When the visionary designer Colin Chapmen first set out to design the Lotus 7 he had lightness, speed and agility at the forefront of his mind. What he could not of know was that he was about to create a timeless design classic, which still has the ability to embarrass supercars costing over ten times as much.

The first Lotus 7 was released to the public in 1957 and cost £1000 pounds to buy new. However the simplicity of the design meant that Lotus could also offer the 7 in kit form where it would cost half as much. Chapman’s constant aim throughout all of his cars at Lotus was to lightness, ensuring that the cars he produced had supreme agility and road holding.

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