Universally acknowledged as one of the prettiest cars ever made, the Lotus Elite was Colin Chapman's first attempt at a civilized road car in 1957. With an advanced specification, the Elite (Type 14 in Lotus numbering system) was built around a monocoque entirely constructed of fibreglass, with bodywork styled by Peter Kirwan-Taylor using input from aerodynamicist Frank Costin. The Elite boasted ultra lightweight construction (it weighs just 625 kg with fuel on board), Girling disc brakes all round and fully independent suspension derived from contemporary Lotus race cars. Under the bonnet, the Coventry-Climax FWE four-cylinder engine displaced 1216cc and developed 75 bhp (later models had twin SU carburettors to give 85 bhp) and the original BMC gearbox was replaced with a stronger ZF unit. As well as a successful road car (Lotus sold 988 plus a few more in kit form), the Elite proved a winner on the track, scoring class wins at Le Mans six years in succession and Leo Geoghegan took out the 1960 Australian GT Championship. Contemporary road tests confirmed the Elite's potential, recording a 0-100 km/h time of 11.4 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h. Today, the Elite remains a popular vintage racer around the world, the combination of lightness, agility, balance and lively performance making it a real pleasure to drive on either road or track.
Shannons Park and Sell
Lot 863
1959 Lotus Elite Coupe (LHD)
Guiding Range
- Engine:
- 1216cc
- Gearbox:
- 4 Speed Manual
- Body work:
- Coupe
- Colour:
- Red
- Engine No.:
- FEW/7581
- Chassis No.:
- 1402
- Interior:
- Black
- Trim:
- Vinyl
- Wheels:
- Wire-spoked
- Brakes:
- Discs
Description
History
This fantastic little Lotus Elite was built in 1959 and was delivered new in the United States by the local distributor Jay Chamberlain, the West Coast Lotus importer between 1958-1964. In fact, Chamberlain's two sons raced this very car in vintage events until it was retired in 1991. The car has a very strong 1220cc Climax FWE engine with twin double-choke Webers, a fuel cell, period race seats, half roll cage and racing harness. After acquiring the Elite from the Chamberlain family in 2005, the present owner brought the Lotus to Australia and it was carefully stored until 2007, then a full check performed. The car ran in the Lotus Elite 50th Anniversary event at Wakefield Park in October 2007 without a hitch and subsequently featured in a twelve page article and on the cover of Vintage Racecar magazine. Included in the sale are the CAMS logbook and even an original Jay Chamberlain key FOB. To be sold unregistered, a number of spares (including the running gear from a second Elite) are available to the successful bidder by negotiation with the current owner.
Note: Shannons advise that all potential buyers research all vehicles before purchase to authenticate originality.
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