Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/07/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I just remember the dual over-head belt driven camshafts and how much I loved driving it but the car faced a quick demise due to alot of factors...not too sure how it is seen in the history of British sportscars but I loved it. Intersting how it was slated to possibly be the basis for an F1 engine. Some people here in the states removed the Lotus and installed a Ford four or six cylinder engine but I don't know too much about that...seems to me it would have extracted the soul of a potent ride... Robert Clark Lancaster, PA ----- Original Message ----- From: "FRANK DERNIE" <frank.dernie at btinternet.com> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org> Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:00 AM Subject: Re: [Leica] speaking of cars violently OT It probably was the Vauxhaul gearbox since that particular Lotus engine was based on a particularly strong Vauxhall block so the 'box would bolt straight on. A great series of engines! As an aside the same block was the basis for what would have been the first F1 turbo engine in 1975 if Prof. Neil Watson, a turbo pioneer now sadly deceased, had been able to convince the then heads of F1 teams that a 1.5 turbo was more powerful than a 3 lt. NA. We all know now... Frank --- On Sat, 11/7/09, Robert Clark <rclark01 at comcast.net> wrote: > From: Robert Clark <rclark01 at comcast.net> > Subject: Re: [Leica] speaking of cars violently OT > To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org> > Date: Saturday, 11 July, 2009, 4:01 PM > I used to drive my uncle's 1974 > Jensen Healey...with the Lotus engine, a Vauxhaul gearbox (I > believe), along with two Stromberg carbs...like a little > rocket and I always loved it. Was my intro to what a sports > car was and I've never gotten over it! Being 17, driving > that with the cute girl down the road, and feeling the > acceleration of the car was magical! > > Robert Clark > Lancaster, PA > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Dernie" > <Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com> > To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org> > Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 1:38 AM > Subject: Re: [Leica] speaking of cars violently OT > > > > Try an Elise. > > Frank > > > > On 11 Jul, 2009, at 06:06, Adam Bridge wrote: > > > >> I had a Lotus S2 - two 2-barrel Webers. It was a > RIP to drive but needed > >> lots of TLC as cars of that era did. > >> I loved the close-ratio gearbox and how it would > leap ahead with the > >> slightest urging. Stopped darn well too! > >> > >> Of course it would never pass today's crash tests > but I'd love a modern > >> Lotus roadster to be a retake on the Elan. The top > can leak, that's okay! > >> > >> Adam > >> > >> On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 9:33 PM, Frank Dernie > >> <Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com>wrote: > >> > >>> The Elan S4 was a favourite of mine. It had > Stromberg carbs which gave more > >>> power and broader torque band than the more > fashionable Webers, and better > >>> fuel consumption. It was surprisingly roomy > for such a tiny light car. > >>> Frank > >>> > >>> > >>> On 11 Jul, 2009, at 00:42, Jerry Lehrer > wrote: > >>> > >>> Dennis und Frank > >>>> > >>>> The original Europa mit Renault engine was > a dog! But the original > >>>> Elite, if it had modern brakes would > really be > >>>> a windy road car. The Elan S2 when > de-bugged is a superb handling car. > >>>> > >>>> Yes, I've used them all > >>>> > >>>> Jerry Lehrer > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> Dennis wrote: > >>>> > >>>>> Hi Frank, > >>>>> > >>>>> I wondered your thoughts on Lotus' > road cars. I had a Europa Special and > >>>>> it is a marvel. Very light, incredible > suspension, and so responsive. I > >>>>> thought Colin Chapman brilliant and > was stunned at his premature passing. > >>>>> > >>>>> I could never afford one of todays > 'supercars' but if I could I would > >>>>> likely own a Lotus and use some of > that "leftover" money for a worthy cause. > >>>>> > >>>>> I agree the Veyron is an ugly piece > ;-) > >>>>> > >>>>> But, Lotus aside, what do you > make of the Ariel Atom? > >>>>> > >>>>> Dennis > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> Frank Dernie wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>>> Pagani Zonda. > >>>>>> For "frequent" use Ferrari 599. > >>>>>> For daily use Porsche 911 turbo. > >>>>>> For pure driving Lotus anything. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> There are lots of cars about which > have fancy styling and are "2 seat > >>>>>> limos" with loads of kit, weight > and electronic driving aids to make them > >>>>>> easy to drive for less good > drivers. > >>>>>> These are great pose-mobiles and > practical for a rich person of limited > >>>>>> talent to show-off in. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> I may have left some out, I am > neither wealthy enough nor interested > >>>>>> enough to study in detail. Weight > is the most important chassis parameter > >>>>>> for performance. Road cars are to > a great extent a fashion item and image > >>>>>> statement. Published stuff tends > to be acceleration and top speed. It is > >>>>>> possible to get impressive figures > for these without much chassis > >>>>>> sophistication at all. Since > weight is currently not something fashionable > >>>>>> to minimise "supercars" are now as > heavy as trucks, hence no longer > >>>>>> supercars IMO. This Bugatti thing > weighs the same as 2 Ford GT40s! > >>>>>> > >>>>>> To put perspective on this, +10kg > on a F1 car loses over 0.3 secs per > >>>>>> lap. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Frank > >>>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>> > >>>> > _______________________________________________ > >>>> Leica Users Group. > >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more > information > >>>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > _______________________________________________ > >>> Leica Users Group. > >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more > information > >>> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Leica Users Group. > >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more > information > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more > information > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more > information > _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. 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