Lotus Elan The Complete Story

The Lotus Elan is one of the greatest sports cars of recent decades and is today one of the most collectable and admired classic cars in the world. The company which produced it, Colin Chapman's Lotus Cars, grew from humble beginnings, overcoming the problems of money and space to produce other famous models as well as the Elan, but the latter undoubtedly remains the world's favourite Lotus. Upon its launch in 1962 the Elan took the motoring world by storm, with its incomparable, perfectly balanced handling, fine brakes and precise steering. The car's sleek lines also captured the public imagination, and the Elan was clearly destined to become a major success, both on the road and on the track - in all its forms. This book traces the conception, development and production of the original Elan from its earliest roots to the end of production in 1973. It also touches on the Lotus models which preceded the Elan, describing how they influenced the design of the most famous Lotus. In addition, and for the first time in book form, there is a whole chapter devoted to the development of the exciting new Elan for the nineties, which was launched to universal critical acclaim. The publication contains a wealth of information for the Elan enthusiast, offering tips on buying, maintenance and restoration, as well as the addresses of Lotus clubs and specialist sales outlets in Britain and abroad. The book is packed with technical specifications and comparisons, details from road tests and exclusive interviews with the main personalities behind the design and production of all versions of the car. The many personal anecdotes also give a revealing insight into Colin Chapman himself. Illustrated throughout with specially commissioned photographs and detailed engineering drawings, this is the definitive guide to the Lotus Elan.