LOTUS Elan Roadster 1962-1973 Photos, engines & full specs

The Lotus Elan was a pure sports car and that wasn’t solely based on its power, but mostly for the way the driver felt connected to the car’s every move.

The first generation of the Lotus Elan was released in 1962 and its sexy body was designed by Ron Hickman. The car combined both a well-tuned engine and an incredible handling. At first, the Elan was produced as a convertible top and later in 1963 the hardtop version made its appearance.

While for today’s standards the 13-inch wheels sound a bit too small, along with the car’s steel backbone chassis and the fiberglass body weighing just 1,290 pounds, the car was given an excellently precise handling.

While the Lotus Elan was designed as a touring car, most buyers took them on the track. It might have been because of its shape and its name, however, the car was not intended for track purposes and thus did not face the challenge very well.

Noticing the buyers would enjoy a track version of the Elan, Lotus made the proper changes and developed the Lots Elan Type 26R that featured several reinforcements, bigger anti-roll bars, repositioned pedals, a lighter body sheel, flared wheel arches to allow bigger wheels and tires, dual circuit brakes, light alloy calipers and up to 160 hp to have fun with.