The Lotus Eleven was the first really race-ready product from the Lotus race factory, succeeding all over the world as word of these excellent little sportscar class racers spread.
Powered by a 67 cubic inch inline 4 cylinder engine capable of 100 horsepower and mated to a 4 speed gearbox, this 990 pound beauty drove at speeds up to 140 mph at places such as Sebring, with this particular car in the pictures having been disqualified for being pushed to the finish line by the wrong driver when it had a gearbox fail at the end of the 1957 12 hour race. Only the driver that was in the car at the time was allowed to push it and there was apparently a mix-up.
Or so the story goes...in any event, this car now races and shows at various vintage events around the world, winning trophies and creating new admirers for these gorgeous old cars from the classic era of sportscar racing. And Colin Chapman was at the forefront of the revolution in style and speed then occurring.
