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Information
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| URL:
http://riceornot.ricecop.com/?auto=53081 |
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| Comments: 6 (Read/Post) Favorites: 0 (View) |
Submitted
on: 06-05-2006
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Category:
Car |
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Description:
Lotus Elite. |
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| #1 |
6-05-2006 @ 05:17:55 PM |
| Posted By : Sensekhmet |
Reply | Edit | Del |
The Elite's most distinctive feature was its highly innovative fiberglass monocoque construction, in which a stressed-skin unibody replaced the previously separate chassis and body components. Unlike the contemporaneous Chevrolet Corvette, which only used fiberglass for exterior bodywork, the Elite was the first to use this glass-reinforced plastic material for the entire load-bearing structure of the car, though the front of the monocoque incorporated a steel subframe supporting the engine and front suspension.
The resultant body was both lighter, stiffer, and provided better driver protection in the event of a crash. The weight savings allowed the Elite to achieve sports car performance from a 75 hp (55 kW) 1216 cc Coventry Climax all-aluminium I4 engine. Climax-powered Elites won the "Index of Performance" six times at the 24 hour Le Mans race and many other races worldwide.
Advanced aerodynamics also made a contribution, giving the car a very low drag coefficient of 0.29 — quite low even for modern cars. This accomplishment is all the more notable considering that the engineers did not enjoy the benefits of computer-aided design and wind tunnel testing. The original Elite drawings were by Peter Kirwin-Taylor. Frank Costin, (brother of Mike Costin, one of the co-founders of Cosworth), at that time Chief Aerodynamic Engineer for the DeHaviland Aircraft Company, contributed to the final design.
Just over 1,000 Elites were built.
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| #3 |
6-05-2006 @ 05:20:26 PM |
| Posted By : 89Rettagt |
Reply | Edit | Del |
a fiberglass chassis? odd. needs more rubber and power. i think an elise motor would work well.
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| #6 |
6-05-2006 @ 05:30:42 PM |
| Posted By : Sensekhmet |
Reply | Edit | Del |
#5, Don't know about that. I'd say it needs more Fiat 1300cc DOHC inline-4 with two Weber DCOE carbs. It is a classic car, FI just doesn't fit in here. And the fact that you don't have to tune the carbs every 100 miles is a blasphemy! :P
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