Category: Lotus
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Lotus Elan M100 SE and S2: History, Specifications and Buying Guide
UNUSUAL CARS MODEL GUIDE The Lotus Elan M100 was a front-wheel-drive two-seat roadster sold from 1989 to 1992 and again as the limited S2 in 1994–95. Its Isuzu 1.6-litre engine, rigid backbone structure and sophisticated suspension produced remarkable wet-road ability, even though front-wheel drive challenged traditional ideas about what a Lotus should be. Quick answer:…
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Lotus Excel SE and SA: History, Specifications and Buying Guide
UNUSUAL CARS MODEL GUIDE The Lotus Excel was the developed four-seat front-engined GT produced through the 1980s and into 1992. It evolved from the Eclat but combined Lotus’s 2.2-litre Type 912 engine and glassfibre body with a galvanised backbone chassis and numerous Toyota-sourced components. The 180 bhp SE and four-speed automatic SA are the versions…
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Lotus Europa S1, S2, Twin Cam and Special: History and Buying Guide
UNUSUAL CARS MODEL GUIDE The Lotus Europa was a tiny mid-engined coupé built from 1966 to 1975. Early S1 and S2 cars use Renault engines and transaxles; the later Twin Cam and Special gained the Lotus-Ford 1,558 cc engine. All share a glassfibre body and steel backbone chassis, but the earliest bonded-body cars and later…
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Lotus Elan S1, S2, S3, S4 and Sprint: History and Buying Guide
UNUSUAL CARS MODEL GUIDE The original Lotus Elan is the compact two-seat sports car produced from 1962 to 1973 as the Type 26 roadster and Type 36 fixed-head coupé. It combined a glassfibre body, steel backbone chassis, Ford-based Lotus Twin Cam engine and fully independent suspension. The later Sprint is the best-known version, but condition…