The picture above is of the 2014 Lotus but this story is of an older model. In the '50s a Lotus cost between the $2,000-3,000 and right in the middle of that is what Robert Kahmer and his friend Ben Fowke split for a 1955 Lotus Mark X. In 1958, for $2,700, Kahmer and Fowke had the Lotus shipped from England and had it racing the very next weekend.
Kahmer was head over heels for the vehicle but Fowke was not so smitten, selling his half to Kahmer. Kahmer continued to lovingly race the Mark X for all of the '59 season and some of '60. But, as car-love stories often go, Kahmer met another woman, got engaged, and sold his first love.
Little did he know the Lotus would have such a rough time moving on. It had brief relationship with someone who just wanted to change it, turning it into a road car. The Lotus was a mess after that and needed some help getting back on its feet. Luckily the Mark X met John Viviani who was willing to restore it back to its rightful condition, and in the process found Robert Kahmer.
With a call to Kahmer, Viviani was able to really restore the Lotus, with all the original details that it had possessed so long ago. Finally, that weekend, Kahmer was reunited with his long lost love. He described it as, "It's like going to your high school reunion and there's the 17-year-old girl you had a crush on."1
Perhaps you're looking for something a bit newer than the 1955 Lotus Mark X, if so, you can visit us at World Imports USA, 11650 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32246
1http://www.autoblog.com/2014/02/14/1955-lotus-mark-x-restored-reunited-former-owner/