The Lotus Name??

[Linus27]

So what does the Lotus name mean or where does it come from?? Does anyone know??

[wendyg]

There are LOADS of theories, none of which have ever been proven, and until Colin Chapman can be raised from the dead and forced to tell, it's likely to remain that way.

One that I recall is that in his early car dealing days, he was trying to get rid of a non-running car, stuck it in an auction, it didn't sell, came back with a sticker 'Lot U/S' (unsold), so he had to try to do it up for sale, and found his purpose. Charming story, but probably bollox.

[Aeroman]

I thought it came from: Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious...

[Python]

Since his passing in late 1982, has anyone ever directly asked either his widow or children the question? It would seem his widow would be in the best position to know, not only because of being his spouse, but also since she was involved with the company in some fahsion almost from the start.

[B16 RFF]

Python said:

Since his passing in late 1982, has anyone ever directly asked either his widow or children the question? It would seem his widow would be in the best position to know, not only because of being his spouse, but also since she was involved with the company in some fahsion almost from the start.

I'm sure Hazel Chapman has been asked lots of times, but it seems she isn't telling.
If Colin wanted it kept quiet, no doubt she would respect his wish after he died.

Paul.

[dodgey_rog]

I thought it was meant to simplify something simple, yet elegant. Or so it says in Jabby Crombac's book.

[monkey boy 1]

B16 RFF said:

Python said:

Since his passing in late 1982, has anyone ever directly asked either his widow or children the question? It would seem his widow would be in the best position to know, not only because of being his spouse, but also since she was involved with the company in some fahsion almost from the start.

I'm sure Hazel Chapman has been asked lots of times, but it seems she isn't telling.
If Colin wanted it kept quiet, no doubt she would respect his wish after he died.

Paul.

That certainly rings true, i have asked Clive chapman on one occasion in the past, but he too either didn't know or refused to say.

Edited by monkey boy 1 on Sunday 10th September 20:20

[wendyg]

monkey boy 1 said:

B16 RFF said:

Python said:

Since his passing in late 1982, has anyone ever directly asked either his widow or children the question? It would seem his widow would be in the best position to know, not only because of being his spouse, but also since she was involved with the company in some fahsion almost from the start.

I'm sure Hazel Chapman has been asked lots of times, but it seems she isn't telling.
If Colin wanted it kept quiet, no doubt she would respect his wish after he died.

Paul.

That certainly rings true, i have asked live chapman on one occasion in the past, but he too either didn't know or refused to say.

Almost inevitably, the reason that the Chapman family are reticent about the story behind the Lotus name is that THERE ISN'T ONE.

Colin Chapman probably picked the name because, to him, it meant something relevant to his automotive philosophy. Light? Delicate? Beautiful? Mythical? Powerful? Worshipped?

Or maybe he just liked the word.

[TIPPER]

wendyg said:

There are LOADS of theories, none of which have ever been proven, and until Colin Chapman can be raised from the dead and forced to tell, it's likely to remain that way.

One that I recall is that in his early car dealing days, he was trying to get rid of a non-running car, stuck it in an auction, it didn't sell, came back with a sticker 'Lot U/S' (unsold), so he had to try to do it up for sale, and found his purpose. Charming story, but probably bollox.

That's the one I tell when people ask where the name came from. I think if you combine that with your later comments Wendy, then it does have an air of credibility.

[Chrome Orange]

I read, in a book about Lotus, that the name came from the very early days when Colin and a band of willing helpers preped and built race cars before and after work. Being involved with these cars was a sure fire way to end up tired, much like the soporiphic effects of eating the Lotus plant so the name stuck.

Nice.

[85S3NA]

The origins of the Lotus name, and the design of the Lotus badge, are summarised in the Esprit FAQ section - Lotusguy wrote this 2 or 3 years ago - I've repeated most of Jim's message below for those who haven't seen it before

Jonathan 85S3NA


Brett,

Congratulations on your new toy! To expand upon what Andy has said about there's no going back, it's interesting that he chose that phrase because this was the inspiration which caused Colin Chapman to name the cars Lotus to begin with.

An ancient folk legend stemming from Grecian times grew about those who ate the Lotus Fruit, today known as the White Fig which is indigenous and common to most of the Mediterranean.

The legend goes, that once this fruit was eaten, a person, having eaten it, forgot where they came from and lost all desire to return. They were said to wander the countryside in search of this obsessive fruit and were known collectively as the Lotus-Eaters.

In fact, in Homer's Odessey, on the tenth day of their journey from Troy, and having endured terrible storms for nine days, they reached the island of the Lotus-Eaters. When a party of men went ashore, they ate of the lotus plants. This magic fruit made them forget all longing for home. Odysseus had to force the men to return to the ships in order to continue the journey.

Colin wanted to create cars which provided driving experiences like no others. They were to be so superior as to be unlike every car the driver had driven previously and cause him/her to lose all desire to return to their previous type of car.

So, being familiar with the ancient legend from his school days, Colin, most appropriately, chose to name his cars and his company Lotus. He even chose as it's symbol, a stylized petal of the Lotus flower with his initials and the word LOTUS set into it.

He was spot on in doing so because, as you'll soon experience, these cars are intoxicating and one becomes obsessive about them. The allure is so strong, that many of us are on our 2nd, 3rd or more Lotus. Take the time to enjoy the car and the total ownership experience. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE