1959 Lotus Elite S1 at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance : European Car Display

Greenwich Concours d'Elegance : European Car Display

Pre-War

Post WWII - Closed

BMW

Ferrari

Mercedes-Benz

Morgan

Porsche

Rolls-Royce & Bentley

Modern

Post WWII - Closed Vehicles

1948 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500

1956 Alfa Romeo 1900

1956 Fiat Abarth 750GT

1957 Facel Vega FVS

1959 Lotus Elite S1

1960 Jaguar MK II

1960 Lancia Appia

1961 Maserati 3500 GT

1962 Dual Ghia L6.4

1964 Fiat 1500GT

1968 Neri & Bonacini Studio GT

1969 Triumph GT6

1971 Lancia Fulvia

1973 ISO Lele

1984 Alfa Romeo GTV-6

Information on the 1959 Lotus Elite S1

More photographs of the 1959 Lotus Elite S1

Colin Chapman conceived the Elite in late 1956 as the first car Lotus built for the street. The Elite would become the world's first volume-production car to utilize fiberglass-monocoque construction. The attractive design of these coupes was not the most durable or well constructed and only around 250 of both series were ever built.

This is car number 1096, the 96th car of the 284 S1 Elites built. Approximately 1000 Elites were built between 1959 and 1962. Given direction by Lotus's founder, Colin Chapman, to 'strengthen and add lightness' this new design proved to be revolutionary and it greatly contributed to the car's overall performance. The car weighs only 1350 lbs and with a racing tune Coventry Climax (40DCOE Webers) the engine will produce 135 horsepower.

The Elite followed the Seven, and was diametrically opposed to it in concept and execution. Where the Seven was as basic an automobile as could be conceived, the Elite was one of the most technologically-advanced cars of its day, and compares well to any car built today - over 45 years later. The Seven's simple sheet metal body covered a tubular space frame, with cycle fenders over the wheels. It looked vintage when new. The Elite was a stunningly beautiful and tiny, coupe. It was designed for efficiency, and low aerodynamic drag was part of that efficiency. It's coefficient of aerodynamic drag was 0.29 - better than most cars built today. And it didn't merely have a fiberglass body. The Lotus Elite had a fiberglass unibody (monocoque) structure. The Elite won its class at LeMans in 1960 and had many successes in the UK and here in the United States.

The current owner is working with Ragtops & Roadsters to keep a keen eye for originality. This car is believed to have race history given the racing tune state when purchased in 1976. Originally painted in Royal Blue, which were the colors of the 1960 Sebring Team cars, great attention is being given to many of the original parts with this car when the project began.

Also photographed at :

Concours d'Elegance of the Eastern United States >> Sports

Concours d'Elegance of the Eastern United States >> Sports and GT Cars (1958-1968)

Concours d'Elegance of the Eastern United States >> General - European PostWar

	Site Map \| Contact \| About Us \| Terms Of Use / Privacy Policy \| Links \| carAuctionValues
	Vehicles \| Wallpaper \| Events \| Price Guide \| Motorsports \| Articles
	Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production. © 1998-2013 Conceptcarz.com