PastImperfect:the legend of Colin Chapman
Some 20 years after his untimely death at the age of 54, Colin Chapman's name continues to hold a fascination for motoring enthusiasts. After the second World War, the 17-year-old Colin Chapman went to University College, London, to study civil engineering.
As a sideline, he and another student sold second-hand cars, but in 1947 the market collapsed due to the withdrawal of the petrol ration to all but restricted professions. Many of Chapman's unsold stock were Austin Sevens, and he decided to modify one for competing in sporting trials. Chapman produced a series of specials based on the Seven.
By 1950 his interest had turned to circuit racing which was then starting to re-establish itself in Britain. In 1951 a fellow enthusiast, Mike Lawson, asked him to built a copy of the car for him to race and as a result the Lotus Engineering Company began in January 1952.
Things developed quickly for Chapman and Lotus. A series of race-winning innovative designs appeared and Lotus quickly established a reputation on track. By the mid-1950s Lotus cars were competing at Le Mans, as well as in various British racing classes and in 1956 Chapman introduced the first Lotus single-seater racing car - the Lotus Twelve.
But it was the introduction of the road-going Lotus Elite and Seven in 1957 which really changed the face of Lotus. The Elite came close to putting Lotus out of business. But the Seven proved something of a saviour. Designed to fill in some of the seasonal lulls in production, the Seven was only available as a kit to enable the purchaser to avoid paying purchase tax.
While orders for the Seven came flooding in, the Elite proved more problematic. The car's development was troubled and the first owners suffered many problems. Word spread and eventually, only 1,078 of this innovative and beautiful design were built between 1957 and 1964.
Despite the problems with the Elite, the introduction of the smaller Lotus Elan in 1962 set Lotus firmly on the road to success.
At the same time the 1960s saw a period of Lotus domination in international motor racing and it was perhaps in this field that the full power of Colin Chapman's creativity was best seen.
The 1960s was also memorable for Chapman's partnership with the great Jim Clark who guided Lotus to two Driver's World Championships before his death in 1968.
Chapman's memory has been somewhat tarnished by his involvement in the De Lorean saga, but the company that he founded and which today continues to produce innovative cars based on the key principals he established, is a worthy memorial to this great engineer who above all else was a brilliant and innovative designer.