In 1948, Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman - an engineer and passionate racing enthusiast
- built his first car. By spring Chapman had finished the Mark 1 which he based
on an old Austin Seven. His new creation became the first Lotus in history.
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Lotus Mark 1
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Chapman joined the RAF upon graduation as a civil engineer in 1948. He built his
second trials car, the Mark 2, during his leave periods. It included a unique feature
called a “jelly-joint” which Chapman based on his extensive studies of tractor front
suspension systems. The Mark 2 was considered state-of-the-art and was also the
first Lotus viable as a road car. It was sold in 1950 to Mike Lawson who quickly
went on the win the Wrotham Cup.
In 1951 Chapman designed and built his first circuit racing car, the Mark 3. Again
based on the Austin Seven, it is adapted to conform to 750 Motor Club specifications
for the 750 Formula. An aluminum body minimized weight. Combined with Chapman’s
engine expertise, the Mark 3 went from 0-50 mph in 6.6 seconds and reached an impressive
top speed of 90 mph.
The Lotus Engineering Company was formed in 1952. Chapman built the lighter and
more powerful Mark 4 for Mike Lawson who was looking for a replacement for his Mark
2. The Mark 4 subsequently took fourth at the Colmore Trophy Trial, fifth at the
West Hants Motor Club Knott Cup, and another fifth place finish at the RAC Trials
Championship. A planned Mark 5 was never built. But Lotus does build a space-framed
Mark 6 racer which includes the first Lotus chassis completely designed by Colin
Chapman. It went on to become Lotus’ first series production car with approximately
100 produced over the course of two years.
Team Lotus was established in 1954 and had considerable and immediate success. Colin
Chapman took first place in the Silverstone Sports Car Race and Peter Gammon took
second, both driving the aerodynamic Mark 8.
The production run of the Mark 6 finally ended in 1955. By then Chapman had committed
full-time to his small yet flourishing factory. The immense popularity of the Mark
8 created great demand for similar cars of smaller and larger engine sizes. To meet
this demand, Chapman built the smaller and more agile Mark 9 and the larger 2-litre
Mark 10.
This was also the year that Lotus was accepted into the Society of Motor Manufacturers
and Traders, which permitted them to display their wares at the Earls Court Motor
Show.
For 1956, Chapman decided to concentrate his focus on one basic model – the Lotus
Eleven. It was developed as a descendant of the Mark 9 to offer three basic models
that met a variety of different requirements.
His work that year clearly paid off when the following February, Chapman was honored
with a Ferodo Gold Trophy for outstanding British contribution to sport of motor
racing.
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The legendary Lotus Seven was born in 1957. Conceived as a simple, no-frills sports
car, the Seven delivered staggering performance. Produced primarily in kit form,
it allowed enthusiasts the opportunity to own a dual-purpose road and racing sports
car at an affordable price.
The Seven’s formula was so successful that it remained in production by Lotus until
1973 when the manufacturing rights were given to Caterham Cars. Caterham continues
to produce the Seven to this day.
At the 1957 London Motor Show, the Seven was accompanied by the Lotus’ first ever
closed-roof model, the Type 14 Lotus Elite. (Number 13 was never designated.) The
breathtaking monocoque bodywork was formed from glassfibre and provided the car’s
structural chassis. It was one of the most beautiful and perfectly proportioned
cars ever made. And it proved highly successful on the track. That same year, a
Lotus Eleven raced to a historic win in the 750cc Class and the Index of Performance
at Le Mans.
Group Lotus plc was established in 1958. This was also the year that Lotus made
its first Formula 1 entry. The Type 12 — originally designed for Formula 2 — was
moved up a formula when the Type 16 was not completed in time. Cliff Allison achieved
its best result ith a fourth place finish at Spa.
It turned out to be a busy year with Chapman completing the Type 15 (based on the
Eleven), and both Type 16 Formula 1 and Formula 2 racers. He also collaborated with
Tony Vandervell on the Vanwall Grand Prix car which won the 1958 Constructor’s Championship.
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Lotus Mark 6 |
In June of 1959, Lotus moved to a new purpose-built factory at Chestnut. The Type
17 was developed based on the enormous success of the Lotus Eleven. Despite its
promising light weight and innovative strut front suspension system, it was burdened
with handling problems and never found my success on the track.
Chapman took notice of the scarcity of wins in the prior season and in 1960 he tried
the rear-engine layout so successfully employed by Cooper race cars. So the Type
18 was developed for Formula 1 and Formula Junior competition, though it ultimately
competed in Formula 2 as well. The results were spectacular nough — including beating
the Coopers — that race team owner Rob Walker ordered a Type 18 for his star driver.
Stirling Moss went on to win the Monaco Grand Prix and became the first championship
win for a Lotus Formula 1 racer. And excluding the marquee race (for which Lotus
was not eligible to compete), a Lotus car won ever race at Oulton Park. The Type
19 was also built in 1960 to replace the Type 15.
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