Lotus 15
1958-1960 Lotus 15
Built to accept the lager 2-liter Coventry Climax engine, the Type 15 was basically an updated version of the 1.5-liter Type 11.
The bodywork for the car was designed by Colin Chapman to be especially low. Experts at Williams & Pritchard manufactured the body which was only 24 inches high.
At the rear a new type of suspension was fitted from the Lotus 12 single-seat race car which used a Chapman Strut.
The car contested some of the greatest races like the 1958 24 Hours of Le Mans. With Graham Hill and Cliff Allison at the wheel, the car retired only three laps into the event.
Related: Lotus Race Car List / Lotus Current Lineup / All Lotus Models / Lotus News
Specs & Performance
| submitted by | Richard Owen |
| type | Racing Car |
| production years | 1958 – 1960 |
| built at | England |
| body stylist | Colin Chapman |
| coachbuilder | Williams & Pritchard |
| production | 27 |
| predecessor | 1956 Lotus 11 |
| successor | 1959 Lotus 17 |
| engine | Coventry Climax Straight 4 |
| position | Front Longitudinal |
| aspiration | 2 Weber Carburetors |
| valvetrain | DOHC, 2 Valves per Cyl |
| displacement | 1965 cc / 119.91 in³ |
| bore | 86.4 mm / 3.4 in |
| stroke | 83.8 mm / 3.3 in |
| compression | 12.4:1 |
| power | 104.4 kw / 140 bhp |
| specific output | 71.25 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 311.11 bhp per tonne |
| body / frame | Aluminum Body over Tubular Steel Spaceframe |
| front brakes | Discs |
| rear brakes | Inboard Discs |
| f suspension | Double Wishbones w/Coil-over-Dampers |
| r suspension | Chapman Struts w/Trailing Arms, Coil-over-Dampers |
| curb weight | 450 kg / 992 lbs |
| wheelbase | 2235 mm / 88.0 in |
| front track | 1194 mm / 47.0 in |
| rear track | 1219 mm / 48.0 in |
| length | 3580 mm / 140.9 in |
| width | 1524 mm / 60.0 in |
| height | 610 mm / 24.0 in |
| transmission | 5-Speed Manual |
| top speed | ~225.3 kph / 140 mph |
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