Lotus Mk8

The Lotus Mark 8 car was Colin Chapman’s first fully enclosed aerodynamic design.

Work began on this design in January 1954, and Chapman was assisted in the design of the body by the aerodynamicist Frank Costin. The space frame for the Mark 8 has been described as “the most nearly perfect sports car chassis”. Extremely light (the total weight of the frame alone was only 21 lbs!) and very stiff, the frame consisted of only nineteen members and was fully triangulated. But from a practical point, however, the frame had limitations, mostly in maintenance. In order to install the engine, it had to disassembled and then reassembled inside the framework. The space frame retained the divided front axle independent suspension that Chapman had used on his earlier cars, with a de Dion layout with inboard brakes at the rear. A modified MG engine and transmission was installed, and a stressed undertray further stiffened the chassis.

In its first race at Oulton Park, Chapman set the fastest lap of the day, but had to retire because of a blown head gasket. But at the next race at Silverstone, Chapman won the 1,500 cc. class outright. The Mark 8 was a precursor to the later aerodynamic cars that would follow.

References

* Costin, Michael and Phipps, David, "Racing and Sports Car Chassis Design ", 1962, Robert Bentley, Inc. pp. 26-29.
* Tipler, John, " Lotus and Caterham Seven: Racers for the Road " The Crowood Press, 1995. pp. 16-17.
* Coulter, Jeremy, "The Lotus & Caterham Seven: A Collector's Guide " Motor Racing Publications, 1986. p 10.