LOTUS the ART of LIGHTNESS the AACA SHOW Lotus Has Been Around Almost Efficiency and Performance
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I THINK OF LOTUS AS In today’s automotive world, of lightweight, efficienct design LEADING EDGE. Ahead of making vehicles lighter is and innovation resulted in seven its time. Futuristic even. I forget the newest method to extract Formula 1 World Championships LOTUS THE ART OF LIGHTNESS THE AACA SHOW Lotus has been around almost efficiency and performance. But as well as wins at Le Mans and seven decades. 66 years old. for Colin Chapman and Lotus it Indianapolis and championships Geriatric. So when the Antique has always been the essence in Saloon car racing, the World LOTUS CLUB CANADA BULLETIN Automobile Club of America of their design and engineering Rally Championship, sports car by Michael Eddenden Museum announced their philosophy. racing and the lower open wheel with extensive quotes from the new show, LOTUS: The Art of The first Lotus came from formulas. AACA Museum’s press release. Photos by AACA. Lightness, I had mixed feelings. the humblest of sources. In Chapman’s philosophy that Nice to see Lotus recognized 1948 Colin Chapman, a young went into his racing car design and appreciated, and its history engineering student, became were directly translated into displayed prominently but... enthused with automotive Lotus’ road cars and produced Antique? Couldn’t it have been competition and sought to enter a pantheon of iconoclastic appreciated and lauded by the unique world of British Trials machines such as the Seven, MOMA in New York, instead competition. The basis for this Elite, Elan, Cortina, Europa, of by the AACA in Hershey, was an Austin Seven “Chummy”, Esprit, Elise, Exige, and Evora, Pennsylvania? Well. Never look a an antiquated pre-war people’s making them “Racing cars for gift horse in the mouth, even it’s car that Chapman transformed the road.” In addition to producing an antique. into his first competition special, class-leading sports cars, Lotus The exhibit, which runs from dubbed Lotus. His forays into has become a globally respected January 24 to April 26, displays competition were successful engineering consultancy, working a selection of Lotus road and and led to the formation of Lotus with many of the world’s most racing cars covering the 66 years, Engineering by 1954. prestigious manufacturers. Their fifteen models in all, from a It didn’t take long for expertise in ride and handling has 1956 Mark VI to the 2014 Evora. Lotus Engineering to be in made Lotus the standard to which Representative examples of Lotus full production...and Lotus all others are compared.” engineered vehicles are also subsequently invaded and displayed. As the website puts it: triumphed in the world of British For more on the AACA Lotus show, “Colin Chapman, the founder of Club racing and international visit AACAMuseum.org. The AACA Museum is affiliated with Lotus, and the man behind Lotus’ motorsports competition.Lotus the Smithsonian. racing successes and iconic road and the genius of Colin Chapman Photos AACA. For more information see the video: cars said, have been at the forefront of https://www.youtube.com/ “I believe in getting lightweight racing technology and automotive tch?v=0DEE6MKeQrM through elegance of design”. design. Chapman’s philosophy LOTUS AT THE AACA MUSEUM 1956 Mark VI Owner: Kyle, Irena and Colin Kaulback – Bethel, PA 1958 Lotus Eleven Brad Parker – Annapolis, MD 1959 Elite (Type 14) Joe Marchione – Absecon, NJ 1959 Type 18 Jerry Morici – Clifton, NJ 1962 Type 22 Jerry Morici – Clifton, NJ 1962 Seven S2 Gary and Sandy David – Macedonia, OH 1963 Type 23 Not given. 1964 Elan S1 (Type 26) Greg Moore – Merchantville, NJ 1966 Lotus Cortina (Type 28) Gary and Sandy David – Macedonia, OH 1967 Europa S1B (Type46) Bob Fogle – Woodbury, CT 1969 Elan S4 Coupe Rolling Chassis (Type 36) Clark Lance – Long Valley, NJ 1970 Type 61MX Kyle, Irena and Colin Kaulback – Bethel, PA 1971 Type 69 Kyle, Irena and Colin Kaulback – Bethel, PA 1972 Europa Twin Cam (Type74) Kyle, Irena and Colin Kaulback – Bethel, PA 1972 Elan Sprint (Type 45) Dee and Kenny Mance – New York, NY 1979 Esprit S2 (Type 79) Art Mason Macungie, PA 1984 Type 95T Barber Museum – Birmingham, AL 1987 Esprit Turbo (Type 82) Gordon M. Biehl, Jr 1991 Elan (Type 100) Ted Taylor Haddon Heights, NJ 1992 Type 108 Barber Museum – Birmingham, AL 1996 Type 110 Kyle, Irena and Colin Kaulback – Bethel, PA 2001 Esprit V8 (Type 82) Nathan Davis – Lansdowne, PA 2009 Exige S260 (Type 117) Jon Walton – Newark, DE 2014 Evora S (Type 122) Lotus Cars USA LOTUS ENGINEERED VEHICLES 1981 DeLorean DMC12 Justin and Rachel Mettee – Glen Rock, PA 1985 Sinclair C5 Barber Museum Birmingham, AL 1993 Corvette ZR1 Dave Nagler – Chester, NY Lotus Ultralight Aircraft Engine Barber Museum Birmingham, AL Type 23 spaceframe chassis Barber Museum – Birmingham, AL.