Lotus Elite Type 14

The Elite was the first Lotus with a closed body, and its fibreglass monocoque was a radical piece of structural thinking. The roof, floor and body worked together as one moulded shell, which made the car light and stiff at a time when most small sports cars were separate chassis designs. The Coventry Climax engine was modest, but the shape was extraordinary, with a low roofline and a large wrap-around rear window.