Lotus Sports Car Books - History, Models and Construction

Lotus - The Complete Story

From the Mark 1 in 1948 to the World's most powerful electric hypercar - the Evija - in 2021, the story of the Lotus marque encompasses ongoing technical innovation on road and track.
With seventy-four F1 Grand Prix wins, six Drivers' and seven Constructors' F1 World Championships chalked up over seven hectic decades, Lotus consolidated its reputation in racing while at the same time creating some of the World's most stylish and desirable sportscars and Grand Tourers, in-house as well as for global automotive clients via its Lotus Engineering consultancy.

With over 380 photographs, this book includes:
- the origins of the business, creating Austin 7-based competition cars;
- the metamorphosis from sports-racing cars to F1 - and seven World titles;
- factory relocations, from Hornsey to Cheshunt to Hethel;
- the road cars: the Elite, Elan, Europa, Excel, Esprit, Elise, Exige and Evora;
- how sponsorship transformed traditional British Racing Green into Gold Leaf and JPS livery.
There are also interviews with key Lotus personnel and drivers.

Lotus Sports Racers (1951-1965)

Brooklands Portfolio book about the Lotus Sports Racer models from the years 1951-1965. Describes the Lotus Mk III, Mk VI, Mk VIII, Mk IX and X, Eleven, Fifteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty Three, 30 and 40.

• The 130 articles, taken from contemporary British and American car magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

▶  More information on the Brooklands Portfolio books

Lotus Cortina Mk1 and Mk2

Brooklands Portfolio book about the Lotus Cortina models from the years 1963-1970. Describes the Lotus Cortina Mk 1, Mk 2, Westune and IWR.

• The articles, taken from contemporary British and American car magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

▶  More information on the Brooklands Portfolio books

Colin Chapman Wayward Genius

Colin Chapman was the most charismatic and brilliant engineer in the history of motor racing. His innovative designs revolutionized the layout of the grand prix car. He played a key role in the establishment of the British motor racing industry which now leads the world.
Through his Lotus company he not only dominated Formula 1 racing but also made an extraordinary contribution to the development of the sportscar with the Elite and the Elan.

Mike Lawrence's biography of this remarkable man recalls his achievements, but it also delves into the dark side of his genius. Chapman's triumphs in the 1960s and 1970s have never been equalled world championships in Formula 1, a succession of grand prix victories and triumph at the Indianapolis 500. He also formed famous partnerships with exceptional drivers like Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson, Nigel Mansell and Mario Andretti.

The Lotus single seaters that brought them such success, the 25, the 49, the 72 and the 79 are now regarded as milestones in the evolution of the racing car. Yet Chapman's abrasive character, drive for success and unorthodox business methods clouded his reputation.

Mike Lawrence looks in detail at this aspect of Chapman's history and gives a revealing account of the tangled financial arrangements that kept Chapman, and Lotus, afloat. He shows, too, how Chapman operated in a fast moving, highly pressurized world of international racing and car making that generated huge rewards and temptations.
The crunch came when he became involved with John Z. Delorean, the American entrepreneur who found the ill-fated Delorean car company.

A Life in Car Design - Jaguar, Lotus, TVR

Gives a unique insight into design and project work for a number of leading companies in the motor industry, including Jaguar, Lotus, TVR and General Motors.
The book recounts the author's experiences from within the industry, tracing the changes in the design process over a period of nearly 50 years, and follows his career at home and around the world.

It shows how the change from imperial to metric measurements and the growing use of computers revolutionised the quality and accuracy of modern vehicles. It also covers the issues and challenges of meeting project targets, and some of the issues that can deflect those efforts. It features previously untold stories, and is thoughtfully illustrated with historical engineering drawings and photographs.
As well as informing automobile enthusiasts it is also hoped that this book will inspire upcoming generations to consider a career in the creative field.

Features:
- A personal and in-depth look at car design from inside the industry
- Oliver Winterbottom's experience working for talented industry leaders Sir William Lyons, Jaguar; Colin Chapman, Lotus, and Martin Lilley, TVR
- The author's work with Guigiaro at ItalDesign, Turin, observing the design processes
- An account of working with Chinese companies to develop a new cultural understanding
- Producing new designs to severe time and cost restraints
- How the author developed suitable project processes for low volume built cars at GM USA
- An account of the privilege of working with Toyota Japan, and learning their approach to the motor industry
- The author's experience of extensive development projects for car safety and airbags.

Lotus, l'éloge des sports cars

En quelques années, Colin Chapman, artisan puis constructeur anglais, va faire de sa marque Lotus un emblème de la sportivité automobile. Sous des lignes particulièrement originales et attrayantes, ses voitures offrent des solutions techniques souvent avant-gardistes.

Retrouvez dans cet ouvrage toute l'histoire des modèles de série de la marque, des premiers kits cars à l'Elise, en passant par les mythiques Seven, Elan et Esprit.
Grâce à l'esthétisme exceptionnel des photos spécialement réalisées pour la collection Autofocus, vous découvrirez en détail l'histoire et les nombreuses évolutions des Lotus de route.