Anthony
Colin Bruce Chapman – it is his initials which form part of the Lotus badge
built and raced cars from 1948 onwards, 40 years ago, he was very much
the innovative engineer, designing from first principles and, to a large
extent, re-writing the rulebook. His success in innovation produced a string
of ‘first"; in strut suspension, in construction and in Active
Suspension. The first ground effect car was a Lotus and so was the first
twin chassis car. His career was to be one that challenged traditional
engineering practice and won through.
The early years saw Chapman producing replicas of his
early models at a workshop in north London. Later, his cars virtually monopolised
their class in the classic 24-hour rave at le Mans. By the mid sixties,
the Indianapolis 500 had become the richest prize to fall to Lotus, ushering
in the innovative Lotus Turbine cars.
On the production side, 1957 saw the introduction of
the original Lotus Elite, the first closed passenger car to carry the Lotus
badge and the first ever car of monocque composite construction. Still
regarded as one of the most beautiful cars ever built, the Elite was followed
in 1962 by the Lotus Elan, a car that became a legend in its own time.
In 1959, the same year that Lotus came first in the Le
Mans 1500cc category, Lotus cars moved to a New purpose built factory in
Chestnut, Hertfordshire. The stage was now set for a period of sustained
success, both on and off the track.
At Monaco, Lotus cars emerged victorious in 1960 and
1961, their first Grand Prix wins. And in 1961 Stirling Moss won the German
Grand Prix in a Lotus: winning was getting to be a habit.
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Meanwhile, the pace was accelerating on the production
side. Further versions of the Lotus Elan were introduced, followed in the
1966 by the first mid-engine Lotus road car, the Europa. Two years later
came the luxurious Elan +2 and then, in 1970, the Elan Sprint, with a new
126-bhp Big Valve engine. With production growing rapidly, the factory
was moved for the second time in seven years, this time to its present
how at Hethel in Norfolk. The move – 1966 – was nicely timed for it followed
a double victory for Lotus the world Championship for Manufacturers and
the World Championship for Drivers.
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Out on the circuits of the world, the name Lotus was fast acquiring
a special lustre and, even now, no other team has come close to matching
the all-round record of Lotus. Lotus drivers have scored no fewer than
79 World Championship victories, won the World Drivers’ title on six occasions
and the World Manufacturers’ Award seven times. Since Lotus appeared on
the Formula 1 scene, no other team has achieved as many Grand Prix successes.
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since April 22nd 1999
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Updated June
15th 2000