Where did the Lotus name come from?
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I am an avid reader of our local New Zealand Classic car magazine, and in one issue, Eoin Young (a well respected and informed writer on many things in motorsport) gave a spiel on the origins of the Lotus name. To quote:
"MG tuner Don Moore told me how he and Chapman used to race against each other. They both had to sell their cars at seasons end to finance a new car for the following year, and both were auctioned in the same sale. Don's car sold but Colins didn't, and Don told me the Austin special sat there with a label hanging on it to indicate it hadn't sold. The abbreviation for Car Unsold was "Lot/Us"."
Is this true, or a myth ?
I always thought the Lotus name had come from Colin's wife Hazel, and she was inspired by Homers Odyssey and the "Lotus Eaters". Lotus eaters forgot about time and everything else when eating lotus flowers, (as we do when working on our beloved Lotus cars).
"MG tuner Don Moore told me how he and Chapman used to race against each other. They both had to sell their cars at seasons end to finance a new car for the following year, and both were auctioned in the same sale. Don's car sold but Colins didn't, and Don told me the Austin special sat there with a label hanging on it to indicate it hadn't sold. The abbreviation for Car Unsold was "Lot/Us"."
Is this true, or a myth ?
I always thought the Lotus name had come from Colin's wife Hazel, and she was inspired by Homers Odyssey and the "Lotus Eaters". Lotus eaters forgot about time and everything else when eating lotus flowers, (as we do when working on our beloved Lotus cars).
Skittle. 1967 Elan S3 DHC
- skelteanema
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Some earlier threads:
free-parking-f19/origin-the-name-lotus-part-t24063.html
elan-archive-f16/origin-the-name-lotus-t2459.html
Cheers - Richard
free-parking-f19/origin-the-name-lotus-part-t24063.html
elan-archive-f16/origin-the-name-lotus-t2459.html
Cheers - Richard
- ardee_selby
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I read that recently too Skittle but as it came from good old Eoin took it with a large grain of salt.
What most amazed me was that I hadn't read it before as Young must be the Worlds master at regurgitating the same old stories in numerous publications past and present.
Lost count of the number of times I've read about him becoming Bruce McLaren's secretary, or why the car was painted green etc. etc.
His books tend to be a re-telling of all the old anecdotes mixed up with readily available race histories.
Helluva pity as he writes with an engaging style, knew all the greats, and most importantly, ( and a lot more than I can say.....), was there.
Hopefully one day we'll get a slightly more serious, tell all, book out of him.
Cheers
Ralph.
What most amazed me was that I hadn't read it before as Young must be the Worlds master at regurgitating the same old stories in numerous publications past and present.
Lost count of the number of times I've read about him becoming Bruce McLaren's secretary, or why the car was painted green etc. etc.
His books tend to be a re-telling of all the old anecdotes mixed up with readily available race histories.
Helluva pity as he writes with an engaging style, knew all the greats, and most importantly, ( and a lot more than I can say.....), was there.
Hopefully one day we'll get a slightly more serious, tell all, book out of him.
Cheers
Ralph.
- reb53
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There's always Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious!!!
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Elfin Monocoque (Twin Cam)
Elfin Type 300 (Holbay S65 - 120E) mechanic
[email protected]
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SJ Lambert - Fourth Gear
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SJ Lambert wrote:There's always Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious!!!
They are the words never spoken on this forum
John
No longer active on here, I value my privacy.
No longer active on here, I value my privacy.
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nebogipfel - Coveted Fifth Gear
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And next is why do the model names begin with E..
John
John
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john.p.clegg - Coveted Fifth Gear
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Where did the Lotus name come from?
Lots Of These Unsubstantiated Suggestions
Cheers, Tim
Lots Of These Unsubstantiated Suggestions
Cheers, Tim
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