An interesting, well written read of Rotus, and seven insanity in general.
"Most nights, when all the Corollas have been put to bed, Custer can be found in his Rotus shop, welding tubular frames for another slightly mad customer who will surely undergo some kind of rebirth the first time he crams himself behind the wheel, peers out over the long, low hood, cranks the engine, hears the impudent blat of the exhaust and finally tromps on the throttle. "
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/1987/11/08/what-a-sports-car-is-supposed-to-be/3fc3bf14-cbe5-4f56-a120-188d1dd165eb/
Reading about Rotus in Ortenburger's book, LotusSeven & The Independents p137, The origin of the name "Rotus" doesn't come from the rotary engined sevens he built, but rather from the way Mr. Hasagawa, director, Toyota competition department, pronounced "Lotus" in his engrish.