Motor Car History
 Veteran - Vintage - Classic - Modern
Motor car history
Understanding the Automobile
Toggle Navigation
  • Home
  • Makes and models
  • Motor car History
  • Innovations
  • Trivia
  • Help Guide
  • links
  • You are here:  
  • Motor Car
  • Make and Model
  • L
  • Lotus
  • Lotus Elan (1962-1973)

Lotus Elan

  1962-1973
Lotus Elan (1962-1973)
Overview
Manufacturer Lotus Cars
Production 1962–1973
Assembly Hethel, England
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door coupé 2-door roadster
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine 1,557 cc Lotus TwinCam I4 (petrol)
Dimensions
Wheelbase 84.0 in (2,134 mm)
Length 145.0 in (3,683 mm)
Width 56.0 in (1,422 mm)
Height 45.5 in (1,156 mm)
Curb weight 1,516.8 lb (688 kg)

 

Lotus Elan is the name of two convertible cars and one fixed head coupé produced by Lotus Cars. The original Type 26, 26R Racing version (of the S1 Elan), 36R Racing version (of the S2 Elan), 36 Fixed Head Coupe, 45 Drop Head Coupe, and the "Type 50" +2 Coupe, circa 1962 to 1975, are commonly known as the '60s Elans.

Lotus Elan side view 1960s

1960s model

The original Elan was introduced in 1962 as a roadster, although an optional hardtop was offered in 1963 and a coupé version in 1965. The two-seat Lotus Elan replaced the elegant, but unreliable and expensive to produce Lotus Elite.

Lotus Elan coupe side view

It was the first Lotus road car to use the now-famous steel backbone chassis with a fibreglass body. At 1,500 lb (680 kg), the Elan embodied the Colin Chapman minimum weight design philosophy. Initial versions of the Elan were also available as a kit to be assembled by the customer. The Elan was technologically advanced with a DOHC 1557 cc engine, 4-wheel disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, and 4-wheel independent suspension. The "Lotus TwinCam" engine was based on Ford Kent Pre-Crossflow 4-cylinder 1498 cc engine, with a Harry Mundy-designed 2 valve alloy chain-driven twin-cam head. The rights to this design was later purchased by Ford, who renamed it to "Lotus-Ford Twin Cam". It would go on to be used in a number of Ford and Lotus production and racing models.

The Wheeler Dealers Series 7 Lotus Elan

Wheeler Dealers Series 7 Lotus Elan 

Lotus
Return
Lotus Eclat (1974-1982) 5 / 26 Lotus Elan M100 (1989-1995 )
Send
Print

Related

motor car on you tube

Categories
Lotus
British Automotive 1970s | British Automotive 1960s | Vehicles launched in 1962 | Lotus Elan | British Sports cars | Lotus TwinCam | Colin Chapman | Wheeler Dealers cars | Fibreglass cars | Sports Cars

Lotus Related

  • Lotus Esprit
  • Lotus Elan
  • Lotus TwinCam related

Read more in this section

Lotus Mark I (1948)
Lotus Mark I (1948)
Read more...
Lotus Elan M100 (1989-1995 )
Lotus Elan M100 (1989-1995 )
Read more...
Lotus Seven (1957-1972)
Lotus Seven (1957-1972)
Read more...

  • You are here:  
  • Motor Car
  • Make and Model
  • L
  • Lotus

Back to Top

© 2021 Motor Car History

X

Right Click

No right click