Lotus Elite I (Type 14) gallery (1957–1963)
The original Lotus Elite was the world's first production road car to feature a full fiberglass monocoque structure.
The first-generation Lotus Elite (internal designation Type 14) debuted at the 1957 London Motor Show. The core engineering breakthrough was its revolutionary stressed-skin fiberglass monocoque body, designed by Peter Kirwan-Taylor and Colin Chapman, eliminating the need for a separate steel chassis. Power came from an all-aluminum 1.2-liter Coventry Climax FWE four-cylinder engine producing between 75 and 105 hp, paired with a 4-speed manual gearbox (initially sourced from MG Magnette, later upgraded to a close-ratio ZF unit). The Type 14 featured fully independent suspension and an exceptionally low drag coefficient of 0.29. Over its production span, Lotus introduced the Series II with revised rear suspension geometry, alongside tuned variants such as the Super 95, Super 100, and Super 105 equipped with dual Weber carburetors. Sold across the UK, Europe, and North America, the Elite claimed six class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Production ceased in 1963 due to high manufacturing costs.
