Rod,
I had wanted to say that history would not support Steve's point on =
mid-engine placement "as ACBC intended," but as usual was too indirect.
Your point on Chapman's philosophy was stated very clearly though, and =
it was good you took time to put your thoughts on the list. I suppose =
the conclusion might be that Chapman's approach and genius were such =
that it would be inaccurate to link him to the mid-engine camp or any =
other school of thought on engine placement. Given time, and if it =
worked, he might even have tried FWD! (But perhaps this is unlikely)
Lest Steve misunderstand, I have no bias against mid-engined cars. I =
have a 1976 Lancia Stratos, which as you know has a Ferrari V6 mounted =
amidships. It is an exciting car to drive, but is very much a =
specialist car, requiring, as Motorcar pointed out in this September's =
issue, a "specialist driver." Very nervous, like a race horse, and not =
as immediately confidence building as my Type 45 Elan.
On the other hand, I drove a Lotus 23 for the first time last August, =
at Willow Springs, a new track for me. That car did wonders for =
confidence, and I felt I could go faster and faster each lap. User =
friendly. I am tempted to say, as Peter Egan I think did after a drive =
in Gil Nickel's 23, that this is the best car I have ever driven. But =
there is really no point in that. I am sure that an Eleven would be a =
wonderful experience too. And the 25, etc., etc., They are all great =
cars, excellent in the context of their time, and delightful forever.
I only wish Lotus designed a completely modern body for the Elise. I =
find it too retro! But if could justify another sports car, I would get =
one instantly.
Now to get back to that -6 Aeroquip line that I have to thread through =
the backbone chassis with the body and engine already in place ....
Andres
..
Even older Lotuses! Specially older Lotuses
I agree that the Elise is a breath of fresh air, and the first new Lotus =
I have considered=20
IforThat one point is, perhaps, what has drawn me to Lotuses more than =
anything=20
else.
And THAT is what is so exciting to me about the Elise! It demonstrates =
that=20
someone at post-Chapman Lotus still understands, even as almost a whole=20
generation may not.
Rod
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