Lotus 7/Locost Aero Rebody

[JackMcCornack]

No, COCyclist, that's very much in the box, circa 1957. Back in The Day, endurance racers used rigid tonneaus and wrap-around windshield for the driver and a...thingie I can't name behind the driver's head (I've heard "head fairing" but that sounds a bit modern).

Here's a youtube video of a Lotus 11 set up thusly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&fe...&v=ODMqDhnwUDw

However a hardtop version (I know the Geo you mean--it was blue and had sort of a basket handle on the passenger side of the car) would be pretty original, all right. I'll have to scout up that Metro for pix of how he did the windshield. Any clues?

[COcyclist]

Originally Posted by JackMcCornack

(I know the Geo you mean--it was blue and had sort of a basket handle on the passenger side of the car) would be pretty original, all right. I'll have to scout up that Metro for pix of how he did the windshield. Any clues?

We are thinking of the same one. I may hunt around too. IIRC it looked like he used the Metro windshield cut down and narrowed. He would have had pillars, glass and a roof to start with. You would be starting from scratch.

[COcyclist]

This one?
Modified Metro XFi: throwing convention to the wind - MetroMPG.com

Perhaps an Ecomodder member with better photochop skills can splice a photo into this thread.

Cool video of the Lotus. As it races around the track it sure looks more slippery than the sedans racing with it, clearly less frontal area.

[TedV]

I've heard "headrest fairing". Personally I would like to be able to carry a friend when needed. a tonneau over passenger seat will really cramp them, but for single person would work much better when nobody else is on board. Oh, the dilemma. I've heard of ways to cut down glass windshields using wet saws, or sand blasting. I've eyeballed home built aircraft canopy's also. Not sure how they would work with rain and grime on the road tho.

My girlfriend says the Eleven looks too much like a catfish. The Vetter motorcycle fairing = a guppy. Need to work on "looks like a dolphin." everybody likes dolphins.

[Frank Lee]

The thing about tonneaus is they snap on and off easily and we all know that the bulk of motoring around is done solo. For the occasion of having a passenger- unsnap the tonneau. When it's also nice out.

[TedV]

that's what sucks where I live. It's either raining cold or too dang hot. Nice weather lasts about 5 minutes then its the other extremes. :-(

[Rokeby]

Re: the Lotus 11.
Bodywork approximates half-length wheel skirts front and rear.
You still have to get at those spinners to change tires/tyres.
Better aero means higher speeds, forget any FE increase:

[TedV]

Originally Posted by Rokeby

Better aero means higher speeds, forget any FE increase:

Lotus Eleven = 40mpg racing a Le Mons in the 50's. versus 6mpg for my early 80's vintage Formula Ford 1600. Only thing better is the Opal eco-speedster at 113mpg. Oh, isn't the eco-speedster based on the Lotus Elise chassis? $$,$$$

[Sven7]

I have a hard time believing any ICE car could acheive 40mpg at LeMans. When my '92 Probe 4 cyl can barely sustain that at a steady state how is a 50 year old race car going to get that?

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by Sven7

I have a hard time believing any ICE car could acheive 40mpg at LeMans. When my '92 Probe 4 cyl can barely sustain that at a steady state how is a 50 year old race car going to get that?

Super aero, tiny (but good) engine and weighing less than the contents of your Probe's glovebox

the MOTOR test report

RECORDING a maximum speed of 125 m.p.h., as an average of timed two-way runs with a passenger as well as a driver being carried, the Lotus XI provides a vivid illustration of the huge gain in small sports car performance which has taken place during the past decade. Able to accelerate the same two-man load from a standstill to 100 m.p.h. in only 23.6 seconds, this car invites incredulity as to its modest 1,096 c.c. engine size, until almost equally miraculous fuel economy figures (which range from 32 1/2 m.p.g. at a sustained 100 m.p.h. to 55 1/2 m.p.g. at a steady 40 m.p.h. on the level) are also observed.