Colin Chapman, the creator of Loatus cars, was a pioneer in the design of lightweight, nimble sports racing cars. In 1955, Lotus was a small young car company. The MK IX model that appeared that year proved to be a phenomenal success, paving the way for cfuture accomplishments for Lotus in the sports car and formula One racing worlds. The car was state of the art for the time -- constructed around a tubular space frame with a front mounted engine, rear-wheel drive, de Dion rear suspension, and a divided front axle. The frame for the delicate car weighed only 63 lbs., a product of the efficient engineering that Lotus would become famous for.