1974 Lotus Elite

Lotus produced the Elite Type 75 and 83 from 1974 to 1982. They were a front engine, 2-door, four-seat shooting brake and served as a replacement for the ageing Lotus Elan Plus 2. They had a hatchback luggage compartment and a claimed drag co-efficient of 0.30. At the time of its introduction, it was the world's most expensive four-cylinder car.

The basic chassis and suspension layout were the work of Colin Chapman while the exterior design was by Oliver Winterbottom. With this car, Lotus help to move its business up-market. Power was from an aluminum-block, 4-valve, dual overhead cam, four-cylinder engine which displaced 1973cc and offered 155 horsepower. The engine was mated to either a 4- or 5-speed gearbox and from January 1976 an automatic transmission was optional.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2015