Classic Car Catalogue

Lotus 1967

Seven s.2
Elan s.3
Europa
Elan Plus 2 - new model

Great Britain

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN . . .
As long ago as 1964 we decided to add a full 2+2 to our range. We set ourselves the task of ensuring that the car would combine the performance and reliability of the Elan "Coupe" with genuine 2+2 passenger comfort. We gave ourselves time to achieve these objectives and put the car through the most comprehensive testing programme possible. Now I am confident, both as an engineer and as a family man that in the new "LOTUS ELAN +2" we have one of the finest cars available for the discerning motorist who demands safety, performance, styling and comfort in a motor car which reflects his own taste and ideas. At our new factory here in Norfolk we have the capacity to supply that car and provide it with a worldwide service for many many years to come. May I sincerely recommend a LOTUS ELAN +2 test drive at your earliest opportunity.
A. C. B. Chapman BSc
   Chairman, The Lotus Group of Companies.

The Lotus Elan is built since 1962. It is a very pretty two-seater with plastic body. Very unconventional however is the newly emerged model Europa, an ultra-low plastic coupé with frilly Renault 16 engine in front of the rear axle. The Lotus Mark 47 GT, the racing version of the Lotus Europa, has a highly-modified 1.6-litre Ford engine.
Four seater Lotus Elan +2 on the same theme as the Elan but 12" longer, and wider to permit two small extra seats. To cope with extra weight all cars have 118 bhp engine, with twin Webers giving 112 mph top speed. Suspension all round independent, and all round servo disc brakes. Still with rust prone back bone chassis.
 

Seven

Seven s.2
   997 cc - Ford
   948 - BMC
   1498 cc - Ford


Super Seven 1500
 

Elan

Elan s.3 (R4 cyl, 1558 cc, 105 bhp)
Elan s.3 (R4 cyl, 1558 cc, 115 bhp)
   Coupé (wb: 84 in.)
   Roadster (wb: 84 in.)

 

Europa

Europa (R4 cyl, 1470 cc, 78/80 bhp)
   Coupé

 

Elan Plus 2

Elan +2 (R4 cyl, 1558 cc, 118 bhp)
   Coupé (wb: 96 in.)

DEVELOPING THE ELAN +2
   The Lotus ELAN +2 was conceived over three years ago and given a simple, basic design concept by Mr. Chapman: "it must combine the very best features of the Lotus Elan CoupĂ© with reliability and yet be able to carry two adults and two children on a long holiday—in comfort".
   We obviously wanted to use the Elan as the basis for our design as the model was already making a very good name for itself as both a safe and very reliable car. The steel backbone chassis had also proved a very useful solution to many of the construction requirements of a rigid sports car. We knew thee chassis was strong from our racing and rally experience. We did not just "chop and stretch" the chassis but went right back to thee drawing board and test-bench to do a complete recalculation on the backbone theme taking into consideration the extra loadings brought about by wider track, larger wheels and a lengthened wheelbase. When thee first test chassis was built we ran it for thousands of miles with a disguised body which looked like a van. At MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) Test Track wee pounded it over cobbles and unmade roads,, held it at over 100 mph for hundreds of miles on the outer circuit and used and misused the brakes and transmission to simulate every possible everyday use and abuse.
   While the chassis and power train engineering technicians were hard at work perfecting thee chassis and running gear we were making a study of the "package requirement" we wanted to retain the now classic Lotus driving position with its easy accommodation for the short or tall driver but we also wanted to make absolutely certain that the two rear seats really would accommodate children. To bee certain on this point we did the obvious thing,, we covered many hundreds of miles with children in the car. One tester made the sensible report that "of course children don't sit in seats, they stand on them, kneel on them and flight on them." So we have made certain that the whole rear area is right for the antics of children as our design requirement specifically stated that "children should be comfortable".
   We wanted to make certain that the body was attractive and at the same time fully aerodynamic. This was achieved by our Styling Department and as so often happens, when it looks right, it is right and wind tunnel tests show the car as having a very efficient drag factor of 3 to give increased top speed with reduced fuel consumption.
   Finally we wanted to make certain that the vehicle was safe. Safety to us is two different but important factors. The first is making certain that the car handles and brakes so well that it keeps out of trouble the second is to be sure that everything has been done too insure passenger protection. We are confident that attention to safety in this model has been of the highest order resulting in one of the best handling and impact resistant vehicles on the road today. Now of course development continues as progress never stops.


The aerodynamic, impact resistant, glassfibre bodywork with its retractable headlamps has one of the lowest drag coefficients of any production car today without any sacrifice of head room or luggage capacity.

Comfortable form-supporting seats with adjustment to satisfy anyone from 5 ft to 6 ft 6 in. and the longest or shortest legs. Leather covered steering wheel and complete instrumentation. Carpets, walnut fascia, radio, heater and demister—everything is included in the comprehensive specification. That is why there is no Extras List for the "Special Equipment" model!

The ELAN +2 boot swallows luggage without problems and when the rear seats are not in use there is space to spare. The spare wheel and tools are stowed conveniently away from your luggage and the whole boot interior is carpeted for added protection.

With your car you receive a comprehensive Owner's Handbook and all the world Lotus dealers have Workshop Manuals, Spare Parts catalogues and a regular Service Information Service from the factory. Spares stocks are held at strategic points in every major country and factory trained mechanics are ready to carry out a minor adjustment or a full service wherever you go.
 
 

49 (F-1) (90° V8 Ford-Cosworth DFV, 2998 cc, 415 bhp) - new model
41 (F-2 & 3)
44 (F-2)
48 (F-2) (Ford FVA 1600cc) - new model
38 (Indy) (Ford V8, 4195cc)
42 (Indy)
47 (race car based on Europa)
 

Pierwsze (Clark) i drugie (G.Hill) miejsce w GP USA modelu Lotus-Ford 49.
Trzecie miejsce (Clark) w GP Włoch w modelu Lotus-Ford 49.
Zwycięstwo (Clark) w GP Hiszpanii w modelu Lotus-Ford 49 (nie zaliczany do MŚ).
Zwycięstwo (Clark) w GP Wielkiej Brytanii - Lotus-Ford 49.
Drugie miejsce (G.Hill) w GP Monaco modelu Lotus-BRM.
Zwycięstwo (Clark) w GP Holandii modelu Lotus-Ford 49.
Zwycięstwo (Clark) w GP Meksyku modelu Lotus-Ford 49.
Drugie miejsce w Wyścigowych Mistrzostwach Świata Formuły 1 (Clark)

Lotus 49: Debiut i zwycięstwo w Zandvoort. Za kierownicą Jim Clark.

Dutch GP, Zandvoort : Jim Clark, Lotus-Ford 49 #5, Team Lotus, Winner.

Monaco GP, Monte Carlo : Jim Clark, Lotus-Climax 33 #12, Team Lotus.

Mexican GP: Jim Clark, Lotus-Ford 49, Team Lotus.
Racing victories:
         
         
Racing entries:
  24h Le Mans 11.06.1967 Entrant: Results: Index
#   chassis #     gen. class perf. eff.
44 47 47-GT-07 Preston/Wagstaff Team Elite fail. - - -

Lotus 47, engine: Ford 1.594 cc. (David Preston / John Wagstaff) by Team Elite at 24h Le Mans.

Indianapolis 500 : The Invaders Graham Hill, Lotus-Ford 42/B1.

Indianapolis 500 : The Invaders Jim Clark, Lotus-Ford 38/7.