Lotus Elite Type 14 Replica?

[Bicycle Bob]

I'm wondering if anyone has news of the lovely old Lotus Elite kit being re-done with modern composites and other refinements? The original came in at 1,100 lbs and .29 cd. I'm sure that both numbers can be improved. I don't have the original layup schedule, but it may have just been polyester and mat, leaving vast opportunity for lighter, stronger parts.

[freebeard]

Not I, but I did one search on DDG [lotus elite clone] and the first result was this:

www.mk14components.com/index.php/parts-store/category/40-grp-sections



They have 31 SKUs but some may be duplicated. I don't see a complete shell. For me, modern composites would mean vacuum-bagged and graphene amended basalt fiber.

[Stubby79]

I'd love something that weighed <1000lbs (this is close enough) and was aerodynamic. Could get away with a whopping 25hp or so, or 50 if you wanted it to move well...ahh *drool*

[Bicycle Bob]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Not I, but I did one search on DDG [lotus elite clone] and the first result was this:

www.mk14components.com/index.php/parts-store/category/40-grp-sections



They have 31 SKUs but some may be duplicated. I don't see a complete shell. For me, modern composites would mean vacuum-bagged and graphene amended basalt fiber.

Good searchin', thanks. Putting together a kit from there looks like about $20k USD, and the only two "lightweight" options only add $60. However, the molds are presumably available, and not too busy.
I try to stay away from carbon fiber except where nothing else will do. Basalt beats E-glass, AFAIR, but the real potential is in the tensioned surfaces, where Spectra is wonderfully light and stiff. It probably acts like Kevlar in a crash, too, turning into a bag instead of shattering. There are probably big gains to be made with unidirectional fibers, and sandwich cores on some panels.
I'm fond of "dry bagging" for all the benefits of vacuum with less waste. Resins have gotten better, too.

[freebeard]

Stubby79 —


Lexus 98lb/68hp/10Krpm single-speed. Would work well in that weight range.

Bicycle Bob — One reason I specified basalt is that it bends instead of shattering as carbon fiber will. I know small percentages of graphene make a lot of difference in concrete mix. So — flash graphene in the resin.

High-value "flash graphene" can be made from cheap trash
Tour says that cement with a concentration of just 0.1 percent of flash graphene could reduce the immense environmental impact of concrete production by a third. "By strengthening concrete with...

newatlas.com/materials/high-value-flash-graphene-cheap-trash/

The biggest problem? The company and molds are in the UK.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Stubby79

I'd love something that weighed <1000lbs (this is close enough) and was aerodynamic. Could get away with a whopping 25hp or so, or 50 if you wanted it to move well...ahh *drool*

I guess even some single-cylinder 250cc motorcycle engine could get the job done, in a way similar to Luigi Colani's rebodied Citroën 2CV.

[Bicycle Bob]

"Bicycle Bob — One reason I specified basalt is that it bends instead of shattering as carbon fiber will. I know small percentages of graphene make a lot of difference in concrete mix. So — flash graphene in the resin. "

You got me to look up the current data on a range of fibers, and basalt still falls between E-glass and S-glass, but with only 3.15% elongation, vs 5.2% for S-glass. Aramid (Kevlar) only has 1.5% elongation, but its combination of properties causes the resin to fail first, producing a very tough structure in general failure mode. Aramid and Carbon are also about half the density of glass or Basalt. There is a huge and growing variety of carbon reinforcements, but I'm quite wary of their effect on biology as microplastic waste, as they don't seem to be eliminated as easily.

[freebeard]

You've thought that through more than me. I like basalt foe the environmental part — rocks and heat.

You'll need a chassis. I remembered that Lotus uses that all-Xmember chassis. It turns out you can get those too, reconditioned and power coated.


Lotus Chassis | PNM Engineering

[Bicycle Bob]

Originally Posted by freebeard

You've thought that through more than me. I like basalt foe the environmental part — rocks and heat.

You'll need a chassis. I remembered that Lotus uses that all-Xmember chassis. It turns out you can get those too, reconditioned and power coated.


Lotus Chassis | PNM Engineering

The Elite is a monocoque. That's an Elan frame. The Elite was a real pioneer, and could be detailed better at the load take-off points. The most serious trouble was with the heat from the inboard rear brakes softening the resin.