Lotus Elan celebrates 50 years

The epitome of 1960s cool, the Lotus Elan sports car was featured in the television show The Avengers alongside the high kicking Emma Peel in skin tight leather cladding.

The Elan was launched in October 1962 at the British Motor Show, just as the Sixties started swinging. Jaguar had launched the E-Type the previous year, AC had the Cobra and Ferrari the GTO. But the Elan was very different and typically Lotus ultra modern, lightweight, rapid and huge fun.

 It was technically innovative with the first backbone tube chassis of any road car, a fibreglass body, four-wheel independent suspension, 670kg with a peachy power-to-weight ratio, bang up-to-date styling beloved by Kings Road cruisers and a liberating, rock n' roll attitude.

The Elan came with luxuries that were a rarity at the time, like electric windows, carpets, a heater, and in vogue wooden fascia, but it was still light enough on the scales to outrun other automotive competition not to mention groupies.

The Elan Sprint, a more powerful 1973 alternative, could hit 100km/h in 6.6 seconds, which even now would be considered respectably fast. Four different series were produced up until 1973, including a coupe version.

The car was designed by Ron Hickman, who went on to make millions when he patented the Black & Decker WorkMate. He died last year, having earned an OBE for services to industrial innovation. The Elan was the design inspiration for the Mazda MX-5, which was one of the biggest selling sports cars of the 1990s.