Lotus Eleven

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The Lotus Eleven was a sports racing car built by Lotus Cars from 1956 to 1958. About 270 Elevens were made in all versions. The later cars, produced around 1958, are sometimes called Lotus 13, but that wasn’t an official name.

Design and features
- Designed by Colin Chapman with a sleek body by aerodynamicist Frank Costin.
- The top version, known as Le Mans, used an 1100 cc Coventry Climax FWA engine (sometimes 1500 cc FWB) mounted in a front, tubular space frame.
- It used a De Dion rear axle and Girling disc brakes. Fully loaded, the car weighed about 1000 lb (450 kg).
- Other engines were offered in some versions, including 1100 cc Climax (Club) and 1172 cc Ford (Sport); both had a live rear axle and drum brakes.
- Some drivers fitted different engines, such as Coventry Climax 1500cc, Maserati 150S, DKW 1000cc, and Saab engines.
- Two body styles existed: one with a headrest and one without; some later cars had a closed body with gull-wing doors for GT specifications.

Racing and achievements
- The Eleven’s most famous result is 7th place overall at the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by Reg Bicknell and Peter Jopp.
- Stirling Moss, in a bubble-canopy Eleven, set a class speed record of 143 mph (230 km/h) at Monza.
- The Eleven won several class victories at Le Mans and Sebring and became Lotus’s most successful race car.
- A 750 cc version won the Index of Performance at Le Mans in 1957.

Evolution and legacy
- In 1957, the Eleven received a major redesign with new front suspension and drivetrain improvements. Officially called Eleven Series 2, these late models are often referred to as Lotus 13s, though that designation was not used by Lotus.
- Today, there are several replicas and recreations, including Kokopelli 11, Challenger GTS, Spartak, and the Westfield XI.