Lotus Elite 1957 – 3D Model
Formats: MAX, FBX, OBJ
Lotus Elite is a two-seater sports car manufactured by Lotus Cars from 1957 to 1963. It was designed by Colin Chapman and Peter Kirwan-Taylor and was the first car to be made entirely of fiberglass. The Elite was powered by a Coventry Climax engine and had a top speed of 120 mph. It was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish Lotus as a leading manufacturer of sports cars. Elite was the brainchild of Colin Chapman, who wanted to create a lightweight, aerodynamic sports car that would be affordable and easy to produce. He turned to Peter Kirwan-Taylor, a young designer who had recently joined Lotus, to help him with the project. Kirwan-Taylor came up with a simple but elegant design that was both aerodynamically efficient and structurally sound. The Elite was made entirely of fiberglass, which was a new and innovative material at the time. Fiberglass is lightweight and strong, and it can be molded into complex shapes. This made it ideal for the Elite, which had a curvaceous body that was both beautiful and functional. Elite was powered by a Coventry Climax engine, which was a small but powerful four-cylinder unit. The engine was mated to a four-speed manual transmission. The Elite had a top speed of 120 mph and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just over 8 seconds.
Lotus Elite was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its lightweight construction, aerodynamic efficiency, and powerful engine. The Elite was also relatively affordable, which made it a popular choice for both amateur and professional racers. Elite was raced extensively in the early 1960s. It won its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1960, 1961, and 1962. The Elite also won the British Saloon Car Championship in 1961 and 1962. Elite was discontinued in 1963, but it remains one of the most iconic sports cars of the 1960s. It is a testament to the genius of Colin Chapman and Peter Kirwan-Taylor, and it helped to establish Lotus as a leading manufacturer of sports cars.