The X1/9 is also excused, it too is a very good looking car.
A lot of small volume manufacturers have used parts bin bits for things like tail lights, door handles, etc, as tooling up for them is disproportionately expensive. Aston Martin also used off the shelf tail lights for decades. The difference in the Lotus case is that the bits they used, Marina door handles, etc, were a bit flimsy and shit, having been designed and built by people who didn’t care about quality.Three V E R Y good looking cars. So they are excused.
I've only ever seen one Bitter car in the metal, at the EC Motor show in, erm, maybe about 1980? It might have been a Bitter SC.
Added to which Lotus had an awful reputation for quality.A lot of small volume manufacturers have used parts bin bits for things like tail lights, door handles, etc, as tooling up for them is disproportionately expensive. Aston Martin also used off the shelf tail lights for decades. The difference in the Lotus case is that the bits they used, Marina door handles, etc, were a bit flimsy and shit, having been designed and built by people who didn’t care about quality.