A Great Crash
You know how people besmirch small, foreign cars by calling them “tin cans?” The 1959 Lotus Elite would love to have the solidity of a tin can.
Introduced at the Earls Court Show in London in 1957, the Elite was a stunning announcement heralding the future of Lotus cars. No longer chafing in the shackles of old-timey English looks, Lotus flexed on the whole world with this gorgeous, smooth, well-proportioned little GT.
It was light, even by Lotus standards. At 1,460 lbs, it was lighter than the Lotus Seven by an incomprehensible 200 hundred pounds. This was because Lotus used a novel construction for the Elite that hasn’t been used since: an integral unit body/monocoque and chassis (!) made entirely of fiberglass-reinforced plastic. There was virtually no metal used in the structure. No frame, no space frame. No folded-steel “backbone,” later introduced on the Lotus Elan. It didn’t have roll-down windows because the plastic doors were too thin for wind-roller mechanisms. You’ll find more crash protection in a soapbox derby car. Or a tin can.
The Elite stands out in automotive taxonomy, a category of one adjacent to more popular categories like unibody or body-on-frame. These methods of construction sort and define cars based on their structure. It is literally foundational.
Jesus felt similarly about the importance of his teachings for your life:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27)
These verses wrap up the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus declared blessedness, prescribed a new ethical mandate, and opposed a faulty ethical system (founded, in part, on judgment and self-aggrandizement). He is amplifying the importance of everything he just said by describing his words as foundational for life. People construct their lives around beliefs and perspectives, whether they are aware of it or not. Jesus is telling you to be aware of it. Be deliberate in how you let God construct the foundation of your life by his grace, truth, and love. Let the construction of your life find you in the category of Christ-followers.
Due to the reality of life, flimsy construction will eventually fall to pieces. Rain, floods, hail, and termites are inevitable, as are rock chips, pot holes, distracted drivers, and those awful parking barriers that are too high for the low front valances of British sports cars. Disaster is inevitable, damage is imminent, but the foundation God builds in your heart is eternal. He has already repaired and reconstructed you at a foundational level, and he patches and heals you every day. He wants you to employ the wisdom taught by Jesus. He’s urging you to read Jesus’ words again and see if any areas in your life can be tightened or reinforced.
Maybe it’s accepting your perceived lack (Matthew 5:3-12), recommitting to getting help with your lust problem (5:27-30), practicing forgiveness toward people you can’t stand (5:38-48; 6:12-15), or reminding yourself that God’s love is greater than your worry (6:25-34; 7:7-12).
Like cars, the way a person’s heart is constructed can’t be based on nothing. Make sure it’s based on something. Or Someone.
Fewer than 1000 Elites were made over a three-year period, and the ones that haven’t shattered like fine crystal are excellent driver’s cars. They were powered by the Coventry Climax 1.2-liter SOHC four-cylinder (a variation of which powered the achingly beautiful Lotus Eleven) in various states of tune. Output topped out at 105 horsepower. The least powerful version made 71 horsepower at 6100 rpm with 70 ft-lb of torque at 3300 rpm. With the ZF all-synchromesh 4-speed gearbox, it ran the quarter-mile at 18.3 seconds at 76 mph on its way to a 115-mph top speed. Or, if you’re accident prone and you know it, it also looks lovely sitting in your garage.
John V16 is the intersection of God and cars. Please support our work and donate a V16-powered 1940 Cadillac Series 90 Sixteen to John V16. Or share this article with a friend.
