{"id":208,"date":"2013-04-09T16:04:08","date_gmt":"2013-04-09T16:04:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/colinchapmanmuseum.org.uk\/?page_id=208"},"modified":"2022-06-24T08:19:36","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T08:19:36","slug":"frank-costin","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/colinchapmanmuseum.co.uk\/?page_id=208","title":{"rendered":"Contemporaries and Peers 2: Frank Costin"},"content":{"rendered":"

Contemporaries and Peers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Frank Costin [1920 -1995] and his Designs for Lotus<\/strong><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

In this article we examine the work of Frank Costin and describe his work for Colin Chapman and Lotus.
\nFrank Costin made a significant contribution to Lotus at a time when the application of his scientific principles allied to Chapman\u2019s chassis and suspension design helped compensate for the less powerful engines available to Lotus.<\/p>\n

Frank Costin was a good applied engineer and extrapolated technologies in particular materials and aerodynamic principles from aircraft where he started his career. Its possible that some of his major designs might have been inspired by the Mosquito and Comet which was under development at the time when he worked for de Havilland.<\/p>\n

He quoted<\/p>\n

\u201cApplied aerodynamics is a combination of knowing physical laws, a great deal of experience and the right feel\u201d<\/p>\n

Frank Albert Costin was born on the 8th June 1920 in London. He was the first of four children .He was always very close to his brother Mike. In later life both brothers would be associated with Colin Chapman. [Mike would become famous for his partnership with Kith Duckworth forming Cosworth Engineering]<\/p>\n

Frank had a \u201cgift for acute observation, quick analysis and remarkable understanding\u201d<\/p>\n

Like Chapman he had a streak of non-conformity whilst aspiring to academic excellence. Frank preferred applied engineering where he could engage both hands and mind and have total responsibility.<\/p>\n

From our analysis it will be evident that Costin’s ideas were extremely forward thinking particularly in the area of petrol \/ fuel efficiency extracted through aerodynamic design. His concepts and principles live on and in may respects have been copied or inspirational in many modern day city car designs.
\nReaders will also be aware of the significance of aerodynamics in current FI. Costin and Chapman were not the first but applied critical analysis and were committed protagonists.<\/p>\n

Frank Costin possibly did not get all the credit he deserved. It\u2019s hoped that this article will provide a perspective.<\/p>\n

This article will be used as focus for a more detailed analysis of aerodynamic principles to follow.<\/p>\n

Frank Costin: CV<\/strong><\/p>\n

Frank Costin was a gifted versatile engineer, thinker and industrial designer specialising in aerodynamics. He was also a cultivated man and competent musician and composer. As a young man he was a talented athlete [swimming] Like Chapman he enjoyed flying, gliding, sailing and with friends built a glider called Condor c 1949.His close friends included Ron Clear, Bert Parslow and Peter Davis. He started early working as an aircraft fitter but soon found promotion. By 1951 he was Flight Test Engineer [in charge of the Experimental Dept] at de Havilland and promoted in 1953 to Engineer in Charge [Aerodynamic Flight Test Dept; Chester]<\/p>\n

His career included employment with:<\/p>\n