File:Lotus Elan (29196005283).jpg

Cascais Classic Motorshow, Cascais, Portugal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lotus Elan is the name of two convertible cars and two fixed head coupés produced by Lotus Cars. The original Type 26, 26R Racing version (of the S1 Elan), 36R Racing version (of the S2 Elan), 36 Fixed Head Coupe, 45 Drop Head Coupe, and the "Type 50" +2 Coupe, circa 1962 to 1975, are commonly known as the 1960s Elans.

A similar Elan-inspired model called Evante was produced from mid-1980s by British Lotus specialists Vegantune.

The Type M100 from 1989 to 1995, is also commonly known as the 1990s Elan. This second model was also produced in South Korea by Kia Motors between 1996 and 1999, rebadged as the Kia Elan.

OVERVIEW

ManufacturerLotus Cars Production1962–1973 AssemblyHethel, England Body and chassis ClassSports car (S) Body style2-door coupé 2-door roadster LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel-drive Powertrain Engine1,557 cc Lotus TwinCam I4 (petrol) Dimensions Wheelbase84.0 in (2,134 mm) Length145.0 in (3,683 mm) Width56.0 in (1,422 mm) Height45.5 in (1,156 mm) Curb weight1,516.8 lb (688 kg)

The original Elan was introduced in 1962 as a roadster, although an optional hardtop was offered in 1963 and a coupé version in 1965. The two-seat Lotus Elan replaced the elegant, but unreliable and expensive to produce Lotus Elite.

It was the first Lotus road car to use a steel backbone chassis with a fibreglass body. At 1,600 lb (726 kg), the Elan embodied the Colin Chapman minimum weight design philosophy. Initial versions of the Elan were also available as a kit to be assembled by the customer. The Elan was technologically advanced with a DOHC 1557 cc engine, 4-wheel disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, and 4-wheel independent suspension.

Gordon Murray, who designed the spectacular McLaren F1 supercar, reportedly said that his only disappointment with the McLaren F1 was that he couldn't give it the perfect steering of the Lotus Elan.

The Elan S1 of 1962 was replaced by the Elan S2 in 1964.The S2 gave way to the S3 in 1965 with a fixed-head coupe now offered alongside the 2-seater sports.

The S4 followed in 1968 and the Elan Sprint was introduced in 1970.Production of Sprint ceased in 1973.[2]

This generation of the two-seater Elan was famously driven by the character Emma Peel on the 1960s British television series The Avengers.

The "Lotus TwinCam" engine was based on Ford Kent Pre-Crossflow 4-cylinder 1498 cc engine, with a Harry Mundy-designed 2 valve alloy chain-driven twin-cam head.