Data from The Lotus Book by William Taylor, Coterie Press Ltd.    Home     1960-1969     1970-1979     1980-1989     1990-
Car
Class
Year
Production
Engine (Front or Mid)
Displ.
Power
Chassis
Body
Front Suspension
Rear Suspension
Weight
Mark I
Trials
1947 - 1948
1
Modified Austin 7
2 bearing (F)
747cc
25 hp
(est.)
Austin Seven (boxed in)
Alloy bonded plywood
Austin solid Axle, later split in middle
Inverted Austin Seven axle
1092 lb.
Mark II
Trials or
Club Racer
1949 - 1950
1
Ford 8
Side valve (F)
1172cc
25 - 30 hp (est.)
Austin Seven (boxed in)
Aluminum on stressed frame
Ford split axle
Austin Seven axle
1125 lb.
Mark III
Club Racer
1951
2 +
1 chassis
Austin Seven 3 bearing sidevalve (F)
747cc
40-50 hp
Austin Seven (boxed in and triangulated)
Aluminum
Ford 8 split axle
Austin Seven axle
815 lb
Mark IV
Trials
1952
1
Ford Sidevalve (F)
1172cc
30-35 hp
Austin Seven (boxed in)
Aluminum
Pivoted axles with transverse spring
Austin Seven axle
1100 lb.
Mark VI
Club Racer
1952-1955
80-110
Ford Consul
MG TC/TD/TF
Coventry-Climax FWE (F)
1498cc
1250cc
1216cc
45 hp

75 hp
Multi-tubular Space Frame
Aluminum
Ford swing axle
Ford 10 solid axle
925 lb.
Seven  
Series 1
Club Racer

1957-1960
242
Ford sidevalve, BMC A-series,
Coventry-Climax (F)
948cc -1275cc
40-75 hp
Multi-tubular Space Frame
Aluminum
Lower wishone, upper link
Solid axle, diagonal link, twin trailing arms
924-980 lb.
Mark VIII
Sports Racer
1954
7
Morris, MG
(F)
1467cc
85 hp
Multi-tubular Space Frame
Aluminum
Swing axle
DeDion axle with transverse lever arm
1148 lb.
Mark IX
Sports Racer
1955
24
Coventry-Climax FWA
MG XPAG, Ford 10 (F)
1098cc -1498cc
50-70 hp
Multi-tubular Space Frame
Aluminum
Swing axle
DeDion, Ford 10 solid axle
924-1008 lb.
Mark X
Sports Racer
1955
6
Bristol 6-cylinder ohv (F)
1971cc
125 hp
Multi-tubular Space Frame
Aluminum
Swing axle
DeDion axle
1232 lb.
Eleven
Series 1 & 2
Sports Racer

1956-1958
270
Coventry-Climax FWA, FWB
(F)
1098cc
1460cc
75-100 hp
Multi-tubular Space Frame
Aluminum
Swing axle, double wishbones on S2
DeDion axle, twin radius rods
1019 lb.
Type 12
Formula I & II
1957-1959
12
Coventry-Climax FPF
(F)
1475cc 1960cc 2207cc
142 hp
175 hp
194 hp
Multi-tubular Space Frame
Aluminum
Lower wishone, upper link
Chapman strut, trailing arm
660-770 lb.
Type 14
Elite
GT
Series 1 & 2
1957-1963
1050 approx.
Coventry-Climax FWE
(F)
1216cc
75-105 hp
Fiberglass monocoque
Fibreglass (integrated with chassis)
Upper, lower wishbones
Chapman strut, trailing arm
1484 lb.
Type 15
Sports Racer
1958-1960
27
Coventry-Climax FPF
(F)
1475cc -2500cc
140-185 hp
Multi-tubular Space Frame
Aluminum
Upper, lower wishbones
Chapman strut, trailing arm
980 lb.
Type 16
Formula I & II
1958-1960
8
Coventry-Climax FPF (F)
2207cc
194 hp
Multi-tubular Space Frame
Aluminum
Lower wishone, upper link
Chapman strut, forward radius arm
1080 lb.
Type 17
Sports Racer
1959
23
Coventry-Climax FWA, FWM
(F)
1098cc
 745cc
FWA 84 hp
Multi-tubular Space Frame
Aluminum, fibreglass
Chapman strut, lower wishbone, radius arm
Chapman strut, forward radius arm
750 lb.
Type 18
Formula I, II & Jr.
1959-1961
150 approx.
Coventry-Climax FPF
Cosworth-Ford 105E (M)
2495cc
 997cc
237 hp
75 hp
Multi-tubular Space Frame
Aluminum prototype, then fibreglass
Unequal double wishbones
Lower transverse links, twin radius arms
770-980 lb.