Lotus Mark VI

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#339933" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Lotus Mark VI</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=175 BGCOLOR="#336600" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Lotus</B></div> <div> <B>Mark VI</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id190.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lotus Mark VI"><U><B>MkVI Main Page</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lotus Mark VI 19521955"><U><B>MkVI Images</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFF66" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>History of the Lotus Mark VI</B></div> <div> <B>1952 - 1955</B></div> <bR> <div> Before 1952, Colin Chapman had built a couple of trials cars, and one car for road racing - all based on the Austin 7. In 1951 the road racing car, the Mark III, had entered 32 races, winning 14 and placing second in 13. With Chapman and his friends driving, these specials had built a considerable reputation with other British drivers. Thus, in 1952 Chapman decided to go into the business of making race cars. The Mark VI was the first "production" car - a kit car in order to avoid the purchase tax of 50% on completed cars. Between 80 and 110 chassis were built by Progress Chassis Co.</div> <bR> <div> Viewed from the outside, the Mark VI appeared to be a typical car of its time: a little squarish, of handmade construction with its bicycle fenders, and quite fragile. But underneath it had a very light, strong and sophisticated (torsionally rigid) space frame chassis with stressed aluminum panels for the floor, sides and transmission tunnel.  The chassis weighed about 60 lbs and the total weight of the car was 950 lbs.  It had a swing axle front suspension and a Ford rigid axle at the rear with coil springs/dampers and drum brakes on all four wheels.  Since the chassis was very stiff, the suspension could be somewhat soft to give a better grip on the race track.  Owners installed their own engines and transmission, typically a Ford 1172cc side-valve engine and 3-speed gearbox.  Depending on the engine the top speed of the car was between 75 and 115 mph.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="635" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 214 WIDTH="253"><div> <B>Colin Chapman at the wheel of the Lotus Mark VI - Silverstone 1952. The engine was a 1500cc Ford-Consul. The rear wheels, being connected by the solid rear axle, are held parallel in the corner (as long as the road surface is smooth). The front wheels show the disadvantage of the swing axle. </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="4a972d00.jpg" border=0 width="370" height="208" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Four cars were campaigned in 1953 and won 19 road races as well as numerous sprints and hillclimbs with Chapman as the works driver.  The car's most notable victory came in 1954 at Silverstone when the Mark VI driven by Peter Gammon finished in second place (behind Chapman in a Mark VIII) beating Hans Hermann's works Porsche 550.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="537" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 393 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="64e18830.jpg" border=0 width="536" height="387" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 ><NOBR><div> <B>Vintage Photo of Peter Gammon Driving UPE-9 at Ibsley, 1954</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> The Mark VI was the first true Lotus, that is, a car totally designed by Chapman. Beginning with the MarK VI, Chapman was able to test his theories on chassis design. The track successes of this car lead to more sophisticated race cars incorporating advanced aerodynamics and suspensions. Chapman never ceased to develop the science of race car design. The Mark VI was the first stepping stone laid down by the fertile mind of a genius.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>