Lotus 30

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The Lotus 30 was a racing automobile, Colin Chapman's first and only attempt at a Group Seven / Can Am racing machine. It was powered by a 4.7 litre Ford V8 engine, the same type as used in the Ford GT40. It was most notable for its beautiful body work and the "pickle fork" backbone chassis design that was later used on the Elan, Europa and Elite series street cars. The Lotus 30 was regarded as unsuccessful and / or dangerous, (depending on whether or not you had to drive one fast). Jim Clark laboured long with the car, and managed to prize some promising results with it, before it was replaced with the Lotus 40, which was as recalictrant as the 30. Probably, the most telling comment about race cars was that made by the American driver Richie Ginther. When asked what he thought of the new Lotus 40; Ginther, a lugubrious Texan drawled, "Same as the 30 but with ten more mistakes!"

Lotus Cars

Current: Europa S | Elise | Exige

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