The Story of Lotus 1947-1960: Birth of a Legend
Transportation History Biography Automotive History Motor Sports Vintage Reference Classic Cars Engineering Innovation
The Story of Lotus 1947-1960: Birth of a Legend is the definitive first-generation account of how Colin Chapman’s small-scale post-war workshop evolved into one of motor-sport’s most influential marques. Written by Ian H. Smith and published in 1970—while the early Lotuses were still winning races—this vintage hardcover captures the raw innovation of the Mk I through the ground-breaking Elite and the 1960 Formula 1 championship-winning Type 18. Packed with period photographs, technical drawings, and race statistics rarely reprinted elsewhere, the book is both a nostalgic time-capsule and a serious reference for enthusiasts restoring or researching classic Lotuses.
Collectors value this edition for its immediacy: Smith interviewed Chapman, the factory engineers, and the drivers while memories were fresh, producing quotes and factory memos that never appeared in later retrospectives. The 160-page illustrated narrative explains Chapman’s lightweight engineering philosophy, the birth of the stressed-skin chassis, and the birth-of-legend moments at Le Mans, Monaco, and Indianapolis that cemented Lotus’s reputation. Because the title was never re-issued in identical form, original 1970 copies with dust jacket have become scarce, especially in the tight, clean-page condition offered here.
For the classic-car investor, vintage-racing participant, or Lotus-owner documenting patina, this copy provides authentic 1970s source material without modern reinterpretation. The binding is tight, pages are unmarked, and the dust jacket—though edge-worn and tape-repaired—remains complete and protective, making the book shelf-ready and enjoyable immediately. Keywords: Lotus Mk VI, Elite, Seven, Type 14, Type 18, Colin Chapman, 1950s Formula 1, classic British sports cars, motor-sport history, vintage automotive reference.
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