Vehicle Description
Making its debut at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1957 where it was
Star of the show, the Elite had spent a year in development, aided
by carefully selected racing customers before going on sale. With
the Lotus Elite, Colin Chapman demonstrated that his skills as a
racing car designer and constructor could just as easily be applied
to production road cars.
In all, some 1015 cars were built (including kits which were
offered from 1961 onwards). Some 385 cars were exported all over
the world with 316 going to the USA alone, 13 to Japan, 11 to
Australia and the rest to Europe..
Just as innovative as Lotus's outright competition cars, the Elite
featured a fibreglass monocoque body tub, independent suspension
all round (based on that of Lotus' racing monopostos') and
four-wheel disc brakes, the rears mounted inboard.
The car was powered by the 1216 cc four-cylinder Coventry-Climax
"FEW" all Aluminium engine, a single overhead cam unit. With the
Elite weighing in at only 1,110 pounds, the high power output of 75
BHP translated to over 140 BHP per tonne which was impressive by
any standards for such a small unit in the late 1950's.
The gearbox, an MGA unit fitted with an alloy casing and modified
bellhousing, was sourced from BMC.
The classically styled body was the work of stylists Peter
Kirwan-Taylor, John Frayling and aerodynamicist Frank Costin. The
result possessed an admirably low coefficient of drag, though it
made few concessions for comfort or noise suppression. It is
unlikely that these tolerable characteristics troubled the Elite's
customers, for whom its 112mph top speed and superlative handling
were of far greater importance than creature comforts. So
successful was the Elite on the racetrack that the car dominated
its class well into the 1960s.
Noteworthy achievements include five class victories at Le Mans and
two wins in the prestigious �Index of Thermal Performance'. Best
average speed at Le Mans for 24hrs was 99.6mph (Hobbs Gardner 1962)
not bad for only 1216 cc! Indeed we at J D Classics had a Class win
at the 2016 Le Mans Classic with our Race prepared Lotus Elite in
the hands of John Young.
The car offered here was delivered as a Right Hand Drive car and
invoiced in January 1960 to U S distributor and renowned Lotus
racing driver Jay Chamberlain, of Burbank, California. This Elite
was road registered in California in May 1962.�
Originally Primrose Yellow, this car was restored and repainted in
the US in recent years when the colour was changed to Dark
Blue.
Extensive history files accompany the car with numerous invoices,
photographs, original Lotus manuals and technical data.
This Elite spent almost all of its entire life in America until
2012 when J D Classics purchased the car for a�long standing�and
discerning customer and the car was imported into the UK with
European taxes paid. At this time J D Classics performed a major
re-commissioning to present the car to the highest standards. Our
works included a full engine overhaul, a total repaint, overhaul of
brakes, suspension, carburettor, steering, cooling and
ancillaries.
Properly stored and maintained at J D Classics, the car has had
minimal use since.
An excellent opportunity to acquire possibly the very finest
example in the World today.
Sale agreed
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