The Lotus Eclat Sports Car

A evaluate of The Lotus Eclat Sports Motor vehicle, masking development, important capabilities, and specialized facts of this the sixteenth model in the Lotus selection.

In this Post, I provide a nostalgic search at the Lotus Eclat, one particular of an elite team of common autos, which was manufactured during the period 1974 to 1982.

In the simple design and style of the Eclat, Colin Chapman resolved to include an factor of nearly into this inexpensive four seater.

The origins of the auto were being firmly rooted in the Lotus Elite Mark 2, which was phased out in 1983.

Consequently, it experienced a fastback human body styling, which represented a more sensible answer for storage in the boot.

In 1973, when the Elite was at the prototype phase, the GRP shell was restyled in these kinds of a way that the Elite’s entrance was retained, but it incorporated a sloping roofline that blended easily into a fastback tail in the kind of a common hatchback.

This generation was originally designated the Elite Coupe but, subsequently, was renamed the Eclat.

The automobile was in launched in Oct 1975, with steady production until finally 1982.

It was made available in a number of versions, these kinds of as the primary 520, which used the aluminium, double overhead cam, 4-cylinder, Lotus 907 engine, connected to a four velocity gearbox from the Ford Capri saloon, and a higher ultimate travel ratio than that made use of on the Elite.

On the other hand, in the 522 variation, the Ford gearbox was changed with a five pace device from the Austin Maxi saloon, and it was much better equipped, with such luxuries as air conditioning.

The Eclat was a entrance engined, rear travel, three doorway, 2+2, preset head coupe.

The Series 1 Form 76 product, released in 1974, was run by the 1973 cc, Lotus 907 engine, producing 155 bhp, as applied in the Elite Mark 2 Type 75, and equipped with two Stromberg CD2 SE carburettors.

The Collection 1 product was phased out in 1980, and replaced by the Eclat Collection 2 Type 84, which included the much larger 2174 cc, Lotus 912 motor, as utilised in the Elite Mark 2 Form 83.

This product had a compression ratio of 9.4:1, and was fitted with two Dell’Orto, DHLA 45 carburettors.

Nonetheless, in purchase to fulfill US emission laws, the 912 engine only created 160 bhp, in comparison with 155 bhp with the 907 device.

These Lotus 900 Collection engines turned out to be incredibly successful, and were afterwards made use of in the forthcoming Lotus Esprit.

The Collection 1 Form 76 Eclat was equipped with a steel chassis, which was hooked up to the glassfibre physique at the rear.

Having said that, curiously sufficient, a felt strip was positioned between the chassis and the system to deliver a good suit.

Unsurprisingly, in moist climates, the felt would soak up and keep humidity, so accelerating corrosion of the steel chassis.

Considering the fact that changing the chassis of the Elite and Eclat Kinds 75 and 76 sports car was really uneconomical, then this experienced a devastating impact on resale rates.

Luckily, this defect was get over with the introduction of the Elite and Eclat Sorts 83 and 84 types, in which the steel chassis was galvanised, as conventional devices.

The yearly creation figures for each Styles of the Eclat have been as follows:

1975 = 16 1976 = 212 1977 = 133 1978 = 258 1979 = 232 1980 = 95 1981 = 25 1982 = 143 Overall = 1,114

This marked the conclusion of the Lotus Eclat

Probably this stroll down memory lane may have answered, or at minimum get rid of light-weight on, a doable problem:
Which Morgan Athletics Car or truck is Your Favorite?

Having said that, should really this query even now remain unanswered, I will be reviewing, in some element, in future articles within this site, the full selection of Morgan sporting activities autos which were being showcased in the unforgettable period spanning 1911 to 1996.

I hope you sign up for me in my nostalgic travels “down sports activities vehicle memory lane”.