The Lotus Grand Tourers

Lotus Elite 50th Anniversary

The Lotus Elite was originally planned for launch in March 1974. This had to be delayed at the last minute until May 1974 because of the extent of industrial disruption at the time. However the decision was made too late to pull the very first public advertisement of the car which appeared exactly 50 years ago on Sunday March 17th in the Sunday Times magazine - so today is a kind of anniversary!

Here is the front cover and advertisement of the Sunday Times magazine that I was able to acquire a few years ago. Sorry the quality isn’t great - it isn’t on the original - but perhaps we could just call it patina?!

Did anybody planned something for this important anniversary like a meeting or some specific regalia, did I miss something?
It will be a shame to end the year without doing something to celebrate.
mbracing

There have been a few events to mark this:

• At the Restoration Show in Birmingham in March this year we exhibited Pete Boole's '74 Elite mid-restoration, we also had the prototype "Elite Coupe" that became the Eclat, that was built in '74 too, along with some special 50th Anniversary signage.
• There was a celebration of the anniversary at the Lotus Remembered reunion in September (a group of current and ex-employees, although for this event non-employees who had an Elite were also welcome). Sadly I couldn't make it to this one.
• At the Classic Car Show in Birmingham in a couple of weeks time, again we will be celebrating the anniversary with 4 Elites on the stand and the special signage.

Yes, there were around 10 Elites at the Remembered event at Hethel, where the was even a 'best Elite' contest run via the former employees group with the 'Senior guys' from the period carrying out the judging. Also we had 5 (4 at any one time) with some signage and special parade laps at the Club Lotus Castle Combe day in May, and a few minor magazine references. The current 'Absolute Lotus' magazine has a 'Lotus Remembered / 50 years of Elite' article.

Andy

Thanks, being a new owner and member of the Forum unfortunately I missed them all.
On the continent it seems that the Lotus Clubs didn't organized anything specific.
mbracing

mbracing wrote: Mon Oct 28, 2024 19:25 Thanks, being a new owner and member of the Forum unfortunately I missed them all.
On the continent it seems that the Lotus Clubs didn't organized anything specific.
mbracing

We are looking for a continental friend with a Chateau, 20 rooms, swimming pool, large parking and wine cellar.

Do you know any?

Stu

Hawaiis0 wrote: Mon Oct 28, 2024 22:45

mbracing wrote: Mon Oct 28, 2024 19:25 Thanks, being a new owner and member of the Forum unfortunately I missed them all.
On the continent it seems that the Lotus Clubs didn't organized anything specific.
mbracing

We are looking for a continental friend with a Chateau, 20 rooms, swimming pool, large parking and wine cellar.

Do you know any?

Stu

Unfortunately not, also because the "Chateaux" are in France, and I'm in Italy.
mbracing