Lotus Elan F1 supercar, reportedly said that his only disappointment with the McLaren F1 was that he could not give it the perfect steering of the Lotus Elan. In 2004, "Sports Car International" named the Elan number six on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s. The original version of the car was designed by Ron Hickman who also designed the first Lotus Europa as part of Lotus' GT40 project bid and made his fortune having designed the Black & Decker Workmate. Because of its successful design and rigorous attention to cost control on the body, chassis, engine and the
Lotus Europa timings, dual valve springs and a twin-barrel carburettor. These changes lifted the engine's power by 30% from 63 bhp @ 5000 rpm to 82 bhp @ 6000 rpm. For US export, a de-tuned 1565cc version was used giving 80 bhp @ 6000 rpm. Later Europa models were fitted with the same Ford-based Lotus Twin Cam engine used in the Lotus Elan range since 1962. This was a sophisticated, twin-overhead-cam, 8-valve high-performance motor producing 105 bhp in original (Euro) form (later lifted to 126 bhp in "big-valve" form), and it was reported that Lotus initially delayed its introduction in the Europa