A SHINING STAR: LOTUS SEVEN
The lotus flower emerges from the water it is growing in. It blooms beautifully and delicately on the surface for a very short while and, just as rapidly, fades from view again. That’s sort of an allegory for Lotus racing cars, although this particular feature car is more like an insect on the surface of a pond rather than the flower it shares its name with. Just as a small silvery insect can sit on the surface of a pond, the Lotus Seven sits there on the shiny garage floor looking as light and flighty as any such insect.
The various front-suspension arms continue that ultra-lightweight insect look as well, which the upward-poking track rods might be its antennae, or feelers. The beautifully polished and light aluminium body hides an equally economic frame and components.
Under the bonnet — it doesn’t fold back or anything like that; you just lift it off and very carefully place
