Lotus Bus

History

The history of Lotus is indissociable of that of its founder Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman (what explains letters ACBC on the logo) more known under the name of Colin Chapman. Engineer within the Royal Air Force, this last arranges in 1948 his first car, based on an old frame of Austin Seven. Baptized Lotus Mk1, it is engaged by its originator in tests of handiness. It is followed by Mk2 (1949) then by Mk3 (1951), which marks the beginnings of Lotus on circuit, within the framework of the championship of England 750 Cm3.

In 1952, Chapman founds the company Lotus Engineering , and designs the Lotus Mk6 (or quite simply Lotus 6), a racing racing car also approved for road use. Success is such as Chapman must consider construction in series (100 cars in 2 years), which leads it to found in 1955 Lotus Bus . In parallel, the engagement of the Lotuses in competition continues, and in 1957, Chapman assembles the TEAM Lotus, which will not be long in becoming one of the stables major of the Formule 1.

In 1957, Lotus launches its first considered car, Seven, which are one of successes of the mark until in 1973, year when the model is taken again by Caterham. The first “true” car of Lotus is the Elite 14 but the first commercial real success in great series is without any doubt the Elan the Sixties which will be manufactured with more than 10.000 specimens. A success which will not be equalized that by the Elise years 90-2000.

The close link between the competition and the mass-production cars, one of the principles founders of Lotus Bus, never was contradicted with the wire of annés: the amateurs of WP of the mark could not prevent themselves from making run of the mass-production cars (Elite, Elan, Europe), and the factory developed parts quickly even sub-models adapted to the race. Nowadays, it is the same since a derivative tracks Elise was born (the Exige) and that a certain number of kits and preparations are available for Elise as them Exige.

Deceased in 1982, Colin Chapman left the company with large financial problems caused by the project De Lorean. In 1986, Lotus Bus was repurchased by General Motors (note that the transaction did not relate to the racing stable, which will preserve its independence until its disappearance in 1994), then resold the August 27th 1993 with ACBN Holdings S.A for 30 million pounds sterling. Lotus thus joined the same group as Bugatti. In 1996, Lotus Bus was repurchased by the Malayan manufacturer Proton.

All the models built by Lotus, including those posterior with died of Chapman Hake are faithful to the philosophy of its creator: Light is Right (what is light is well).

Lotus and the competition

Lotus was illustrated while starting with races of club on ground, then on circuit for finally successfully attacking the Formule 1. But the manufacturer did not give up the races of endurance by taking part several times in the 24 hours of Mans, with the American races on ovals (500 Miles of Indianapolis), like with the Australian races (Tasman Series). Lotus manufactured and makes run successfully of the Formule Junior, Formule Ford, Formule 3, Formule 2 and always had a foot in the races of private cars (Seven, Cortina, Elan 26R, Europa 47).

The adventure Formulates 1 of them

Results in competition

In Formula 1, Lotus gained 79 victories (74 for the official stable, the TEAM Lotus, and 5 for Rob Walker Racing), 107 Pole positions and 71 better turns in 490 Grands Prix, over 37 seasons.

Seven championships of the world of the F1 manufacturers:

1963, with 54 points, in front of BRM (36 points);
1965, with 54 points, in front of BRM (45 points);
1968, with 62 points, in front of McLaren (49 points);
1970, with 59 points, in front of Ferrari (52 points);
1972, with 61 points, in front of Tyrrell (51 points);
1973, with 92 points, in front of Tyrrell (82 points);
1978, with 86 points, in front of Ferrari (58 points);

Six pilots were world champions of Formula 1:

1963: Jim Clark the United Kingdom;
1965: Jim Clark the United Kingdom;
1968: Graham Hill the United Kingdom;
1970: Jochen Rindt Austria (on a purely posthumous basis);
1972: Emerson Fittipaldi;
1978: Mario Andretti the United States.

Lotus also gained the 500 miles of Indianapolis 1965 with Jim Clark.

Lotus with the screen

The original lines of the Lotuses often were worth to them to be used with the cinema or on television.

In the pre-credits of the British series the Prisoner , Patrick McGoohan (alias Number 6) led a Lotus Seven in the streets of London.
In the British series Bowler hat and leather boots , Diana Rigg leads a Lotus Dash.
In the James Bond Casino Royal (1967), appears a Lotus Formulates 3 controlled by Peter Sellers.
In the James Bond the Spy who liked me , Roger Moore leads a Lotus Spirit S1. Equipped with many gadgets suitable for the series, it has in particular faculty to be transformed into amphibious vehicle. In the James Bond Only for your eyes , these is a Lotus turbo Spirit which appears.
In the film Pretty Woman , Richard Gere struggles with the manual gear box of its Lotus Spirit when it makes the meeting of Julia Roberts.

List Lotus cars

Old models of 1957 to 1979

Lotus Seven (1957)
Standard Lotus Elite 14 (1957)
Lotus Dash (1962)
Lotus Cortina (1962)
Lotus Europa (1967)
Standard Lotus Elite 75 and Lotus Glare (1974 and 1975)
Lotus Spirit (1975)

Years 1980/1990

Lotus Excel (1982)
Lotus Dash M100 (1989)
Lotus Elects S1 (1996)
Lotus 340 R (1999)

Contemporary models

Lotus Elects S2 (roadster, engine 1,8 L, 735 kg))
Lotus Requires (cut, driving 1,8 L, 875 kg)
Lotus Europa S (cut, driving 2 L turbo, 995 kg)

Cars of competition

Lotus Eleven: Convey circuit and of endurance
Lotus 12: First appearances in Formula 1 (car designed for Formula 2)
Lotus 15: Convey circuit and of endurance
Lotus 16: Convey of F1 and F2
Lotus 17: Convey circuit and of endurance
Lotus 18: Formulate 1 and Formulates Junior, first victories of Lotus in GP
Lotus 19: Convey intended for the races of endurance
Lotus 20: Formulate Junior
Lotus 21: Formulate 1 with back engine, new regulation: 1.500 cm ³
Lotus 22: Formulate Junior
Lotus 23: convey circuit and of endurance
Lotus 24: Formulate 1 using V8 engines 1500 cm ³
Lotus 25: Formulate 1 with frame monoshell, driving V8 Coventry Climax, world champion 1963
Lotus 26R: Convey circuit derived from the Elan
Lotus 27: Formulate Junior, last of this category
Lotus 29: Indycar
Lotuses 30: Convey circuit Groupe 7
Lotus 31: Formulate 3, new category 1000 cm ³
Lotus 32: Formulate 2, new category 1000 cm ³
Lotus 33: Formulate 1, evolution of Lotus 25, world champion 1965
Lotus 34: Indycar
Lotus 35: Formulate 2 and 3
Lotus 37: Or 3-Seven: Lotuses 7 improved
Lotus 38: Indycar, victory with the 500 Miles of Indianapolis
Lotus 39: Formulate Tasman
Lotus 40: Convey circuit Groupe 7
Lotus 41: Formulate 2 and 3
Lotus 42: Indycar
Lotus 43: Formulate 1 with H16 engine of 3.000 cm ³, new regulation
Lotus 44: Formulate 2
Lotus 47: Convey circuit on basis Europe engine 1600 Twin Cam
Lotus 48: Formulate 2
Lotus 49: Formulate 1 with carrying engine, world champion 1968 with Graham Hill
Lotus 51: Formulate Ford
Lotus 56: Indycar and Formule 1 with turbine of plane
Lotus 59: Formulate 2 and Formulates 3
Lotus 61: Formulate Ford
Lotus 62: Convey prototype circuit groups 6
Lotus 63: Formulate 1 to four driving wheels
Lotus 64: Indycar
Lotus 69: Formulate 2, Formule 3, Formule Ford
Lotus 70: Formulate 5000
Lotus 72: Formulate 1 incorporating the aerodynamic as of its design, world champion 1970 with Jochen Rindt, in 1972 with Emerson Fittipaldi and in 1973 (car manufacturer)
Lotus 73: Formulate 3
Lotus 74: Formulate 2
Lotus 76: Formulate 1
Lotus 77: Formulate 1
Lotus 78: First F1 with ground effect
Lotus 79: Formulate 1 world champion 1978 with Mario Andretti
Lotus 91: Formulate 1
Lotus 92: Formulate 1, last to use V8 DFV
Lotus 93T: First Lotus with turbo engine Renault
Lotus 94T: Formulate 1
Lotus 95T: Formulate 1
Lotus 97T: Formulate 1
Lotus 99T: Formulate 1

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