Motorsport history is littered with stories of unfulfilled potential, and this unique Lotus Elite has just such a tale. Despite its outwardly standard appearance, under the skin it has a one-off mechanical package that bestowed it with pace that suggested Le Mans-winning potential. But fate would dictate that it would never have its chance to find out whether it had the reliability and good fortune to claim victory at the round-the-clock race.

autos, cars, lotus, 78mm, elite, le mans, members meeting, the lotus elite that should have won le mans

The secret to its race-winning pace is a 2.0-litre Coventry Climax engine in place of the usual 1.3-litre, the engine bay having been cut and strengthened to accommodate the larger mill. There was more: the coil-spring front suspension, steering rack and brakes were liberated from a Lotus 18 Formula 1 car and the fuel tank was relocated for improved weight distribution. The stock outward appearance was deliberate, the hope being that any competition success would help to sell standard cars.

It wasn’t without its problems in early testing, the car’s nose-heaviness promoting understeer and the brakes needing work according to reports at the time. Without time to develop the Elite LX, as it was called, Lotus offered it for sale with a list of what needed doing and a promise of factory back-up. Mike Taylor bought the car, and was entered into the 1960 Belgian Grand Prix in his Lotus 18, a week ahead of the Elite’s Le Mans entry where it was to be driven by Innes Ireland and  Alan Stacey. Things started to unravel in a tragic way at Spa. Taylor suffered career-ending injuries in a crash, and Stacey was killed the following day when he was hit in the face by a pheasant.

autos, cars, lotus, 78mm, elite, le mans, members meeting, the lotus elite that should have won le mans
autos, cars, lotus, 78mm, elite, le mans, members meeting, the lotus elite that should have won le mans

In practice at Le Mans, Jonathan Sieff tried the LX but elected to drive his own Elite 1.3 instead. John Whitmore stepped in, but after half a dozen or so laps came across a stricken Sieff whose 130mph crash left him with life-threatening injuries. As it transpired, he survived but the events of those few days led Ireland to flee Le Mans and the Elite’s entry was cancelled. Could it have won the Le Mans 24 Hours? Nobody will ever know.

What we do know is that 6 SME made its first public appearance in many years at the 78th Members’ Meeting. Owner Nick May bought it in 2014 and immediately dispatched it to Classic Team Lotus for preparation. It took many years, because the Coventry Climax engine was beyond repair and a replacement proved elusive. In the meantime, the mechanicals were overhauled, but the bodywork required no work at all. It all came together just in time for 78MM.

autos, cars, lotus, 78mm, elite, le mans, members meeting, the lotus elite that should have won le mans
autos, cars, lotus, 78mm, elite, le mans, members meeting, the lotus elite that should have won le mans

autos, cars, lotus, 78mm, elite, le mans, members meeting, the lotus elite that should have won le mans
autos, cars, lotus, 78mm, elite, le mans, members meeting, the lotus elite that should have won le mans

autos, cars, lotus, 78mm, elite, le mans, members meeting, the lotus elite that should have won le mans

Speaking to Nick after qualifying but ahead of his race, he told us: “It was finished last week, so I’m new to it and I haven’t driven at Goodwood before. It’s all a bit of a learning curve. We’re not here to make it perform as it should, we’re more interested in being here and showing the car and making sure it runs alright. No heroics. 

“We ran it once at Hethel last week on Thursday. It hasn’t done an hour yet so qualifying was a baptism of fire. It was alright. Obviously need to do some suspension set-up work on it. It was reliable, did everything it should do and very pleased with it so far.”

Did Nick think it was capable of Goodwood greatness? “It’s a unique car so I don’t want to do anything silly with it,” he said, “but it has a lot of potential. It should be quite strong with that engine.

“I noticed yesterday that down the straights we could keep up with the E-types. We just need some fettling to make it go around corners and stop. We know how much power it has but we don’t necessarily publicise it. We just say it’s enough.”

A fairy-tale race result eluded Nick and the Elite, starting 22nd on the grid and pushing forward to 20th come the race’s end. But by the time the Elite returns to Goodwood, perhaps a dream result will come to fruition. 

Photography by Pete Summers.

Keyword: The Lotus Elite that should have won Le Mans

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

Lotus to announce its India entry on November 9

Lotus is likely to offer the Emira sportscar and the Eletre electric SUV in India. According to a media report, British sports carmaker Lotus is set to announce its entry into the Indian market on November 9, 2023. As per the report, Lotus has partnered with Exclusive Motors to ...

View more: Lotus to announce its India entry on November 9

Lotus Type 136 Electric Road Bike Is A Race-Inspired Work Of Art

It’s modeled after the British cycling team’s Hope HB.T race bike that competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olymipics.

View more: Lotus Type 136 Electric Road Bike Is A Race-Inspired Work Of Art

Why the new Lotus electric bike costs almost $25,000

Lotus, an automotive company that hasn’t always been known as a leader in economical electric vehicles, is trying its hand at a new electric bicycle. But don’t think this is a sneaky way to get a cheap lotus, as even the newly announced Lotus Type 136 e-bike costs a ...

View more: Why the new Lotus electric bike costs almost $25,000

Lotus unveils the ultimate rush-hour buster with the superlight Type 136

An electric road bike that weighs only 9.8kg

View more: Lotus unveils the ultimate rush-hour buster with the superlight Type 136

Lotus PH unveils new Eletre at 11th PH EV Summit

The brand’s first SUV will start with a P500,000 discount

View more: Lotus PH unveils new Eletre at 11th PH EV Summit

Exclusive: Watch Us Start Up The Lotus Type 66 Can-Am Tribute

We’re the first folks outside the company to rev this 830-horsepower racer.

View more: Exclusive: Watch Us Start Up The Lotus Type 66 Can-Am Tribute

A Chat with Dan Balmer, Regional Director, Lotus Asia-Pacific and Middle-East : Relight My Fire

A Chat with Dan Balmer, Regional Director – Lotus Asia-Pacific and Middle-East : Relight My Fire Buona Terra Italian Restauran, Singapore – Disco never goes out of style. Neither does Lotus, it seems, as the brand gets groovy and enjoys a newfound renaissance thanks to investment from majority shareholder ...

View more: A Chat with Dan Balmer, Regional Director, Lotus Asia-Pacific and Middle-East : Relight My Fire

Fellow Motorist: Dan Balmer, regional director, Lotus Asia Pacific & Middle East

Dan Balmer, 47, oversees 19 Lotus markets including Dubai. We chat with the Briton at the Singapore launch of the Lotus Eletre. How long have you been a motorist in Dubai? Five years, from 2018 till now. What do you like about motoring in Dubai? The open space and very ...

View more: Fellow Motorist: Dan Balmer, regional director, Lotus Asia Pacific & Middle East

Lotus Partners With Subprime Lender To Finance Its American Auto Loans

Retail Prices Of Lotus Eletre And Emira Revised

Lotus Eletre and Emira price go up as Ringgit value stays down

Price increase for Lotus Eletre EV, Emira line-up – RM 40k to 83k difference sets you back?

Lotus Eletre And Emira Malaysian Pricing Revised

Rapid Ascent: The Radford Type 62-2 Track Edition

Lotus to enter the Indian market with Emira & Eletre EV

Lotus expands EV lineup with Emeya grand tourer

Emeya is First Hyper-GT From Lotus Set to Rival Taycan

Lotus shows off Emeya, a four-door electric GT with expected 900bhp

Lotus Uses Recycled Haute Couture And Deletes PVC In Emeya Interior

Lotus unveils the Emeya, one of the fastest EVs in the world

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel