GT5 Transcripts/Lotus Elan S1 '62

When the Lotus Elite first debuted with its complete fiberglass body, orders poured in too fast for production to keep up.
Meanwhile, the United States market demanded a convertible model. Since the Elite's chassis could not be made into a convertible, Lotus decided to release their third full-blown production car.
Although the design of the 1962 Elan is based on the Elite, it has one key difference; a monocoque backbone-type in which steel components are reinforced with a fiberglass chassis. The frame opens in a Y-shape towards the front and the front-mounted engine in complemented by rear-mounted differential gears. The idea was to create the Elan so that no external force would be exerted on the body therefore allowing it to be made into a convertible.
The original Elan, later referred to as the Series 1, is powered by a Ford 1558cc DOHC inline-4 engine that pushes the car to a maximum speed of 115 mph. Its sharp handling and acceleration make it a fierce competitor amongst it generational rivals.
The styling was developed by both the founder of Lotus, Colin Chapman, and aerodynamics expert, John Freiring. The grill-less anterior with retractable headlights, operated using the inlet pressure of the engine, were both designed to reduce air resistance.
The Elan continued to be produced by Lotus up to the Series IV in 1968. It reigned at the top of the era's lightweight sports cars.
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