Lotus Mark VI

The Lotus Mark VI was the first production car from Lotus Cars. Colin Chapman introduced it in 1952 after building several trials and road racing cars. It was sold to the public as a kit built around a semi-space frame chassis, so the owner could fit a preferred engine and gearbox and enter a wider range of racing classes. The 6 foot space frame weighed only 25 kilograms, and the cheap mechanical parts came from the Ford Prefect. The chassis could take the Ford 10 engine, the MG TF unit, the Consul engine or a Coventry Climax. The Mark VI was a frequent winner on British circuits, about 100 were built by 1955, and its sales and results established Chapman as a maker of specialist cars.