elite was the first proper Lotus road car, a sophisticated little GT blessed with superb handling and memorable looks. Launched in 1959 (prototypes had been seen as early as 1957), it was the first car to have a glassfibre monocoque made up of floor, body and a structural centre section with the outer opening panels bolted into place afterwards. Power for this lightweight structure came from an overhead-cam 1216cc Coventry Climax engine, first with 71 bhp in single-carburetor form, later will] 83 bhp and twin carbs giving 118 mph (189 kph) potential. The high lop speed was attributable to the low drag shape by stylist Peter Kirwan Taylor, with its amazing 0.29(cd). A creditable 35mpg was well within reach.

What made the Elite really special was its nimble handling. With coil-spring damper units at the front and modified MacPherson struts (Chapman struts) at the rear, it cornered like a go-kart, yet not at the expense of ride comfort. It had rack-and-pinion steering and high-specification disc brakes on all four wheels.

The model was much praised but had its problems. The monocoque shell promoted lots of drumming and vibration, and (lie cabin was very poorly ventilated — the profile of the door glass meant it was impossible to wind the windows down! Quality was never top-drawer stuff and the price was high — more than a Jaguar XK150. From 1960 there was revised rear suspension and improved interior trim.

The SE model had 85 bhp and a close- ratio five-speed ZF gearbox rather than the standard BMC-derived unit. The 95, 100 and 105 bhp versions were offered before Lotus eventually pulled the plug on their prodigy in 1963. By then Lotus needed all the production capacity they had for the Elan, which was much easier to produce and equally talented.

LOTUS ELITE CAR

CARS > USED CAR HISTORY > LOTUS ELITE

TITLE: LOTUS ELITE Cars at Auto Lemon - Used Car History Check

Cars Directory: LOTUS ELITE Auto, Automobile, Automotive, Car, Cars, Classic, Classic Car, Used Cars, New Cars, Used Car, New Car

Site Description: LOTUS ELITE Used Car History reviews and guide on classic and older model cars. Including car designers from Italy and Germany. Learn history of cars from classic, exotic, used, new to prototype model cars.

Cars Topics: LOTUS ELITE Classic Cars, Price, Prices, For Sale, Part, Restoration,
Classifieds, Classified ads, pictures, muscle car, picture, and photo , CARFAX, KELLEY BLUE BOOK, USED CAR HISTORY, VIN number, VIN SEARCH, Lemon Check