At classic-car shows and in small workshops around Britain, you often spot lightweight, driver-focused machines that reward a hands-on approach. These cars tell a story of engineering choices where simplicity and low weight mattered more than electronics or luxury.
There are 17 Lotus Old Models, ranging from Lotus 340R to Lotus Seven. The list organizes each entry with the columns Type, Years produced, and Production (units), and you’ll find below the full rundown.
How do these older Lotus models differ from modern Lotus cars?
Older Lotus cars tend to emphasize minimal weight, mechanical feedback, and straightforward controls rather than the technology and safety systems common in modern models. Expect simpler suspension, smaller production runs, and more variation between years; the table below shows production figures to help compare rarity.
Which models are easiest to maintain or find parts for?
Popular and long-produced types like the Seven usually have the best parts support through specialist suppliers and enthusiast networks, while limited-run cars such as the 340R often require more effort or specialist sources—check the Production (units) column below to gauge availability.
Lotus Old Models
| Model | Type | Years produced | Production (units) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus Mark I | Type 1 | 1948–1948 | 1 |
| Lotus Mark VI | Type 6 | 1952–1957 | 110 |
| Lotus Seven | Type 7 | 1957–1972 | 2,500 |
| Lotus Elite | Type 14 | 1957–1963 | 1,030 |
| Lotus Eleven | Type 11 | 1956–1958 | 270 |
| Lotus Elan | Type 26 | 1962–1973 | 12,224 |
| Lotus Cortina | Type 28 | 1963–1966 | 3,306 |
| Lotus Europa | Type 46 | 1966–1975 | 9,230 |
| Lotus Elan +2 | Type 50 | 1967–1975 | 5,200 |
| Lotus Elite (S2) | Type 75 | 1974–1982 | 2,535 |
| Lotus Eclat | Type 76 | 1975–1982 | 1,522 |
| Lotus Esprit | Type 79 | 1976–2004 | 10,675 |
| Lotus Excel | Type 89 | 1982–1992 | 2,159 |
| Lotus Elan (M100) | Type 100 | 1989–1995 | 4,655 |
| Lotus Carlton | Type 104 | 1990–1992 | 950 |
| Lotus Elise S1 | Type 111 | 1996–2001 | 10,619 |
| Lotus 340R | Type 111 | 2000–2000 | 340 |
Images and Descriptions
Lotus Mark I
The very first Lotus, a trials car built by Colin Chapman on an Austin 7 chassis. Its success in competition launched the Lotus legend and established the philosophy of performance through light weight, built in a London lock-up garage.
Lotus Mark VI
The first “production” Lotus, sold as a kit car for club racing. It featured a simple, lightweight spaceframe chassis and established Lotus as a serious constructor for amateur racers, pioneering the kit-car concept.
Lotus Seven
An iconic, minimalist sports car offering raw performance. Its simple, lightweight design has been widely copied, and production was famously continued by Caterham Cars after Lotus ceased making it. Embodies the “add lightness” ethos.
Lotus Elite
A landmark in automotive design, this was the world’s first production car with a fiberglass monocoque chassis. Its stunning looks, low drag, and brilliant handling made it a competitive racer and a truly revolutionary road car.
Lotus Eleven
A dominant sports racing car of its era, designed by Frank Costin for maximum aerodynamic efficiency. It achieved numerous class wins, including at Le Mans, solidifying Lotus’s reputation on the international motorsport stage.
Lotus Elan
Often cited as one of the best-handling sports cars ever made. The Elan combined a steel backbone chassis with a fiberglass body, pop-up headlights, and a twin-cam engine to create a benchmark for ride and handling.
Lotus Cortina
A legendary collaboration with Ford, turning a humble family sedan into a touring car champion. With its Lotus twin-cam engine and revised suspension, it created the template for the modern performance “sleeper” sedan.
Lotus Europa
Lotus’s first mid-engined road car, offering supercar looks and handling at a more affordable price. Early models used a Renault engine, later upgraded to the Lotus Twin Cam, making it a true driver’s machine.
Lotus Elan +2
A larger, 2+2 version of the classic Elan, aimed at a more mature buyer. It offered the same brilliant handling and performance as the two-seater but with added practicality and comfort for small families.
Lotus Elite (S2)
A bold, wedge-shaped 2+2 grand tourer that moved Lotus upmarket. It featured a new 2.0L 907 engine and a shooting-brake-style body, offering a unique combination of performance, luxury, and distinctive 1970s style.
Lotus Eclat
A fastback coupe variant of the Type 75 Elite. It shared the same chassis and engine but offered a sportier profile, trading some of the Elite’s practicality for a more aggressive look. It was a stylish and capable GT car.
Lotus Esprit
An iconic wedge-shaped supercar, immortalized by its appearance as a submarine in the James Bond film ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’. Its Giugiaro design and mid-engine layout defined Lotus for decades, evolving from 4-cylinder to a powerful V8.
Lotus Excel
An evolution of the Eclat, the Excel used many Toyota-sourced parts for improved reliability, including the gearbox and differential. It was a comfortable and capable GT car that refined the front-engine Lotus formula.
Lotus Elan (M100)
A bold but controversial departure, this Elan featured a front-wheel-drive layout powered by an Isuzu engine. While its handling was praised as the best of any FWD car, it strayed from Lotus tradition for many purists.
Lotus Carlton
A monster “super-sedan” based on the Vauxhall/Opel saloon. With a twin-turbo 3.6L straight-six producing 377 bhp, it was the fastest four-door car in the world at its launch, causing controversy with its 177 mph top speed.
Lotus Elise S1
A revolutionary sports car that brought Lotus back to its lightweight roots. Its bonded extruded aluminum chassis was a world-first, providing incredible rigidity and low weight, resulting in sublime handling that redefined the affordable sports car.
Lotus 340R
A radical, track-focused special edition of the Elise with no doors, roof, or windows. Named for its target power-to-weight ratio of 340 bhp/tonne, it was an uncompromising expression of the “performance through light weight” philosophy.
