Lotus
Driving Project: 1978 Lotus Éclat
It’s an irony that cars resulting from Lotus’ efforts to move upscale should be found in consistently derelict condition. No one seemed to care about the Elite and Éclat four-seat models once they had racked up enough miles to… more»
Highly Original: 1971 Lotus Europa S2
This Lotus Europa S2 is a highly original examples with a fantastic history file attached to its Bahama Yellow fiberglass body. The Europa is a memorable driving experience reserved for those of modest height and low curb weights, one… more»
Two-Owner, Euro-Trim Project: 1974 Lotus Elite
The Lotus Elite was brewing in Colin Chapman’s mind long before it finally hit the tarmac. By 1967, the Lotus line-up had marched upscale, that berth being occupied by the newly launched Elan +2. An almost-four-seat coupe, featuring a… more»
What’s It Worth? 1967 Lotus Elan SE Project Car
The Lotus Elan arrived in 1962 as the embodiment of Colin Chapman’s plan to improve his company’s road-car regime. With a fiberglass body mounted on a backbone chassis, the new Elan was configured as a two-seat convertible. Fixed-head coupes… more»
Parked for 5 Years: 1977 Lotus Esprit S1
Colin Chapman was a lateral thinker whose innovative ideas forever changed the world of motorsport. He knew cars with modest engine power could offer excellent performance if every excess ounce was pruned away, coining the iconic phrase, “simplify and… more»
Low Miles: 1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit HCi
For a car with a reputation for reliability issues, the Lotus Esprit enjoyed a very long production run. Perhaps its slow start to market was a harbinger of this longevity: the car was designed in 1971 and shown in… more»
1 of 1 in the US! 1988 Lotus Excel
If you are familiar with this model Lotus… congratulations! You are a true automobile aficionado! I thought I knew cars fairly well, yet the only Excel I had ever heard of was from Hyundai. This is truly a unicorn…. more»
Two-Owner Project: 1967 Lotus Cortina Mk 1
The Ford Lotus Cortina was a 1960s collaboration between Ford and Lotus Cars to build a performance-oriented small sedan. There were two generations with the Mk 1 being in production from 1963 to 1970. With a 1557-cc twin camshaft… more»
Storage Unit Find: 1969 Lotus Elan +2
In the early 1960s, Colin Chapman was riding high on successes in Formula racing. But his road-going car, the Elite, struggled in the market, putting Lotus in a precarious financial position. The Elite, while lovely, was fragile and demanded… more»
Rare Big Valve Project: 1971 Lotus Elan +2 S130
When you think of a Lotus Elan, it’s natural to picture an evocative two-seater roadster. After all, this is the nameplate that made Lotus a household name for car enthusiasts everywhere. However, the little-know Elan +2 is an alternative… more»
Project Exotic: 1988 Lotus Esprit Commemorative Edition
The chance to get into a desirable sports car for far less than the going rate is always going to raise eyebrows. If you want to snag a performance icon for a fraction of the price, you’re going to… more»
Missing Cylinder Head Screw: 1978 Lotus Esprit Series 1
Giorgetto Giugiaro went to work at Fiat’s Special Vehicles Division at seventeen – mostly likely younger than many of us were when we purchased our first car. Fiat ignored his design work, so he approached Bertone, who sold one… more»
Back From 25 Years of Storage: 1973 Lotus Europa
Over the history of Barn Finds, thousands of vehicles have been profiled. You would think that cars that saw high production numbers would be frequent subjects, and you would be correct. However, a particular British sports car seems to… more»
37K Original Miles: 1989 Lotus Esprit Turbo
Every now and again, you come across a car listing that is the love for the vehicle just comes spilling through the page. That’s certainly the feeling I get reading about this 1989 Lotus Esprit Turbo, which has been… more»
Out of Hibernation: 1971 Lotus Europa S2
It’s hard to overstate how tiny these cars are. The 1971 Lotus Europa is only 3.54 feet tall, meaning it would be about knee level for Wilt Chamberlain. The minuscule British sports car, which looks something like a bread… more»
1 of 1580: 1973 Lotus Europa TC (Twin Cam)
The Lotus Europa was an English-built, GT-style, mid-engine sports car produced from 1966 to 1975. It found some limited success in the U.S. until it became too difficult to meet changing U.S. safety standards. This variant from 1975 is… more»
