Lotus introduced the Type 75 Elite in 1974. Being a full four-seater
coupe with an opening glass tailgate, it was designed to carry a family
in comfort while retaining Lotus' trademark, excellent road holding and
handling. Perhaps most importantly, it was the first - and successful -
step in Colin Chapman's plan to move upmarket and away from Lotus' kit
car image. The Elite gave rise to two derivatives, the Eclat and the
Excel. The Eclat was a restyled coupe version, sacrificing the Elite's
unique rear styling and good rear passenger headroom for a more stylish
exterior. With its conventional coupe styling, the Eclat was more
mainstream than the Elite, and it was in the end the better seller. In
turn, the Eclat spawned the Excel, the last of the Elite-inspired family.
Dimensions: 9.68 in x 7.43 in
