Vehicle Description
Colin Chapman's Lotus was less than a decade old when, at the 1957
London Motor Show at Earls Court, it unveiled one of the most
innovative road-going sports cars the world had seen. The light,
compact, and beautiful Type 14 Elite was Lotus' first purpose-built
production GT car and, more significantly, the world's first with
fiberglass monocoque construction. Fiberglass cars were certainly
not new, with the Chevy Corvette and Kaiser Darrin having been in
production for several years and countless garage-built specials
and kits running about with fiberglass bodies. But those all
utilized a separate steel ladder chassis, while the Lotus Elite
incorporated bonded sub-frames and integrated suspension pickup
points, negating the need for a heavy steel frame. As with any
Chapman-era Lotus, lightness is elemental to the design. Chapman
mandated the car be suitable for the new sub-1300 cc GT class at Le
Mans and would share its front and rear suspension components with
the Mk 12 Formula 2 car and utilize the proven, powerful, and light
Coventry Climax FWA 1100 cc engine. In typical Chapman fashion, he
fervently studied the properties and variations of fiberglass
technology, building several scale models to test his radical
theories before committing to putting the Elite on the road. Lotus
developed the car in strict secrecy alongside a handful of company
insiders, including aerodynamicist Frank Costin and
accountant/moonlighting car designer Peter Kirwan-Taylor. Chapman
poached three design engineers from Ford to scale up his model,
design the interior components, develop the moulds, and make the
car production-ready. When Ian Walker piloted his pre-production
Elite to a debut win in anAutosport-sponsored1600 GT class race at
Silverstone, he demonstrated the greatness to come. Proving that
wasn't a one-off, Ian Walker repeated his feat at Mallory Park the
very next day, showing how well the light and nimble Elite punched
well above its weight. Over the course of production, the Type 14
Elite won its class at Le Mans a remarkable six times, took two
Index of Performance victories, and racked up countless individual
wins in local and national championships around the world. Despite
some production issues related to the newness of fiberglass
technology and an insufficient dealer network in the critical US
market, the Elite has earned its place among sports car greats, and
fine examples are cherished by those enthusiasts 'in the know.'
This 1960 Elite S2 is a beautiful example of Lotus' groundbreaking
sports car, which spent many years in the care of one passionate
enthusiast, Dennis Ortenburger. In 1960, when still just a
teenager, Mr. Ortenburger fell in love with the Elite after seeing
one parked on Ventura Boulevard in Burbank, California. He vowed to
have one someday, and that day finally came in 1966 when he
purchased this car, chassis number 146 - an early S2 model - that
had been on the road for just four years. Production records show
that the factory shipped this car to Jay Chamberlain's California
Lotus distributorship in 1960, and at that time, Lotus struggled
with a weak dealer network and warranty claims due to poor
finishing of the fiberglass body. Because of that, 1461 was not
sold until 1962, when acquired by Jerry Golden. With his dream
realized, Ortenburger became one of the most vocal champions of the
Elite, dispelling myths about the model via his definitive
bookLotus Elite: Racing Car for the Road. He lovingly tended to
chassis 1461 for 47 years, when it was acquired by the most recent
owner in 2013. In the new owner's care, they handed the Lotus to a
marque specialist for restoration and preparation for tours and
rallies. At that time, it was updated with a larger, more powerful
1,500-cc Climax FWB engine, capable of more than 120hp and 7,000
revs. Finished in white with a Lotus green stripe and updated with
chrome wire wheels, the Elite certainly lives into its
racer-for-the-road spirit. The quality of the paint is excellent,
with a few minor finish imperfections visible on close inspection,
and the panel fit is consistent with the Elite's fiberglass
construction. The interior is trimmed in rich, bright red leather,
which is in excellent condition. Once aboard, the cockpit is cozy
yet surprisingly accommodating even for taller drivers, and the
thin-rimmed leather-wrapped steering wheel feels ideally placed.
Smiths instruments and Lucas switchgear are all easily visible in
the driver-focused cockpit. This car has sensible safety upgrades,
including a well-integrated rollbar and competition-style
four-point harnesses. In current ownership, 1461 has been well
maintained and enjoyed to the fullest on rallies and events,
including the 2015 South West Passage Rally - a 1,400-mile trek
through New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. It has been recently
serviced by a specialist and is ready for continued driving
enjoyment on a host of prestigious events. Sublime good looks,
advanced aerodynamics, revolutionary construction, and prestigious
motorsport success make the Lotus Elite a genuine Racing Car for
the Road. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional
details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7360-1960-lotus-elite-coupe/
