Lotus 17

The Lotus 17 was a two-seater racing car that was built by Lotus in March 1959 as a successor to the legendary Lotus XI.

History of development

He is now regarded as the smallest and lightest racing car, which was in the company of Colin Chapman. From the company's founder, the quote is: " More power makes a car on the line faster, less weight makes it fast everywhere. " His time was alleged, 6 hp ( 4.4 kW ) would be sufficient to only 72 cm low vehicle 100 km / h quick to make.

Target of the Type 17 was to develop a lighter and windschlüpfigeren successor to beat the now very successful Lola MK1 can.

The chief engineer of the De Haviland Aircraft Frank Costin ( brother of Mike Costin later Cosworth co-founder ) was responsible for the plastic body, a first for Lotus. For the construction of reinforced aluminum sheets 23 kg lightweight space frame were responsible Colin Chapman and Len Terry racing car constructor. Here, Chapman sat with a MacPherson system at the front axle across the concerns of Len Terry. This later turned out to be a mistake.

Works drivers (including Graham Hill and Alan Stacey ) and private clients described the original driving performance of 17 as life-threatening. Accordingly, the expected greater success in racing did not materialize. Only Graham Hill won a victory at Brands Hatch for the factory team in October 1959. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans put two teams (Michael Taylor, Jonathan Sieff and John Fisher, Alan Stacey, Keith Greene) the Lotus 17 with a 750 cc engine one. To date, he is regarded as the fastest 750 cc race car at Le Mans and thus set new records in the index of performance - even if both teams failed.

The homologation of the vehicle was only 360 kg. Magnesium wheels, differential with magnesium housing and the very slight Coventry - Climax engine made ​​it possible. Most vehicles were delivered with 1098 cc FWA, two with 750 cc, in Canada a vehicle in 1959 used a 1460 cc FWB engine. In Denmark, a Lotus 17 in 1959 started with a 1216 cc FWE engine. The vehicle had Girling disc brakes all round as they were then used in Formula 1. At the rear axle, these are arranged on the inside next to the differential.

Because of the dangerous driving was finally decided to rectify the vehicles have already been delivered to the front axle. All but one vehicle were converted to A-arm on the type of Lotus Elite. In order for the suspension problems had been overcome. The conversion fell into a restless for Lotus time with the move to the new company building in July 1959 of Hornsey in the much more spacious building in Chest Hunt ( Hertfordshire).

Even before the Type 17 was able to show his true potential was his era to an end, because by 1960 dominated the racing sports car with mid-engine. Only today show the few existing copies in the historic racing genius uncompromising Lotus design with a possible power to weight ratio of less than 3 kg / hp.

Number of pieces: 23 at the time built vehicles, one of which still exist today, probably around 10 originals, including a street-legal vehicle ( Federal Motor Transport Authority).

Technology

  • Body: GRP
  • Frame: aluminum profiles, reinforced tubular frame 23 kg
  • Engine: Water-cooled four-cylinder four-stroke engine Coventry Climax FWA, FWE, and FWB, 750 cc -1460 cc longitudinally mounted, engine block, cylinder head and oil pan made ​​of aluminum, three crankshaft main bearings, overhead camshaft ( stored for three -or five- fold) driven by spur gears and chain, Weber twin carburettors
  • Power transmission: Single plate dry clutch, manual BMC four -speed unit, cone / ring gear with differential lock in magnesium housing
  • Front: Independent suspension with double wishbones (originally with Mc Pherson struts ) coil springs with hydraulic shock absorbers, stabilizer bar, rack and pinion steering
  • Rear: Independent with " Chapman Struts " ( struts ) and semi-trailing arms, drive shafts as wishbones, coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers
  • Brakes: Hydraulic dual-circuit brake system with balance beam, Girling disc brakes with aluminum twin-piston calipers all round, rear inboard
  • Length × width × height: 3327 × 1410 × 727 mm
  • Weight: 360 kg
Lotus Eleven De Havilland MacPherson strut 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans Mike Taylor (racing driver)
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