A critique of The Lotus Eclat Sports activities Automobile, covering advancement, essential options, and technological details of this the sixteenth model in the Lotus array.
In this Report, I provide a nostalgic look at the Lotus Eclat, one particular of an elite team of classic cars and trucks, which was manufactured in the course of the interval 1974 to 1982.
In the basic structure of the Eclat, Colin Chapman determined to involve an element of nearly into this very affordable four seater.
The origins of the car have been firmly rooted in the Lotus Elite Mark 2, which was phased out in 1983.
As a result, it experienced a fastback entire body styling, which represented a a lot more sensible solution for storage in the boot.
In 1973, when the Elite was at the prototype stage, the GRP shell was restyled in this sort of a way that the Elite’s front was retained, but it integrated a sloping roofline that blended efficiently into a fastback tail in the form of a traditional hatchback.
This development was originally specified the Elite Coupe but, subsequently, was renamed the Eclat.
The car or truck was in released in October 1975, with steady production right until 1982.
It was offered in a range of versions, this sort of as the fundamental 520, which made use of the aluminium, double overhead cam, 4-cylinder, Lotus 907 motor, connected to a 4 velocity gearbox from the Ford Capri saloon, and a bigger remaining travel ratio than that utilised on the Elite.
Even so, in the 522 edition, the Ford gearbox was changed with a five speed device from the Austin Maxi saloon, and it was better equipped, with these kinds of luxuries as air conditioning.
The Eclat was a front engined, rear generate, three door, 2+2, preset head coupe.
The Collection 1 Variety 76 product, released in 1974, was run by the 1973 cc, Lotus 907 motor, establishing 155 bhp, as utilised in the Elite Mark 2 Variety 75, and fitted with two Stromberg CD2 SE carburettors.
The Sequence 1 model was phased out in 1980, and replaced by the Eclat Series 2 Form 84, which incorporated the more substantial 2174 cc, Lotus 912 engine, as used in the Elite Mark 2 Sort 83.
This design had a compression ratio of 9.4:1, and was equipped with two Dell’Orto, DHLA 45 carburettors.
Having said that, in order to satisfy US emission regulations, the 912 engine only made 160 bhp, in contrast with 155 bhp with the 907 device.
These Lotus 900 Series engines turned out to be pretty prosperous, and ended up later on applied in the forthcoming Lotus Esprit.
The Series 1 Sort 76 Eclat was equipped with a steel chassis, which was hooked up to the glassfibre entire body at the rear.
However, curiously plenty of, a felt strip was positioned concerning the chassis and the human body to provide a superior suit.
Unsurprisingly, in moist climates, the felt would take in and retain moisture, so accelerating corrosion of the steel chassis.
Due to the fact replacing the chassis of the Elite and Eclat Kinds 75 and 76 sports activities motor vehicle was rather uneconomical, then this experienced a devastating outcome on resale prices.
Luckily, this defect was get over with the introduction of the Elite and Eclat Sorts 83 and 84 versions, in which the steel chassis was galvanised, as common tools.
The yearly manufacturing figures for the two Types of the Eclat were as follows:
1975 = 16 1976 = 212 1977 = 133 1978 = 258 1979 = 232 1980 = 95 1981 = 25 1982 = 143 Complete = 1,114
This marked the close of the Lotus Eclat
Perhaps this stroll down memory lane may possibly have answered, or at minimum get rid of mild on, a doable question:
Which Morgan Sports Car is Your Favorite?
On the other hand, really should this problem continue to continue being unanswered, I will be reviewing, in some depth, in foreseeable future articles in just this web site, the total selection of Morgan sports activities automobiles which had been showcased in the memorable era spanning 1911 to 1996.
I hope you be a part of me in my nostalgic travels “down athletics auto memory lane”.