The Lotus Mark VI is the first production car by Lotus Cars. It was introduced by Colin Chapman in 1952 after previously building multiple trials and road racing cars. The heart of the Mark VI is a semi-space frame chassis.[1] Rather than a complete car, it was available to the general public as kit, wherein the customer could install any preferred engine and gearbox, making it eligible for a wider number of formulae.
The Mark VI in many ways reflected Chapman's background in engineering: his designs resulted from a stress analysis of loads into the frame, they were extremely light (the 6' space frame weighed only 55 lbs (25 kg)), and the suspension incorporated the latest advances. The prototype chassis was built up by the Progress Chassis Company and the aluminium body was constructed by panel beaters Williams and Prichard. (Both firms would later furnish bodies and chassis for subsequent models.) The cheap and easily available mechanical parts were sourced from the Ford Prefect. The Mark VI became a common sight on Britain's racetracks and was a frequent winner, beating many more powerful and expensive cars; it earned praise for its handling and acceleration.[2]
An important facet of the success of the kit was Chapman's offering a comprehensive package in the Mark VI, including most of the special parts needed, and not just the chassis. The Mark VI chassis came with mounting points for several different engines including the 1172 cc (71.5ci) Ford 10, the 1250 cc or 1500 cc MG TF, the 1500 cc (92 ci) Consul, and the exalted Coventry Climax. Standardized as far as possible for volume production, some units were customized per the owners wishes. Lotus even modified the owner's parts, if needed. The success of the Mark VI in competition and sales (100 built by 1955[2]) established Chapman as a manufacturer of specialty cars.
William Taylor, The Lotus Book: The Complete History of Lotus Cars Coterie Press, Limited.1998, pp. 20–21.
January 01, 1970
lotus, mark, first, production, lotus, cars, introduced, colin, chapman, 1952, after, previously, building, multiple, trials, road, racing, cars, heart, mark, semi, space, frame, chassis, rather, than, complete, available, general, public, wherein, customer, c. The Lotus Mark VI is the first production car by Lotus Cars It was introduced by Colin Chapman in 1952 after previously building multiple trials and road racing cars The heart of the Mark VI is a semi space frame chassis 1 Rather than a complete car it was available to the general public as kit wherein the customer could install any preferred engine and gearbox making it eligible for a wider number of formulae Lotus Mark VIOverviewManufacturerLotus CarsProduction1952 1957DesignerColin ChapmanBody and chassisClassSports carBody styleRoadsterRelatedFord PrefectPowertrainEngineFord side valve 1172 ccTransmission3 speed manualChronologyPredecessorLotus Mark VSuccessorLotus Seven Contents 1 Design 2 Specifications 2 1 Drivetrain 2 2 Performance 3 References 4 BibliographyDesign editThe Mark VI in many ways reflected Chapman s background in engineering his designs resulted from a stress analysis of loads into the frame they were extremely light the 6 space frame weighed only 55 lbs 25 kg and the suspension incorporated the latest advances The prototype chassis was built up by the Progress Chassis Company and the aluminium body was constructed by panel beaters Williams and Prichard Both firms would later furnish bodies and chassis for subsequent models The cheap and easily available mechanical parts were sourced from the Ford Prefect The Mark VI became a common sight on Britain s racetracks and was a frequent winner beating many more powerful and expensive cars it earned praise for its handling and acceleration 2 An important facet of the success of the kit was Chapman s offering a comprehensive package in the Mark VI including most of the special parts needed and not just the chassis The Mark VI chassis came with mounting points for several different engines including the 1172 cc 71 5ci Ford 10 the 1250 cc or 1500 cc MG TF the 1500 cc 92 ci Consul and the exalted Coventry Climax Standardized as far as possible for volume production some units were customized per the owners wishes Lotus even modified the owner s parts if needed The success of the Mark VI in competition and sales 100 built by 1955 2 established Chapman as a manufacturer of specialty cars Specifications editNumber built approximately 110 Weight 432 kg 952 lb Drivetrain edit Engine Ford E93A straight 4 Engine location front longitudinally mounted Displacement 1172 cc 71 5 in Valvetrain 2 valves per cylinder sidevalve Fuel feed SU carburettors Aspiration naturally aspirated Gearbox Ford 3 speed manual Drive rear wheel drive Performance edit Power 50 bhp 37 kW at 5000 rpm Torque 77 Nm 57 ft lbf at 3000 rpm BHP litre 43 bhp litre 0 7 hp ci Power to weight ratio 0 12 bhp kg 0 60 mph 15 0 s Top speed 150 km h 93 mph References edit Ludvigsen 2010 pp 153 154 a b Setright L J K Lotus The golden mean in Northey Tom ed World of Automobiles London Orbis 1974 Volume 11 p 1223 Bibliography edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lotus Mark 6 Ludvigsen Karl 2010 Colin Chapman Inside the Innovator Haynes Publishing ISBN 1 84425 413 5 William Taylor The Lotus Book The Complete History of Lotus Cars Coterie Press Limited 1998 pp 20 21 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lotus Mark VI amp oldid 1213137632, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
