Colin Chapman

Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman was born to middle class parents on 19th May 1928, after school he entered University to study structural engineering.

He started to deal in used cars with a friend, Colin Dare, which initially boomed.

After less than a year, petrol rationing was abandoned and the price of used cars fell, the business was abandoned.  The only asset was an old Austin Seven, which Colin modified for use in trials, the only original parts used were the chassis and drive train, and became the first Lotus.  Although successful, the car did have some shortcomings, and after modification, built a second car, the mark 2.

In January 1951 work began on the mark 3, designed to compete in 750 Formula circuit races, his success brought about the launch of Lotus Engineering Company in January 1952, in a building next to Colin's fathers pub.

At the time there was only one employee, Michael Allen, Colin remained at his full time job with British Aluminium, Hazel, his wife acted as company secretary.

Colin's enthusiasm and innovation soon drew talented engineers to him, Mike Costin, a very able and practical engineer, Frank - his brother a brilliant aerodynamicist who had spent his life working in the aircraft industry.

Frank brought the streamlining to the company, with the mark 8 initially, and then with the Eleven.

Team Lotus was formidable in the 60's and 70's Formula One racing circuits, his brilliant innovations came again and again, keeping his team ahead and forcing others to copy.

It cannot be doubt that Colin had a massive workload, and maybe that contributed to his early death in 1982, at the early age of 54.

His legacy is with an innovative sportscar company which still produces the finest performance cars, and most family saloons owe something to Lotus....