Cartype : Lotus

The most obvious thing is the word Lotus - of course... Then there are some letters on top of each other, ACBC, these are the initials of the company's founder, Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman.

The Lotus legend started in 1947 when talented engineer Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman took to building 750 specials. Public demand for replicas led to the forming of Lotus Engineering in 1952 and, a few years later, the first production Lotus, the 6, since when Lotus has grown out of all recognition.

In 1989, Lotus returned to its historical logo, slightly redesigned the color tones and form: the straw yellow changed to a "orange norfolk mustard" yellow, and the green is darker.

Lotus (England) 1947 to date.
Now many times World Champion Car Constructor as well as maker of up-market sports and GT cars, not to mention luxury yachts, Chapman has become a legend in his own time as well as a multimillionaire. The first four Lotuses were all based on the Austin Seven. The Mk5 never happened but was to have been a 100-mph sports-racing car.

The ubiquitous Mk7 lives on today, known simply as the Seven and built by Caterham Cars. The next road car was the pretty, glass-fibre Elite. This was effectively superseded by the Elan in late 1962, the Plus 2 version of which appeared in 1967.

Shortly before, however, in December 1966, Lotus announced their first mid-engined road car, the Europa. Initially Renault-powered, it eventually sported the same Ford-based, twin-cam engine as its stablemates.

Following special and expensive derivatives of the Elans and Europas, Lotus finally cut their ties with the enthusiast and launched an executive dream; the Elite, in 1974: With only the badge in common with the original car of the same name, it started a new era for this company which soon afterwards added the Eclat (a coupe version of the Elite) and the mid-engined Esprit to complete its range of fast, sleek rich man's toys.

(Vintage European Automobiles)

Lotus logo from 1968-1983. In 1968, following the accidental death of Jim Clark, the colors yellow and green are replaced with black. In 1971, the limited series "JPS" for the Europa Special takes takes on the black color of the team, but the letters and rings became an alternate color. In 1978, the limited series of the Spirit commemoratives takes on the black logo and gold for the same reasons. The black logo appeared for the last time on all the cars produced in 1983, following the death of Chapman. (source: robie the robot).

Lotus logo, 1986. In 1986, the logo for Lotus changed significanty: the years which followed the death of Chapman were difficult, General Motors took the control of Group Lotus Plc. and wanted to usher the company into a new era, and quickly decided to equip the cars with a new stylized logo, completely different from the preceding logo. The cars were equipped with it to 1986. (source: robie the robot).

Lotus logo, 1987-1988. his change caused an outcry among purists and amateurs, not because they are particularly attached to the old logo, but because the initial once represented the founder of the company, and was seen as a removal of Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman. (source: robit the robot).