"E" car names

[KenC]

Why do all the Lotus cars' names start with the letter "E" ?

I've asked the factory reps that I've met here in California and other knowledgeable folks but no one seems to know the real reason.

Are there any exceptions to the "E" names?

Thank you
KenC

[TWO OLD ELANS]

Seven?
And then you've got those bastard "C" cousins, the Cortinas, Capris, Carlton.
But the real Lotuses for street use? "E" it is and forevermore.

[Tony K]

Did they not just break tradition with the "Two-Eleven"? :p

[Tony K]

Ken,

The answer as to "why" has been written about, and it seems quite simple -- I'm going from memory here, so someone may stand to correct me -- early Lotus cars were numbered (i.e., Mark VI, Seven, etc.. up to and including the Type 11, and Chapman decided to spell it out "Eleven" instead of the number, and going forward just started naming the road cars with "E" and kept the numbers for the racers.

Something like that.

[TWO OLD ELANS]

I've read that too, but, there was a Lotus 12 (race car) and no 13.
Did Mr. Chapman consider the Eleven to be a road car?
The 14 is an E car and the next one was a 26...
Challenged?
I think it was fun and games and liking the letter E.
Sincerely, Eric Ellis

[Tony K]

I've read that too, but, there was a Lotus 12 (race car) and no 13.
Did Mr. Chapman consider the Eleven to be a road car?
The 14 is an E car and the next one was a 26...
Challenged?
I think it was fun and games and liking the letter E.
Sincerely, Eric Ellis

Thirteen was bad luck! :D

All Lotus have a 'type' number, usually not duplicated between road and race cars (79 is a notable exception! ;)), and road cars got an E model name as well. :) Seems to be the pattern . . .

[Esprit2]

(Snip)... Chapman decided to spell it out "Eleven" instead of the number, and going forward just started naming the road cars with "E" and kept the numbers for the racers.

When the 11 came along, Colin liked the way the E-word rolled off the tongue after Lotus. The end of the word Lotus left the tongue in the perfect position to initiate a word that begins with an "E". He liked it so much that he spelled out the name Eleven, and all Lotus model names thereafter began with an "E".

Try saying some Lotus E___ model names and pay attention to where your tongue is between words. Then try it with Lotus Mark __, or Lotus Cortina/ Carlton... Lotus Porsche-beater. I think you will agree that E-names just flow.

Regards,
Tim Engel

[Martin]

I've read that too, but, there was a Lotus 12 (race car) and no 13.
Did Mr. Chapman consider the Eleven to be a road car?
The 14 is an E car and the next one was a 26...
Challenged?
I think it was fun and games and liking the letter E.
Sincerely, Eric Ellis


So did Colin Chapman name you too? ;)

[TWO OLD ELANS]

No, it's the other way 'round. I showed up the same year as the Mark 2, my parents gave HIM that terrific E idea.

[Martin]

Well tell your parents they did good :)