STEVE HOLE tells the story of a Lotus-based that has always been a bit of a mystery…
Meet the Lotus Eleven Gullwing GT Coupé.
I was reminded of it one afternoon this week when I found this photo in the historic Lotus file.
What is known about it is that the car was based on a 1957 Eleven chassis.
Photo TKC MAG/totalkitcar archive
It was believed to have been built/converted by students at the de Havilland Aircraft Company. Rumours abounded that Frank Costin may have had some involvement, but I don’t think that was the case. One thing is for sure, I am loving the ‘ban the bomb’ Ford Cortina Mk1 rear lights!
There have always been other rumours of a second Gullwing GT Coupé although no one has ever seen it!
It was definitely owned by Cobra expert Rod Leach in the seventies until it was bought by a Japanese Lotus collector in 1978. It was shipped to Japan and remained in his collection, completely untouched, until 2016.
Photo origin unknown. Would love to credit the photographer
The little coupé, which barely weighs 400kg dripping wet, is still fitted with its original Coventry Climax FWE 1100cc engine. In 2016 it moved to another Japanese collector in Tokyo before coming up for sale on Car & Classic not too long ago.
Its current whereabouts are unknown, sadly. What an absolute peach.