You’d have to be brain dead to not love Giorgetto Giugiaro’s Series 1 Lotus Esprit — its polygonal folded paper design is drop dead gorgeous and beyond reproach. It is also extremely affordable compared to similar era supercars like a Lamborghini Countach or Porsche 911 Turbo. It may have something to do with small inline-4 […]
DT’s logo guru Kaibeezy has always claimed that the SF Bay area craigslist is by far the best place to search for an inexpensive classic car (your Daily Turismo) and at first the assertion seemed silly. Unfortunately, my local craigslist (Los Angeles), despite its favorable weather, is filled with a disproportionately large percentage of cars […]
The Europa was a sporty two seater built by Lotus Cars in Norfolk, UK from 1966 through 1975. The lightweight (1300-1500 lbs) Europa featured a mid mounted inline 4 and some of Colin Chapman’s best designed suspension bits and only 9300 of these high-butted gems left the factory. Find this 1970 Lotus Europa S2 here […]
In the 1970s, Lotus combined door-wedge styling and hatchback versatility around classic Lotus bones to create the nerd-chic Elite. Unlike a Lotus, it was quite usable, and the glass-reinforced fiberglass body was way ahead of the Europa’s. But typical for a Lotus, rust and electrical failure tend to ruin the experience. Besides having wheels that […]
Over time, all cars must be rendered unto forces outside of our control. Late-model Italian exotics must offer penance for their transgressions at the stake. General Motors G-bodies must be shod with wire wheels and parked on the wrong side of the tracks. And flimsy British sports cars must be mated to burly American iron. […]
For about a decade, we in the USA had to stare forlornly across the Atlantic Ocean at the lucky devils who had access to the fantastic light weight Elise 2-seat roadster by Lotus. It was the ultimate forbidden fruit and an entire generation was sold in Europe before our prayers were finally answered 2005 with […]
What do you get when you combine a ’58 Triumph title, a custom frame, a Ford Pinto 2.3 liter 4-banger, and finish it to look vaguely like a Lotus Seven? I don’t know, but it sure seems like a steal at this price. Find this “1958 Triumph” Custom with Ford Power offered for $3,500 near […]
Exotic cars are expensive. Forget buying a Ferrari or Lamborghini from the late 1970s, early 80s without serious cash (and reserves) and the Porsche 930 Turbo has recently skyrocketed into trust fund money levels as well. What does that leave for the poor man on the street? What about a Colin Chapman inspired mid-engined turbocharged […]
You’d have to live in a bubble to not notice the way prices have been heading on classic European sports cars, but you’d be shocked to see how inexpensive one of the better handling cars can be. We’re (wait a minute…what site is this…oh yeah…) I’m talking about the Lotus Europa, a smorgasbord of Colin […]
The Lotus Elan M100 was a wedge shaped convertible penned by Peter Stevens (Jaguar XJR-15, McLaren F1, Lotus Esprit, MG ZR, ZS, ZT & TF) and built in the UK from 1989 through 1995…and later produced by Kia in South Korea under the name Kia Elan (and Kia Vigato). The Elan used a lightweight chassis […]