Lotus Eleven
Encyclopedia
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.
and fitted with a sleek body designed by aerodynamicist Frank Costin
. Its top version, dubbed Le Mans, was generally fitted with a 1100 cc (67ci) Coventry Climax
FWA engine and occasionally with a 1500 cc (92ci) Coventry Climax
FWB engine mounted in the front of a tubular space frame
and featured a De Dion
rear axle and Girling disc brake
s. Fully loaded, the car weighed only about 1000 lb (453.6 kg). Versions for a 1100 cc (67ci) Climax engine (Club) and a 1172 cc (72ci) Ford engine (Sport) were also produced; both featured a live rear axle and drum brake
s. Several cars were fitted with alternative engines by their owners, these included Coventry Climax 1500cc (92ci) FWB and FPF and 1200 cc (73ci) FWE, Maserati 150S 1500cc (92ci), DKW 1000cc (61ci) (46ci) SAAB 850cc (52ci) and 750cc (46ci) engines. There were two main body styles: one with a headrest (as illustrated here) and the other with no headrest, just two small fins. Some cars were later 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, was driven by Stirling Moss
to a class world record of 143 mph (230.1 km/h) for a lap at Monza
. Several class victories at Le Mans
and Sebring
followed, and the Eleven became Lotus' most successful race car design. A 750cc version won the Index of Performance at Le Mans
in 1957.
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 13s, since they were produced between the 12 and 14
models and the 13 designation was not used by Lotus.
There have been several replicas and re-creations of the Lotus Eleven, including the Kokopelli 11, the Challenger GTS, the Spartak and the best known, the Westfield Eleven.
body, available as either a finished car or a kit car
. Called the Westfield Sports, 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 Romeo engines to the chassis. In any event these replicas should never be confused with cars built by Lotus, which was never connected with the Westfield or other imitators.
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 5000 miles (8,046.7 km) 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. At the end of 2010, Westfield have once again ended production of the XI.
Lotus Cars
Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at the former site of RAF Hethel, a World War II airfield in Norfolk. The company designs and builds race and production automobiles of light weight and fine handling characteristics...
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 ChapmanColin Chapman
Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman CBE was an influential British designer, inventor, and builder in the automotive industry, and founder of Lotus Cars....
and fitted with a sleek body designed by aerodynamicist Frank Costin
Frank Costin
Frank Costin was an automotive engineer who pioneered monocoque chassis design and was instrumental in adapting aircraft aerodynamic knowledge for automobile use. He was the brother of Mike Costin, co-founder of Cosworth. Frank Costin used his aeronautical knowledge to design and build a chassis...
. Its top version, dubbed Le Mans, was generally fitted with a 1100 cc (67ci) Coventry Climax
Coventry Climax
Coventry Climax was a British forklift truck, fire pump, and speciality engine manufacturer.-History:The company was started in 1903 as Lee Stroyer, but two years later, following the departure of Stroyer, it was relocated to Paynes Lane, Coventry, and renamed to Coventry-Simplex by H...
FWA engine and occasionally with a 1500 cc (92ci) Coventry Climax
Coventry Climax
Coventry Climax was a British forklift truck, fire pump, and speciality engine manufacturer.-History:The company was started in 1903 as Lee Stroyer, but two years later, following the departure of Stroyer, it was relocated to Paynes Lane, Coventry, and renamed to Coventry-Simplex by H...
FWB engine mounted in the front of a tubular space frame
Space frame
A space frame or space structure is a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. Space frames can be used to span large areas with few interior supports...
and featured a De Dion
De Dion tube
A de Dion tube is an automobile suspension technology. It is a sophisticated form of non-independent suspension and is a considerable improvement over the alternative swing axle and Hotchkiss drive types. A de Dion suspension uses universal joints at both the wheel hubs and differential, and uses a...
rear axle and Girling disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
s. Fully loaded, the car weighed only about 1000 lb (453.6 kg). Versions for a 1100 cc (67ci) Climax engine (Club) and a 1172 cc (72ci) Ford engine (Sport) were also produced; both featured a live rear axle and drum brake
Drum brake
A drum brake is a brake in which the friction is caused by a set of shoes or pads that press against a rotating drum-shaped part called a brake drum....
s. Several cars were fitted with alternative engines by their owners, these included Coventry Climax 1500cc (92ci) FWB and FPF and 1200 cc (73ci) FWE, Maserati 150S 1500cc (92ci), DKW 1000cc (61ci) (46ci) SAAB 850cc (52ci) and 750cc (46ci) engines. There were two main body styles: one with a headrest (as illustrated here) and the other with no headrest, just two small fins. Some cars were later fitted with a closed body with gullwing doors to meet GT
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
specifications.
Stirling Moss
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England...
to a class world record of 143 mph (230.1 km/h) for a lap at Monza
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a race track located near the town of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy. The circuit's biggest event is the Formula One Italian Grand Prix, which has been hosted there since the sport's inception....
. Several class victories at Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
and Sebring
Sebring Raceway
Sebring International Raceway is a road course auto racing facility located near Sebring, Florida.Sebring Raceway is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States, its first race being run in 1950...
followed, and the Eleven became Lotus' most successful race car design. A 750cc version won the Index of Performance at Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
in 1957.
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 13s, since they were produced between the 12 and 14
Lotus Elite
Not to be confused with the Lotus Elise.The Lotus Elite name was used for two vehicles from Lotus Cars.-1957:The first Elite or Lotus Type 14 was an ultra-light two-seater coupé, produced from 1958 to 1963....
models and the 13 designation was not used by Lotus.
There have been several replicas and re-creations of the Lotus Eleven, including the Kokopelli 11, the Challenger GTS, the Spartak and the best known, the Westfield Eleven.
The Westfield Sports
The Eleven was such a successful and beautiful design that beginning in 1982, Westfield Sportscars started production of a replica with a fiberglassFiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
body, available as either a finished car or a kit car
Kit car
A kit car, also known as a "component car", is an automobile that is available as a set of parts that a manufacturer sells and the buyer then either assembles into a car themselves, or retains a third party to do part or all of the work on their behalf...
. Called the Westfield Sports, the factory-finished cars were usually fitted with an uprated 1275 cc BMC "A" engine
BMC A-Series engine
Austin Motor Company's small straight-4 automobile engine, the A-Series, is one of the most common in the world. Launched in 1951 with the Austin A30, production lasted until 2000 in the Mini. It used a cast-iron block and cylinder head, and a steel crankshaft with 3 main bearings...
(the same engine that was used by such classics as the MG Midget
MG Midget
The MG Midget is a small two-seater sports car produced by the MG division of the British Motor Corporation from 1961 to 1979. It revived a famous name used on earlier models such as the MG M-type, MG D-type, MG J-type and MG T-type.-MG Midget MkI :...
and the Austin-Healey Sprite
Austin-Healey
Austin-Healey was a British sports car maker. The marque was established through a joint-venture arrangement, set up in 1952 between Leonard Lord of the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation and the Donald Healey Motor Company, a renowned automotive engineering and design...
), 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 Romeo engines to the chassis. In any event these replicas should never be confused with cars built by Lotus, which was never connected with the Westfield or other imitators.
In 1983, the magazine Road & Track
Road & Track
Road & Track is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, and is published monthly. The editorial offices are located in Newport Beach, California.-History:...
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 5000 miles (8,046.7 km) cross-country trip from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. 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. At the end of 2010, Westfield have once again ended production of the XI.
External links
- Lotus Eleven information
- The Historic Lotus Register
- Road and Track article about building a Westfield replica
- Road and Track road test article
- Information on the Westfield XI replica
- Lotus 11 history/photos
- the Lotus Eleven Register
- 1956 Lotus 11 Gallery/photos
- howstuffworks on the Lotus 11
- recent Lotus Eleven restoration