A Lotus Elite which was Collin Chapmans 1980 -81 Team Lotus Road car used to transport the F1 drivers during race weekends
From 1974 to 1982, Lotus produced the four seat, considerably larger Type 75 and later Type 83 Elite. Lotus sought with this design to position itself upmarket, and move away from its kit car Elite replaced the ageing Lotus Elan Plus 2, whilst the mid engined Lotus Esprit replaced the Europa. The Elite was configured as a small shooting brake, with a hatchback luggage compartment. It was front engined with rear wheel drive. Like all production Lotuses since the Elan, the Elite used fibreglass for the hatchback bodyshell, mounted on a steel backbone chassis evolved from the Elan and Europa. It had 4-wheel independent suspension using coil springs. The Elite was Lotus' first car to use the 907 aluminium-block 4-valve, DOHC, four-cylinder, 1973cc, developing 155 bhp. (The 907 engine had previously been used in Jensen-Healeys.) The 907 engine ultimately became the foundation for the L and L Lotus Esprit powerplants, the naturally aspirated 912 and the turbocharged 910. The Elite was fitted with a 4 or 5 speed gearbox and from January 1976 automatic transmission was optional. The Elite had a claimed drag co-efficient of and at the time of launch it was the world's most expensive four cylinder car. The Elite's striking shape was designed by Oliver Winterbottom. He is quoted as saying that the basic chassis and suspension layout were designed by Colin Chapman, making the Elite and its sister design the Eclat the last Lotus road cars to have significant design input from Chapman himself Elites were available in 4 main specification variations, 501, 502, 503, and later on 504. 501 was the 'base' version. 502 added air conditioning to the specification of the 501. 503 added power steering to the specification of the 502. 504 added automatic transmission to the specification of the 503.
Size: 5616px × 3369px
Location: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8TN
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1980-81, chapman, collin, elite, lotus, seat, team
