Colin Chapman and the lotus blossom

Premium

Colin Chapman and the lotus blossom

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on May 14, 2020

Text:

Hartmut Lehbrink, bearbeitet durch Daniel Reinhard

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

1

Archiv Daniel Reinhard

1

Archiv Reinhard / Max Pichler

7

Bruno von Rotz

2

Hallo Fahrerlager / Archiv Rainer Braun

1

Colin Chapman Foundation

1

Archiv

21

34

Lotus Esprit S2 (1979) - Colin Chapman with his sports car in front of the company plane

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Mk 1 (1948) - Colin Chapman's first model based on an Austin Seven

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Mk VI (1956) - at Le Mans in 1965 in the class up to 750 cc

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Seven (1959) - the creator Colin Chapman with his sports car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Eleven (1956) - Colin Chapman with his 1100 sports car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Eleven (1957) - in the club version

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Eleven (1957) - on the road for racing

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus 18 (1960) - at the Marchairuz hill climb in 1960

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Elite (1961) - at the London Motor Show 1961

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Team Principal Colin Chapman personally pushes the Formula Junior Lotus 22 onto the grid

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Peter Arundell climbs into the Lotus 22 - you can see Colin Chapman on the left

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Peter Arundell in the Lotus 22, behind him Colin Chapman and on the left Heinz-Ulrich Wieselmann, then editor-in-chief of Auto, Motor und Spor

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Colin Chapman - Lotus founder and technical genius

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Peter Arundell, Richard von Frankenberg and Colin Chapman

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Peter Arundell and Lotus have won the bet - to the left of Arundell is Colin Chapman and to the right Richard von Frankenberg

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Richard von Frankenberg (left) congratulates and apologizes to Colin Chapman

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus 25 (1962) - Winner Jimmy Clark at GP of Rand on the Kyalami circuit

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Elan S3 (1967) - Colin Chapman and the Elan Cabriolet

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus stand at the 1965 Motor Show in London

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Elan and Elan +2 bodies in front of the Lotus factory

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus 49 (1969) - Jo Siffert takes fourth place in the Rob Walker Lotus at the South African GP

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus 72 in 1970 with designer Maurice Philippe

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jochen Rindt and Colin Chapman - Zeltweg 1970

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus 72 (1972) - Emerson Fittipaldi in his world champion car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

With studio guests - Fritz Danco interviews Lotus boss Colin Chapman, Rolf Stommelen and Jacky Ickx wait for their turn in the background

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit Turbo (1983) - Colin Chapman's wedge on the club stand - Classic Expo Salzburg 2019

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S2 (1979) - Lotus also means racing and success in Formula 1 - the signature of Colin Chapman testifies to the pride of the company owner

You have only

1 out of 34

images seen in high resolution

Summary

Colin Chapman was one of the most colorful figures in Formula 1, his often ingenious ideas brought him many great successes, but his urge to push the limit also cost the lives of many drivers. Lightweight construction and superior aerodynamics were his tools, which often allowed him to triumph over the most powerful racing cars with less powerful machines. This portrait recalls the most important stages in Colin Chapman's life and shows him and his products in many historical pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

Captivated by the car from the start
From "production car" to racing
The Lotus Eleven
From sports car to single-seater
Talent sniffer
High stakes
Lost wheels and many successes
More accidents
F1 without Lotus?
The cap toss
Survivalist
Businessman
Scandals
Mighty Palmares

Estimated reading time: 16min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Colin Chapman was an unparalleled tyrant, demanded the last thing from his employees and was also considered unbalanced. But his people went through fire for him. Chapman was born in 1928, but he was called "Old Man" almost from the start when he was out of earshot - and this meant ageless authority. Chapman, born Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman, the son of a hotel manager, on May 19, 1928 in Richmond (Surrey), began studying engineering at the University of London in 1945 and was already running a thriving used car business. An Austin 7, built in 1930, was too shabby to change hands again. Working through the night in a garage, Chapman transformed it into the Lotus MK1, and in 1948 he won two trials events with the ugly vehicle. Over the next few years, exams and military service in the Royal Air Force came to the fore.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Source: