The Lotus brand isn’t as well known in the United States as Honda or General Motors. It has stuck to building enthusiast vehicles only since its inception in 1952 when design engineer, inventor and builder Colin Chapman founded the company.
In those days, simplicity and lightness were the keys to success. Lotus sold cars aimed at private racers and time trial competitors.
Its first road cars were sold as kits to save buyers on sales tax.
The first car Lotus sold not in kit form was the Elan Plus Two, which was followed by the Eclat and Elite. For those cars, the company relied heavily on the use of fiberglass to keep its vehicles light and quick.
The simplest passenger car the company ever built was the Lotus Seven, originating in the 1950s as an open-top two-seater. It was produced into the early 1970s until Lotus sold the rights to produce the Seven …