In 1960, Colin Chapman sought to identify the most straightforward and uncomplicated way of building a Formula 1 car. The result was his first rear-engined design, the trendsetting Lotus 18. This book charts the 18's competition history, from its inception, up to 1966 -Â via sensational victories over Ferrari at Monaco and the Nurburgring.

Colin Chapman's previous attempts at producing a Formula 1 car had been a complete disappointment. Despite being technically advanced, extreme lightness led to numerous structural failures. In 1960, Chapman decided to start with a clean sheet of paper, assessing the basic requirements for a contemporary Formula 1 car, and identifying how to achieve them in the most straightforward, uncomplicated way. The result was one of Chapman's greatest creations - the Lotus 18 - a trendsetting, rear-engined car that was to set new performance standards from the outset. Driven by some of the top drivers of the era - including Innes Ireland, Jim Clark, and John Surtees - it was Stirling Moss who made the car's name, winning four Grands Prix, including his sensational victories over Ferrari, against all odds, at Monaco and the Nürburgring in 1961. This book descibes the history of the Lotus 18 throughout its 7-year competition career, via season by season summaries, and provides detailed appendices charting the individual histories of all 28 chassis that were built. Full race results are also presented, along with driver achievements.

Having this book in your pocket is like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from the author's years of Lotus/Caterham Seven experience, learn how to spot a bad car quickly, and how to assess a promising one like a professional. Get the right car at the right price!

Explores the design development and production of the Lotus Europa, Lotus's first mid-engined road car. It covers the Renault-powered Series 1 and 2 cars, the Lotus Twin Cam-engined versions, and the Type 47 racing models.

This comprehensive pictorial overview of Rover cars covers 1945-2005 models. It describes and illustrates all the great classic Rovers up to and including the SD1, British Leyland models with Rover badges, the models designed in conjunction with Honda, the later British-designed cars and, finally, the little-known City Rover.

The only full-colour comprehensive guide to all Hillman, Humber, Sunbeam, Singer & Talbot cars and vans, from 1950 until the end of production in the 1970s. With model-by-model descriptions and detailed technical information, this is an invaluable Rootes resource.

The Lotus Elite was a turning point for Lotus. First produced at the end of the 1950s, it marked Lotus' transition from a maker of small racing cars, which had limited utility on the road, to the producer of a highly sophisticated road and race car. In the Elite, Lotus exploited its knowledge of new technology and racing pedigree to produce a car which, with its glass fibre monocoque and Coventry Climax engine, had the potential to be a world beater. This book gives an insight into the reasons the car was produced and its importance in Lotus' history, especially in the production of lightweight innovative cars. Through interviews with Elite owners, first hand accounts provide a good overview of owning one of these iconic cars, covering its foibles and quirks as well as its exemplary roadholding, handling and performance. Illustrated with many colour photographs, along with period advertising material, the book provides a valuable insight into owning, running and racing these iconic cars.

This is the story of a uniquely special example of the Maserati 250F, the breed of car that epitomizes the 2.5-liter, front-engined Formula 1 era of 1954–60, and took part in the first and last races of that classic period. The finest flowering of the 250F came in 1957 with the lightweight version in which Juan Manuel Fangio won the last of his five World Championship titles. Three lightweights were built and the one featured in this book, chassis 2528, was driven to victory by Fangio in the Monaco Grand Prix and by Jean Behra in three non-championship Grands Prix at Pau, Modena and Casablanca. The fascinating story of 2528, from its construction to the present day, is accompanied by 400 photographs, many of them never previously published. This book presents the life of a truly Great Car – the most original and widely raced of all Maserati 250Fs.

Colin Chapman built his first Lotus motor car in 1948. He died suddenly in 1982, but his contribution to racing and sports car design is still unequalled anywhere in the world. His Formula 1 cars frequently dominated motorsport, in the hands of such brilliant drivers as Innes Ireland, Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Mario Andretti, Ronnie Peterson, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna. Chapman set the pace at world circuits and on the drawing board. His innovative designs, brought to life by his dedicated team of talented employees, carried the company forward from its humble origins to the multi-million pound complex in Norfolk that it still occupies today. Although Lotus has since passed through the hands of several owners, the company's future seems assured, as it presses ahead with new models and expands its engineering consultancy business. This history of the Lotus draws largely on the author's 12 years of first-hand experience of working with Chapman.