Sports cars: Buying a classic Lotus Elite

Lotus Elite

This most communicative of sports cars is a little gem.
1957 to 1963

Engine: 1,216cc, four-cylinder

Top speed: 114mph

0-60mph: 11 seconds

Economy: 35mpg

Price for a good one: £33,000

Colin Chapman’s finest hour in terms of road cars, although the glass-fibre monocoque Elite was also a successful competition car.

Penned by City of London accountant Peter Kirwan-Taylor, who also arranged the financing, with aerodynamic refinements by Frank Costin, the fixed-head Elite was powered by the legendary Coventry Climax fire pump engine. It was the sensation of the 1957 Earls Court Motor Show, although the first cars were raced rather than sold.

To drive, the Elite is noisy and hot, but with a chassis balance and communication with the driver second to none. Lotus lost £100 on every car and just 1,030 were built.

read full article: Buying a classic Lotus Elite
telegraph.co.uk