After building multiple trials and road racing cars, Colin Chapman introduced his first 'production' car, the Lotus 6, in 1952. The heart of the Mark 6, as it was called, was a fully stressed space frame. Rather than a complete car, it was available to the general public as kit, wherein the customer could either install any preferred engine and gearbox, making it eligible for a wider number of formulae.
The Mk 6 in many ways reflected Chapman's background in engineering: his designs resulted from a stress analysis of loads into the frame, they were extremely light (the 6' space frame weighed only 55lbs (25 kg)), and the suspension incorporated the latest advances. The prototype chassis was built up by the Progress Chassis Company and the aluminum body was constructed by panel beaters Williams and Prichard. (Both firms would later furnish bodies and chassis for subsequent models.) The cheap and easily available mechanical parts were sourced from the Ford Prefect. The Mark 6 became a popular sight on Britain's racetracks, and was a frequent winner, beating many more powerful and expensive cars, earning praise for very good handling and superior low-speed acceleration.
An important facet of the success of the kit was Chapman's offering a comprehensive package in the Mark 6, including most of the special parts needed, and not just the chassis. The Mk 6 chassis came with mounting points for several different engines including the 1172cc (71.5ci) Ford 10, the 1250cc or 1500cc MG TF, the 1500cc (92ci) Consul, and the exalted Coventry Climax. Standardized as far as possible for volume production, some units were customized per the owners wishes. Lotus even modified the owner's parts, if needed. The success of the Mark 6 in competition and sales (100 built by 1955) established Chapman as a manufacturer of specialty cars.
1 commento:
The first paragraph has some typos:
Line 4 add "a" ahead of "kit"
Line 5 delete "either"
Line 8 change "wider" to "wide"
It should be noted that the car was intended primarily for the new 1172 Formula of the 750 Motor Club which used the Ford Prefect engine.
The first line states:
"After building multiple trials and road racing cars,..."
At this point he had built only two trials cars and after that it was he and the Allen brothers who built two road racing cars. and then Lotus Engineering built one more trials car.
Multiple makes it sound a lot more than this, and that Chapman did it all himself.
It is stated that "The prototype chassis was built up by the Progress Chassis Company".
Not so, the prototype was built by Nigel Allen. The Progress Chassis company had not been formed at that time, and came into existence to build the PRODUCTION cars later that year (1952).
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