Profession: Automobile Designer and Engineer
Biography: Colin Chapman started the Lotus car company and earned enduring fame for his innovative designs which increased the pace of Formula One racing and helped to give the cars their famous shape.
Chapman loved racing from a young age and in 1952 started Lotus to build small, light sports cars. The Lotus 7 was his most well-known early design. He summed up his design principle as follows: “Adding power makes you faster on the straights. Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere.”
In Formula One, Chapman's ideas changed the sport. His cars had new chassis shapes and moved parts like the engine to improve handling, as a result his Lotus cars quickly began to beat even his more powerful rivals.
Chapman worked closely with driver Jim Clark, who won two championships for Lotus in the 1960s. Clark's death while racing in 1968 was a tragedy for Lotus and for Chapman personally.
Later in life, Chapman ran into financial difficulties before dying suddenly at a relatively young age.
Born: May 19, 1928
Birthplace: London, England
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Sign: Taurus
Died: December 16, 1982 (aged 54)
Cause of Death: Heart attack
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