Lotus M90 (X100 GTC), 1984. A prototype from a new generation Elan dating from the time Toyota has an interest in Lotus. Designed by Oliver Winterbottom who had designed the 1970s Lotus Elite, it used the engine and gearbox from a Toyota MR2, mounted longitudinally in the front driving the rear wheels. The roof is lowered in two sections, the top can be removed and fits in the boot, creating a ‘targa’ style roof, and the rear portion folds down like a typical convertible. The project was abandoned and Lotus begun work on a front wheel drive alternative (the M100 Elan)

Lotus Elan S1

Image by Pierre Coroller || FB

Diana Rigg et les LOTUS Elan

32 - Lotus Elan by Laurent Quérité Via Flickr: Rallye Monté Carlo Historique Pilote : Jacques ROUCOLLE Copilote : France LOISSON-ROUCOLLE Team : Col de Pennes Drome France IMG_9362

Ford Lotus Cortina Mk. I FIA

There are few road and racing cars more instantly recognised with its violent green arrow pointing it's way so clearly to success. Using Ford's eponymous two-door saloon and Colin Chapman's indomitable reputation for the twin-cam engine, the marriage was made in heaven. Chapman commissioned Harry Mundy, he of Coventry Climax fame to come up with a twin-cam version of Ford’s Kent engine. Keith Duckworth from Cosworth tuned the motor and the 1.6 litre unit was born. Together with the same close-ratio gearbox as the Elan, some drastically altered suspension and lightweight alloy panels used for doors, bonnet and boot, weight began to be shed and lap times dropped. The interior received un updated dash featuring the necessary dials, uprated seating and a wood-rimmed steering wheel. A year after this example was produced, the ally body panels made way for steel ones. Again, making this one all the more collectable. The Cortina Lotus had by this time earned an impressive competition reputation. Motor Sport greats such as Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Vic Elford, Jack Sears, Sir John Whitmore, and Jacky Ickx all raced them and helped the car gain the iconic status it has today. Indeed I think wordsmith, Paul Chudecki, summed up one of this car’s most famous former drivers when writing for Magneto magazine, Rex Woodgate, when he competed both at the Nürburgring and Brands Hatch, describing him as “Former race mechanic to an up-and-coming Stirling Moss, ex-HWM and Vanwall race mechanic, builder of Aston Martin’s sports-racing cars, manager of the Elisha Walker DBR2 team and the face of Aston Martin in North America for two decades, [as well as] renowned Aston race-preparation specialist.

Lotus Elan

Dame Diana Rigg as Emma Peele with her Lotus Elan used on The Avengers circa 1966.

Lotus Evora at Waukesha Cars & Coffee (2022) - Meet 3 in Waukesha, WI.

Kia Elan 1996-1999: A Suprise Entry Into The Sports Car World

Surprising to some, the Stinger wasn't Kia's first endeavour in the sports car department the Elan was created using the M100 Lotus Elan platform purchased from Lotus In 1995 after they were forced to axe the front drive sports car due to low sales. This was also around the time Lotus was shifting ownership from GM to Bugatti and later the group responisble for Proton, the folks that made the mighty Iswara! Due to Korean laws surrounding the protection of jobs, the Elan's original 1.6 turbo four cylinder Isuzu motor was swapped out for a home grown Kia T8D 1.8 petrol producing 135 BHP allowing the Kia variant to reach 60 in 8.8 seconds and soldier on to 128 mph. The revised Elan also featured altered suspension which raised the ride hight as well as a revised Interior and steering wheel pulled out of Kia's more mundane cars like the Sephia, Sportage and Credos just given a red stripe. The Elan over the course of those 3 years old sold between 792 and 1056 cars worldwide (though 99% percent were sold In Korea) It was sold In Japan as the Kia Vigato and In Germany as the Kia Roadster and was only sold In Left Hand Drive.

Lotus Elan collection, 1966-1975. A unique group of 7 Lotus Elan cars, several with celebrity owner provenance, is to be offered by Silverstone Auctions. The cars all belong to a former Cosworth engineer, Deryck Norville.

All these Piddington Collection cars have a history. (Guide price in brackets)

1968 Lotus Elan S4 Coupé 'Duckworth' (£50,000 - £80,000)

1966 Elan S2 DH 'Emma Peel - The Avengers' (£80,000 - £120,000)

1969 Lotus Elan - 'Jochen Rindt' (£80,000 - £120,000)

1968 Lotus Elan SE 'Rob Walker' (£50,000 - £80,000)

1971 Lotus Elan Sprint DH 'Ron Hickman'  (£70,000 - £90,000)

1975 Lotus Elan Sprint (£50,000 - £80,000)

1966 Lotus Elan S2 - Ex-Peter Sellers (£80,000 - £120,000)

The auction will take place on February 25

auction site

A day with the super cars....

LOTUS Elan

Lotus Elan

Lotus Elan

Lotus Elan