The principle of adding lightness - making a car as light as possible, especially a racing car - is one used by many manufacturers over the decades. However, none of them took it as seriously as Colin Chapman of Lotus fame. Until recently, Lotus sports cars were still some of the lightest on the market.
This very rare 1962 Type 14 Lotus Elite SE100 racecar is a prime example. Tipping the scales at just 504 kg, it is one of the lightest cars I've been exposed to, especially if you consider it has a closed cockpit. Richard Clarke has been the proud owner for close to 45 years. The thick folder he put in front of me documented not only the multi-year restoration and rebuild it took to get this car on the road, but more interestingly, its extensive racing pedigree.
Engine: 1 220 cm3, four-cylinder, petrol
Transmission: 4-speed ZF manual, RWD
Power: 75 kW
Maximum engine speed: 9 000 r/min
Top speed: >232 km/h (diff ratio-dependent)
Acceleration 0–100 km/h: N/A
Fuel consumption: N/A Fuel tank: 41 litres
Weight: 504 kg
Manufactured: 1957–1963
Denne historien er fra CARMAG February 2023 -utgaven av CAR South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra CARMAG February 2023 -utgaven av CAR South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Toyota Fortuner
Considered by many as the quintessential adventure SUV, the Fortuner is about as strong a used buying proposition as you can get in this segment. We take you through the things to look out for and list two rivals for comparison.
MIND THE HURDLE
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KING OF KILLARNEY
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Kia Picanto 1.0 LX MT
Kia's ever-popular budget hatch has recently received a range of exterior and interior updates - we test the entry-level variant to see if it remains a force to be reckoned with in this highly competitive segment
Super C
The fastest and most technologically advanced flagship C-Class to date, AMG's C63 S has evolved into an electrified uber-sedan. Has this mighty model forsaken some character in pursuing this status? We strapped our test equipment to the new shooting star.
Bentley's Brutes
A break in proceedings during an exclusive preview of the fourth-generation Bentley Continental GT afforded us an opportunity to sample the stately yet hair-raising Bentayga S
RUNNING UP THAT HILL
Now in its 14th year, the Simola Hillclimb continues to combine adrenaline-fuelled competition with showcasing some of the most appealing classics out there in a heady mix that keeps local petrolheads coming...
BAND OF BROTHERS
Complete with rugged bakkie-based underpinnings that encourage off-the-beaten-track venturing, largely proven powertrains that afford maximum range and towing capability, and brand names with enviable respective reputations for reliability, adventure SUVs remain the favourite of thousands of South Africans.
TWELVE OF THE BEST
Ferrari keeps things suitably old-school with its V12-engined 12Cilindri GT
