Care And Feeding For The DOHC

Road & Track, February 1965

The sportsman who acquires any device of a high-performance nature, often finds himself host to an endless parade of maintenance expense. This traditional truth seems to apply equally to horses, dogs, women, and motor cars. As a result, the knowing enthusiast displays understandable concern when appraising any creature of uncommon capability. In the case of the Lotus dohc engine, there appears to be a happy departure from this tradition. This exotic performer has a most conservative appetite for maintenance luxuries, and can be supported quite comfortably on modest means. A large portion of this attractive condition is attributable to the basic engine design. Low cube, high-tick engines require very busy valves. This mitigates in favor of an intimate relationship between valve and cam with the least possible amount of linkage. The dohc provides a cam for each side of the head and the cam lobes drive directly on the tappet cups. This layout also permits an optimum form for the combustion chamber, and greatly improves breathing, thus utilizing the full capabilities of the twin Weber carburetors. All in all, one has a very tidy and efficient machine in the Lotus dohc, and one that should be running long after the hairy over-bores have cast their last piston.

LOTUS ELAN ROADSTER
1558 cc top speed 115 mph
acceleration 0 to 60, 7.5 sec.; 0 to 100, 20.5 sec.
four cylinder Lotus twin cam
Twin Weber Carburetors 105 bhp @ 5500 rpm
four-speed close ratio all synchro
all independent Chapman suspension
Lotus/Girling disc brakes.
Approximate delivery 30 to 60 days
$4157 P.O.E. Los Angeles.

SHOW ROOMS AND SERVICE FACILITIES

MANHATTAN BEACH. Bob Challman-Ecurie Shirlee
2301 Sepulveda Blvd.

FRESNO, Foreign Motor Sales
310 Blackstone Ave.

HAYWARD, Stan Peterson, Autocourse Inc.,
21135 Mission Blvd.

LA CANADA, La Canada Sport Cars,
1300 W. Foothill

MONTEREY, Leslie Motors
999 Del Monte

OCEANSIDE, Willie West Mtrs, Inc.
1617 So. Hill

SACRAMENTO, Von Housens Motors
1729 Fulton Ave.

SAN BRUNO, Bob Cole Motor Imports
444 El Camino Real

SAN DIEGO, Dale Shoupe
Quality Foreign, 3464 Kurtz

SANTA ANA, Fritz Warren
702 East First St.

BOISE, Thompson Motor Co.
1112 Bannock Street

SPARKS-RENO, Dan Gillum Motors
1840 "B" Stret

TACOMA Geno's Imported Cars
5911 Steitacoom Blvd., S.W.

PORTLAND, Pierre's Motors
11614 South East Stark

ECURIE SHIRLEE DISTRIBUTION CORP.
2409 Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Exclusive Distributors for Lotus Cars throughout the Western U.S.

Road & Track, February 1965, Reprinted with Permission.