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The Cars

The Historic Lotus Register keeps records of most of the early cars other than those which were built in large numbers.  The "production" cars, as we will call them, usually have their own supporters' club, and this is shown next to the car in the list below.

Car records are held by the Registrars who specialize in their model (or models) of Lotus, and should be consulted before buying.  The specialist clubs may keep similar records, so it is well worth asking them.

When it started the HLR covered cars up to about 1967, but the list is being slowly extended as more registrars are found that are willing and able to undertake the painstaking work needed to keep accurate records.

Owners of ALL Lotus cars, irrespective of model, are most welcome to join the HLR, as are those without a Lotus who are interested in the cars, the company, and the history behind them.

In the list below, click on the small photograph to the left to be transferred to the page of the specialist Registrar.  After the Lotus Mk X the cars had "Type" numbers in Arabic numerals and were referred to by their number only, usually written out in full e.g. "Eleven", but by the time the number reached twenty the Type numbers reverted to numerals only.  The quantities are approximate on the early cars as records were not too good!

Click on photo
for Registrar

  

Mark/Type

No. built

Description
  Mark I

1
 1947 Colin Chapman's first Austin Seven Special
  Mark II

1
 1949 1172cc side valve Ford engine.  For trials.
  Mark III

2
 1951-52 and a chassis frame.  For Club sports car racing to the 750 and 1172 Formula,
  Mark IV

1
 1952 for Mike Lawson for mudplugging trials. 1172cc Ford.
    Mark V

0
 Was to have been the 100 mph 750 Formula car
  Mark VI

110
 1952-55 Production Sports Car and for Club racing mainly in the 1172 Formula, but larger engines were fitted as well.
  Mark VII

1
 1952 Formula 2 car for Clive Clairmonte. Converted into Clairmonte Special before it was finished.
  Mark VIII

7
 1954-55 International Sports car racing.  Usually with 1500 cc MG engine.
  Mark IX

30
 1955 Club and International sports car racing with 1100cc Climax engine, and 1172 Ford for Club racing. First Lotus to race at Le Mans in 1955.
  Mark X

6
 1955 Club and International Sports car racing, normally with 1971cc Bristol engine.
  Eleven S1

150
 1956-57 Club and International Sports car racing with 1100cc and 1500cc Climax engine, and Club racing with 1172cc Ford.
  Twelve

12
 1957-58 Formula 2 and Formula 1. 1500 and 2 litre Twin Cam Climax engine.
  Thirteen

120
 1957-58 This was the Eleven Series 2. Won Index of Performance at Le Mans in 1957.  750cc, 1100cc and 1500 cc Climax engine and others.
  Seven S1

243
 Series One 1957 to 1960. Production Sports car, usually with Ford 100E side valve 1172cc. engine.
  Seven S2

1310
 Series Two 1960 to 1968.  Either Ford sidevalve or ohv, or BMC A-Series.
  Seven S3

340
 Series Three 1968 to 1970.  Either Ford 225E, Ford-Holbay crossflow, or Lotus twin-cam.
 

Seven S4
Type 60

650
 Series Four 1970 to 1973 - approximately 650 made with Ford Cortina 1300 or 1600, and Lotus twin-cam.
The Seven design was then sold to Caterham Cars who soon abandoned the S4 version and continued to make the Series 3 and developments of it, which they are still doing to this day.
    14 Elite 1050 1957-63 Two seat GT car. 1216cc Climax engine.  Not covered by the HLR.  Click here to go to the Club Elite UK website, or here to send an email to the Chairman of Club Elite North America .
  Fifteen

27
 1958-60. International Sports Car racing with 1500 and 2 litre Climax FPF engine.
  Sixteen

8
 1958-59 Formula 2 and Formula 1 with Climax FPF engine.
  Seventeen

23
 1959 Sports Car racing with 750 and 1100 Climax engine.
 
Eighteen FJ
120+ 1960-61 Formula Junior with 1000cc Ford 105 ohv engine.
 
Eighteen F1 & F2
29
 Formula 2 and Formula 1 with Climax FPF engine. First Lotus to win a Grand Prix in 1960.
  Nineteen

17
 1960-62 The sports car version of the Lotus 18.  Climax FPF engine and others.
  20

118
 1961 Formula Junior 997cc and 1098 cc Ford engine.
 
21 (and 18/21)

11
 1961 Formula 1 1500 cc Climax FPF engine.
  22

77
 1962 Formula Junior 1097cc Cosworth-Ford engine
  23

131
 1962-64. Small capacity rear-engined sports racing car. 1097cc Cosworth-Ford.    
    24

15
 1962 Formula 1 1500cc Climax FWMV.  Not covered by the HLR
    25

7
 1962-63 Formula 1.  The first "monocoque" Lotus.  Not covered by the HLR
    26 2053 1962-64 Elan S1 & S2 Not covered by the HLR See Club Lotus website here
  26R 97 1964 Competition Elan.   Lotus Ford Twincam 1558cc.
  27
35
 1963 Formula Junior 1100cc Ford Cosworth 109E
    28
Lotus Cortina
2894 1962 Not covered by the HLR See Lotus Cortina Register website here
  30
33
 1964-5 Group 7 Sports racer  4227cc Ford 289 Fairlane V8
  31

31
1964-65 Formula 3  997cc Cosworth-Ford engine.
  40 3  1965 Group 7 Sports Racer 5295cc or 5754cc Ford V8
  41

61
1966-68 Formula 3  997cc Cosworth-Ford.  Formula 2 Cosworth FVA, and the US Formula B with 1600cc Twin Cam Lotus head.
  47
55
 1966-68 Racing version of the Europa. Cosworth Ford twin-cam dohc.
  51

200
 1967-68 Formula Ford 1500cc (later 1599cc) Ford Cortina push rod engine.
  59F
44
 1969 Formula 2, F3 and Formula Ford.  At present only the Formula Ford 59F is covered by HLR.
  61

248
 1969-71 Formula Ford 1599cc Lotus Holbay LH105 Ford push rod engine.
  69F
55
 1971 Formula Ford. 1599cc Lotus Holbay LH105 Ford push rod engine.  At present only the Formula Ford 69F is covered by HLR.

Other Lotus models may be added in the future

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