The Lotus Elan Type 45 refers to the Drophead Coupe (DHC) or convertible version of the Lotus Elan, produced between 1965 and 1973. It’s a lightweight, high-performance sports car part of the iconic Lotus Elan lineup that Colin Chapman and Lotus Cars developed in the 1960s.
| Lotus Type 45 Roadster | |
|---|---|
| Series 3 (S3 and S3 SE) | 1966 – 1968 |
| Series 4 (S4 and S4 SE) | 1968 – 1971 |
| Sprint | 1971 – 1973 |
Here are the key features of the Type 45:
Body Style
- Drophead Coupe (DHC) or Convertible: The Type 45 was the convertible variant include the Series 3 Elan, Series 4 Elan, and the Lotus Elan Sprint. It had a lightweight fiberglass body mounted on a steel backbone chassis, which was typical of the Elan design philosophy.
Engine and Performance
- The engine was a 1.6-liter twin-cam inline-4 engine, developed in collaboration with Ford and tuned by Lotus. It produced around 115 horsepower in standard tune. The later SE and Sprint models produced more horsepower.
- From a performance perspective, with its light curb weight (around 1,500 lbs or 680 kg), the Type 45 offered nimble handling and excellent acceleration, reaching 0-60 mph in approximately 7 seconds.
Notable Features
- The Type 45 retained the Elan’s hallmark features, such as:
- Fully independent suspension.
- Rack-and-pinion steering.
- Four-wheel disc brakes.
- It also came with a manual soft top that could be folded away for open-air driving.
Variants
Some Type 45 models were offered with the optional Special Equipment (SE) package, which included:
- Uprated engine with higher power output.
- Polished cam covers.
- Knock-on steel wheels.
The Lotus Elan Type 45 is beloved by enthusiasts for its combination of lightness, performance, and elegance, embodying the “simplify, then add lightness” ethos of Colin Chapman. It remains a classic and sought-after car in the world of vintage sports cars.