Lotus Eleven

Infobox Automobile


name = Lotus Eleven
manufacturer = Lotus cars
production = 1956-1958
class = Sports car
layout = FR layout
engine = Coventry-Climax FWA (1098 cc) SOHC Inline 4 cylinder
transmission = BMC A30, 4-speed
wheelbase = convert|88|in|mm|abbr=on
length = convert|139|in|mm|abbr=on
width = convert|60|in|mm|abbr=on
height = convert|32|in|mm|abbr=on
weight = from Auto kg|412
fuel_capacity =
successor =
similar =

The Lotus Eleven was a racing car built in various versions by Lotus from 1956 until 1958. The later versions built in 1958 are sometimes referred to as Lotus 13, although this was not an official designation. In total, about 270 Elevens of all versions were built.

The Lotus Eleven

The Eleven was designed by Colin Chapman and fitted with a sleek body designed by aerodynamicist Frank Costin. Its standard version, dubbed "Le Mans", was fitted with a 1500 cc (92ci) [Setright, L.J.K, "Lotus: The golden mean", in Northey, Tom, ed. World of Automobiles (London: Orbis, 1974), Volume 11, p.1224.] Coventry Climax engine mounted in the front of a tubular space frame and featured a De Dion rear axle and convert|9.5|in|mm|abbr=on Girling disc brakes. Fully loaded, the car weighed only about convert|1000|lb|kg|abbr=on. Versions for a 1100 cc (67ci) [Setright, p.1224.] Climax engine ("Club") and a 1172 cc (72ci) [Setright, p.1224.] Ford engine ("Sport") were also produced; both featured a live rear axle and drum brakes. Some versions of the "Le Mans" were fitted with a closed body with gullwing doors to meet GT specifications.Despite the wide variety of engines installed, the car was primarily designed to compete in the 1100 cc class where it was one of the most successful cars during the mid- to late-1950s. In 1956, An Eleven, modified by Costin with a bubble canopy over the cockpit, [Setright, p.1224.] was driven by Stirling Moss to a class world record of convert|143|mph|km/h|abbr=on for a lap at Monza. Several class victories at Le Mans and Sebring followed, and the Eleven became Lotus' most successful race car design.

In 1957, the Eleven underwent a major design change, including a new front suspension and improvements to the drivetrain. Although officially called "Eleven Series 2", these late models are sometimes informally referred to as "Lotus 13"s, since they were produced between the 12 and 14 models and the 13 designation was not used by Lotus.

A road legal car was tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1957 and had a top speed of convert|125|mph|km/h|abbr=on and could accelerate from 0-convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on in 10.0 seconds. A fuel consumption of convert|39.0|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus was recorded. The test car cost £2,501 including taxes of £811. cite journal | authorlink = Unsigned |title = The Lotus XI Le Mans 85| journal =The Motor| volume = | pages = | date = December 18 1957]

The Westfield XI replica

Infobox Automobile

name = Westfield XI
manufacturer = Westfield Sportscars
production = 1982-present
class = Sports car
layout = FR layout
engine = 1275 cc BMC A-Series engine
transmission = 4 or 5-speed
wheelbase = Auto mm|2286
length = Auto mm|3657
width = Auto mm|1625
height = To top of screen: Auto mm|863
weight = From Auto kg|530
fuel_capacity = Convert|18|L|usgal impgal|0|abbr=on
successor =
similar =

Beginning in 1982, Westfield Sportscars started production of a faithful replica of the 1957 Le Mans racer with a fiberglass body, available as either a finished car or a kit car. The factory-finished cars were usually fitted with an uprated 1275 cc BMC "A" engine (the same engine that was used by such classics as the MG Midget and the Austin Healey Sprite), although some factory cars were fitted with Ford Kent engines. Kit cars were sold without engines, and owners have fitted anything from the Coventry Climax to Lotus twincams and Alfa engines to the chassis.

In 1983, the magazine Road & Track featured an article about the Westfield XI replica, telling the story of how the magazine's team built a kit car and subsequently took it for a convert|5000|mi|km|-2|sing=on cross-country trip from California to Wisconsin. The article is said to have sold more Westfields than anything else the company could do to advertise their cars [http://members.toast.net/joerger/westfield.html] .

Production of the original Westfield XI ceased in 1986, although the company offered unsold kits until about 1988. In 2004 Westfield re-started production of the Westfield XI, still based on the A-series engine.

References

External links

* [http://lotuseleven.com Lotus Eleven information]
* [http://www.historiclotusregister.co.uk The Historic Lotus Register]
* [http://members.toast.net/joerger/crate.html Road and Track article about building a Westfield replica]
* [http://members.toast.net/joerger/north.html Road and Track road test article]
* [http://www.wcmultralite.com/r11.htm WCM's R11]
* [http://www.kokopelliauto.com/ Kokopelli 11]
* [http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z9619/default.aspx Lotus 11 history/photos]
* [http://www.lotuseleven.org/ Lotus Eleven Registry]
* [http://www.supercars.net/Gallery?cmd=viewCarGallery&carID=3535&pgID=1 1956 Lotus 11 Gallery/photos]
* [http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1956-1958-lotus-eleven.htm howstuffworks on the Lotus 11]
* [http://www.putschracing.com/lotus_restoration.php recent lotus eleven restoration]