Colin Chapman The Man And His Cars – The Authorised Biography

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Colin Chapman’s contribution to the post war world of international motor racing was immeasurable. From his first steps as a car designer in 1947, to his highly sophisticated road and racing cars of the 1980s, Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman broke records and achieved remarkable success.

His sudden death in December 1982 stunned friends, colleagues and the whole of the motor and motor racing industries. For Chapman was an institution, his energy and enthusiasm legendary, his sometimes zany exploits and sense of humour both delightful and infuriating. Besides his engineering skills, he was a superb driver, an outstanding pilot, a crack marksman and an experienced yachtsman.Yet it is for his cars that he will best be remembered.

The original Lotus Elites, Elans and Europas of the early ’60s set exceptional standards of performance and, after the company went public in the late 1960s, Chapman took the marque more up market with the new Elite, the Eclat and the central-engined Esprit. In the international world of motor racing, the Lotus Grand Prix cars became world famous, winning seven World Championships for Constructors’ cups and six World Championships for Drivers’ titles – a unique record which, in recent years, can only be compared with Ferrari’s.