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John's Online LOTUS Museum . |
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Lotus Cars |
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. TIMELINE: The COMPLETE History of LOTUS Cars! . 60 Years Of Cutting Edge Automotive Technology . |
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. Colin Chapman races an Austin Seven in trials competitions hosted by the 750 Motor Club.---- |
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Chapman discards the body on the Austin Seven---- and replaces it with one made up of a composite of aluminium and wood.----------------------------------------------------- He calls his car a " ... LOTUS , ... because once you drive it, you will forget all the others."------------------------ . |
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Mark 1 - First Trials Car |
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After graduating from university, Colin Chapman--- joins the Royal Air Force.------------------------------------------- At this time he designs and builds the Mark 2.------- . |
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Mark 2 - Trials Racer . |
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On June 3, 1950, Colin Chapman competes--- with the Mk.II in his first cicuirt race, hosted-- by the 8 Club at the Silverstone Race Circuit. He enjoys himself so much that he gives up--- trials completely.------------------------------------------------ . |
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Chapman builds the Mark 3 with the help of Michael and Nigel Allen, in order to compete in circuit racing events that are sanctioned by the British Racing and Sports Car Club, ( BRSCC ).----------------------------------------------- .( The BRSCC was started by fellow enthusiasts who are dedicated to bringing "... the poor man's motorsport ", at the amateur level, to the masses. ) . |
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Mark 3 - Sports Racer . The first Lotus that is purpose - built for circuit racing.---------------- . |
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Lotus Engineering Company is formed as-- a partnership between Colin Chapman and Michael Allen.----------------------------------------------- . The first effort of this new company was the Mark 4.--------------------------------------------------- The Mark 6 followed soon after.----------------- . Manufacturing was based in premises at----- Tottenham Lane, on land owned by Colin's--- father.----------------------------------------------------------------- . |
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Mark 4 - Sports Racer . 
Mark 6 - Sports Racer . |
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Lotus Engineering Company becomes---- Lotus Engineering Company Limited,----- with Colin Chapman and Hazel Williams ( later to become Hazel Chapman ) as Directors, when Michael Allen leaves the company. . |
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Team Lotus is formed. . |
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Mark 8 - Sports Racer . First of the Lotus Streamliners. . |
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. Colin Chapman founds Lotus Cars Limited. . |
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Mark 9 - Sports Racer . 
Mark 10 - Sports Racer . |
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Eleven - Sports Racer . 
Eleven - Powered by a Coventry - Climax FWB engine. |
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An Eleven, powered by a 744cc Coventry - Climax-- engine, wins both the Index of Performance and---- the 750cc class at Le Mans, finishing 14th overall. . |
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Seven - Sports Car . 
Type 12 - Formula 2 . The first Lotus single seat Formula car. . . 
Type 14 - Elite Sports Car . This was a very beautiful and technically----------- advanced design that used a monocoque----------- chassis made completely of fiber - glass.------------- It was exceptionally fast, but was expensive------ to produce and repair.--------------------------------------- The company lost money on each one sold,-------- and it almost caused Lotus to go out of--------------- business.----------------------------------------------------------- . ( A total of 1029 body / chassis units were made, 280 by Maximar boatbuilders, and 749 built by-- Bristol Aeroplane Plastics. )----------------------------- . |
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Type 15 - Sports Racer . 
Type 16 - Formula 1 . The first Formula 1 car. . |
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Lotus Components Limited is formed, and becomes responsible for the------- construction of competition cars.------- . This division will be responsible for all the future--- Formula 1, 2, 3, Junior, Ford, & Atlantic cars, as---- well as the Sports Racing cars that are sold to the general public.--------------------------------------------------------------- . In June, manufacturing is moved to a purpose - built factory at Cheshunt, in Hertfordshire.--- . The Lotus Group of Companies,- comprising Lotus Cars Limited- and Lotus Components Limited, is formed.----------------------------------- . |
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Type 17 - Sports Racer . Last of the front - engined Sports Racers. It used Chapman strut suspension at all four wheels. . |
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Type 18 - Formula 1 . First of the mid - engine Formula Cars . 
Type 19 - Sports Racer . First of the mid - engine Sports Racers. . |
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Type 21 - Formula 1 . |
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Type 23 - Sports Racer . . 
Type 25 - Formula 1 . First monocoque - frame Formula 1 car. .. 
The Lotus Twin Cam Engine . A new Lotus aluminum head on a Ford block. It was first used in the Type 23 Sports Racer, and then in the new Type 26 Elan street car.- . . 
Type 26 - Elan Sports Car . The Elan was the first production car to use retractable hidden headlights. The body was made of fiber- glass, and-- was mounted on a rigid steel back- bone chassis.------------------------------------------------- It also had four wheel disc brakes, and- four wheel independent suspension.------ . |
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Jim Clark wins the World Driving Championship with a Type 25 Formula 1 car, which also gives Lotus it's first Constructor's Cup win.----------------- .
. Type 25 - Jim Clark 1st Place - World Drivers Championship . |
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Type 28 - Lotus - Cortina Saloon Racer - Ford has Lotus assemble and tune 1000 cars,--- ( equipped with the Lotus twin cam engine ),----- at the Cheshunt factory so that the car can be-- homologated for Group 2 racing.----------------------- Ford later builds 4000 cars of a Mk.2 variant,----- ( without the Lotus twin cam engine ), in their--- own factory at Dagenham, in order to cash in---- on the Lotus name.------------------------------------------- Ford later renames this car the Cortina GT.-------- ( The Pinto econo - car that Ford will build in the early 1970's would have better performance than these Ford produced cars ! )------------------------------ . 
Type 29 - Indianapolis Racer . First of the Lotus Indianapolis Racers. It was Ford powered, of coarse. . |
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Type 30 - Group 7 ( Can - Am ) Sports Racer . Ford powered and no match for the Chevy - powered Chaparrals.---------- . . 
.Type 33 - Formula 1 . Powered by a 1.5 liter Coventry - Climax V8 engine. . |
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Jim Clark wins his second World Driving Championship in a Type 33 Formula 1 car. Lotus wins it's second Constructor 's cup. .
. Type 33 - Jim Clark 1st Place - World Drivers Championship . Lotus wins the Indianapolis 500. .
. Type 38 - Jim Clark 1965 Indianapolis 500 Winner . |
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. Colin Chapman arranges for Ford to finance the production of a new 3 liter engine for--- the new Formula 1 season.---------------------------- . This engine, which is designed and produced by- Cosworth Engineering, is called the Cosworth ----- Ford DFV, and at first is produced for the use of Lotus exclusively.----------------------------------------------------- . |
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Type 46 - Europa Sports Car . The first mass production mid - engine sports car. . 
Type 47 - Europa Sports Racer . A tube - frame version of the Type 46 that was powered by the Lotus - Ford twin - cam engine. . |
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Lotus moves to new facility on------ former airfield at Hethel, in Norfolk.-- . |
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. Cosworth - Ford DFV Formula 1 Engine . 
Type 49 - Formula 1 . First Formula 1 car to use the new Cosworth - Ford DFV V - 8 engine. . 
Type 50 - Elan +2 Sports Coupe . The first 4 seat Lotus. Built with the family man in mind. . |
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. Lotus Cars Limited is floated as a public company.----------------------------------------------- . Lotus wins it's third Constructors Cup. .
. Type 49 - Graham Hill 1st Place - World Drivers Championship . Driving a Type 49 Formula 1 car, Jim Clark wins his last World Championship Grand Prix, his 25th, at the South African Grand Prix.------------------------------ . .On April 7, Jim Clark is killed while driving a Type 48 Formula 2 car at Hockenheim.------ . From this point on, the nose badges on the - cars produced by Lotus are changed in color from yellow & green to all black enamel, out of respect for his passing.---------------------------- . 
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Type 56 - Indianapolis Racer . Gas turbine - powered and 4 wheel drive. This was the first of the wedge shaped---- competition cars.------------------------------------ . |
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Group Lotus Car Companies Limited, (comprising Lotus Cars, Lotus Cars Service, Lotus Cars Sales, and Lotus Components), becomes a holding company.-- . Team Lotus is retained by Colin Chapman, becoming, in due course, Team Lotus International Limited.-------- . |
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LV-220 Racing Engine . A new aluminum Lotus 4 - valve head on a Vauxhall cast iron block helps to speed development.------------------------------------------ . 
Type 62 - Europa Sports Racer . A prototype tube - framed Europa, powered by the newly developed LV - 220, (and later- the LV-240), engine.------------------------------------ . 
Type 63 - Formula 1 . A four wheel drive Formula car, powered by the Cosworth - Ford DFV engine.-------- . Type 64 - Indianapolis Racer A four wheel drive car, with Ford power. . |
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Lotus wins it's fourth Constructor 's Cup. .
. Type 72 - Jochen Rindt 1st Place - World Drivers Championship . |
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. Type 72 - Formula 1 . First Formula 1 wedge. . This, the most sucessful Formula 1car ever-- built by Lotus, was raced until 1975.------------- It would win 20 World Championship races, and secure three Constructor 's Cups for---- Lotus.-------------------------------------------------------- . |
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Lotus Components Limited is renamed to Lotus Racing Limited. Production of racing cars for sale to the public ceases.---- . |
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Type 56B - Formula 1 . Gas turbine powered, with 4 wheel drive, this car was first developed in 1968 from the Type 56 Indianapolis car.-------------------- The car could not be raced until a turbine displacing the equivalent of 3 liters was---- available.------------------------------------------------- This did not happen until 1971.---------------- . . 
Type 74 - Europa Twin - Cam Special Sports Car . |
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Lotus wins it's fifth Constructor 's Cup. .
. Type 72 - Emerson Fittipaldi 1st Place - World Drivers Championship . |
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Lotus wins it's sixth Constructor 's Cup. .
. Type 72 - Emerson Fittipaldi 2nd Place - World Drivers Championship --------------( Ronnie Peterson -3rd Place - World Drivers Championship ) . |
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Type 904 Engine . This was a development of the LV - 220 Racing Engine for----- street use.------------------------------ It used the aluminum 4 - valve head on a cast iron block.------- The Type 906 engine used this head on an aluminum block.--- . 
Type 74 - Texaco Star Formula 2 . ( Used as a test bed for the Type 906 engine. ) This was the last Formula 2 car that Lotus ever raced.---------------------------------------------- . 
Type 907 Production Engine . Aluminum Alloy Head & Block It is the first production 4 valve per cylinder engine.---------------- . 
. The Jensen - Healy Sports Car . The first car to use the new Lotus Type 907 engine.----------------------------------------------------- . The teething problems of the new engine were all straightened out before it ever--- went into a Lotus produced car.------------- . |
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Type 75 - Elite M50 Sports Coupe . First of the up - scale Lotus line- to use the new Type 907 engine. . |
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Lotus Cars of America is organized. . |
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Type 76 - Eclat Sports Coupe . The fast - back version of the Elite M50. . |
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Lotus aquires Ketteringham Hall, which is t.o be used as a research and development center, and also as the base for Team Lotus. . Lotus enters into an arrangment with American Express, who become the--- Group's principal banker.------------------- . |
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Type 78 - Formula 1 John Player Special Mark III . The first car to use ground effects. . |
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Lotus becomes involved in the design and development of the De Lorean sports car. . 
. Delorean DMC- 12 Sports Car . Lotus designed, Renault V- 6 powered, and built in Northern Ireland.------------------ . Chapman is later investigated for financial impropriety, in the ensuing Delorean scandle. . Lotus wins it's seventh, (and last), Constructor's Cup.--------------------------- .. |
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Type 79 - Mario Andretti 1st Place - World Drivers Championship ( Ronnie Peterson:-2nd Place - World Drivers Championship ) . |
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Lotus enters into an agreement with Rolls-Royce, to have them distribute cars in the United States. . |
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Type 79 - Esprit Sports Car . The replacement for the mid - engined Europa. . |
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Type 81 - Lotus Sunbeam Talbot Saloon Car . Chrysler has Lotus tune the chassis and stuff a variation of the 907 engine into it. This engine, the Type 911, develops 250 H.P. Then they go rallying. . 
. Lotus up- rates the Type 907 engine into the Type 912, which displaces 2.2 liters.------------------------------------------ These engines are used in the Type 83 Elite Series 2.2, and the Type 84 Eclat' Series 2.2.-------------------------------- The engine still only develops 160 H.P., but has more-- torque.---------------------------------------------------------------------- . |
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Lotus Cars and Toyota Motors announce that they will be co-operating on a long term basis in engineering,---- manufacturing, and other areas.---------------------------------- Toyota takes a shareholding of 21% in Lotus. . |
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Type 88 - Formula 1 . Took the twin chassis concept of the Type 86 car another step furthur.------- It was banned by the powers that be before it ever had a chance.------------- . |
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A new Lotus distribution company, Lotus Performance Cars LP, is set up.. . This was the last
road car that Colin Chapman
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Colin Chapman
suffers a
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. Type 910 Turbo Engine . 
Type 82 - Turbo Esprit Sports Car . 
Type 92 - Formula 1 . The first Formula 1 car to use a computer controlled " Active " Suspension.------------ . |
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Toyota Motors has Lotus tune the Celica Supra into a more capable sports car.----- . |
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Toyota Celica Supra Sports Coupe
General Motors seeks the aid of Lotus in developing the new Buick Reatta and---- Pontiac Fiero sports cars.--------------------- . 
. Fiero ( Reatta ? ) Prototype . 
. Buick Reatta - Production Model Sports Car . 
. Pontiac Fiero - Production Model Sports Car ( Notice the resemblance to the Lotus family of models ) . 
Type 96 - CART Car . Still - born Indianapolis - type car. . |
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. Group Lotus Car Companies become Group Lotus plc. . |
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General Motors acquires Lotus when it buys out the shareholders of the public company. It is projected that Lotus models will be sold on Pontiac dealer show - room floors.---------- . At this time they design a new "Corporate Logo", for the flagship Lotus Esprit' Turbo, which omits the A - C - B - C initials.--------------------------------------- . 
. On a later logo that they use on the Esprit',- the initials are made smaller to down --------- play Colin Chapman's contributions to the- company and automotive engineering.------- . 
. . General Motors has Lotus co - develop the- Corvette Indy show car, as a technological show of force.------------------------------------------ . 
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Lotus sells the X100 project, ( designed to use Toyota components ), to Toyota Motors, who-- develop it into the MR/2 sports car.----------------- . |
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Lotus Type 90 - X100 Sports Car . 
Toyota MR/2 Sports Car
Type 82 - Esprit Turbo Sports Car . The Esprit gets a new look. . Body is formed with Vacuum Assisted Resin Injection process.---------------------------------------- . |
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Isuzu Impulse Sports Coupe . General Motors has Lotus tune the suspension of the Isuzu Impulse. . 
. Isuzu supplies the base engines that Lotus up - rates and installs in the M100 Elan.------- . 
. Type 100 - Elan M100 Sports Car . 
. General Motors has Lotus re - tune the Chevrolet------ Corvette and develop a new aluminum engine, a------- double overhead cam 32- valve unit, which is called-- the LT-5, out of the Lotus Type 909 V8 that originally was destined for the 1974 Lotus Elite M50 4- seater.- The engine is manufactured at GM's Mercury Marine- division.------------------------------------------------------------------ . 
Chevrolet Corvette Sports Car " King of the Hill " . This limited production car is dubbed the ZR - 1 . |
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. General Motors, with the help of Lotus, develop the Corvette Indy show car into the CERV III,----- with the thought of possible future production.- . 
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Type 104 - Carlton Omega Sports Sedan . Shades of the Lotus Cortina. General Motors has Lotus tune the Vauxhall Carlton / Opel Omega chassis and install a 360 H.P. twin turbo - charged 6 cylinder engine in it, along with a 6 - speed gearbox. Lotus built less than 1000 at Hethel. . |
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Type 108 Lotus Sport carbon- composite bicycle takes 4000m Olympic Gold Medal. . 
Type 108 - Olympic Bicycle . |
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General Motors sells Lotus to Bugatti, but keeps the Millbrook Proving Grounds. . |
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Type 110 Lotus Sport road bike competes in the Tour de France. .  ]
Type 110 - Touring Bicycle . |
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. The Model 910 Turbo engine finally becomes the most powerful 4 - cylinder engine in the-- world, with an output of 365 H.P. from its------ Charge Cooled 2.2 liters.------------------------------ . |
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Type 111 - Elise Sports Car . |
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. The end of an era. . Team Lotus, (not part of Group Lotus since 1986), lays off its staff and joins forces with Pacific Racing.------------------------------------------ . |
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The Malayasian company DRB HICOM announces that it has taken the majority shareholding in the Lotus Group.------------------------------------------------------ .
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