1997 LOTUS ELISE S1

KEY FACTS

• An unmolested and low-mileage example of a landmark lightweight driver’s car, fresh from a recent cambelt and full service, with previous head gasket upgrade, and with a fresh set of tyres.
• Its engine is the rev-happy 118bhp 1.8-litre DOHC K-series inline-four, driving the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission.
• This car has never been raced, and has no evidence of abuse. It has previously spent an extended period of time in storage, but has been kept well maintained.

EQUIPMENT AND OPTIONS

• Finished in Calypso Red, its lightweight bucket seats were originally trimmed wholly in leather, but the centre panels have recently been renewed with Alcantara.
• As an early model, it retains the lighter and more powerful Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) brake discs, which are a rare find given that replacement items are no longer available.
• These early models are understood to have a dry weight of just 725kg.
• It rides on the original Lotus AWI five-spoke alloy wheels.
• The only known modifications comprise an aftermarket exhaust system, the re-trimmed seat centres, door cards covered in Alcantara, and a more contemporary stereo head unit.
• Accompanying the car is a very good history folder, including a handwritten summary of previous services, and periods spent under a valid SORN certificate. A Laserline Category 2 immobiliser was installed in 2005.

CONDITION

• No known body damage.
• Its paintwork is in good condition overall, with only minor imperfections in the finish, including some small stone chips around the front end, and a blemish on the offside headlight bezel. Road rash on the sills and wing mirrors was sprayed over by a previous owner, and the vendor notes that the colour match is not perfect.
• The interior is in great shape for its age. There is slight ageing to the seat bolsters, minor marks around the footwells, and a light patina to the steering wheel rim. The door sill covers, often a high-wear area, present very well.
• The ignition is on a separate starter switch, and there are no known electrical or mechanical faults.
• The car is booked in for a fresh MOT on 18 May during the auction, so will have a new certificate for the next owner. Bidders should note that while a previous test from mainland UK in 2018 shows up in the online history, the car has spent its life in Northern Ireland prior to this where the tests do not appear on the Government web portal.
• Fitted with a fresh set of Yokohama Advan Neova AD08RS tyres (195/50 R15 front, 225/45 R16 rear) in May 2021.

SERVICE HISTORY

• It was last serviced in April 2021 at 20,935 by sports car specialist Workshop Seventy7 in Northamptonshire. This comprised an engine oil and filter change, cambelt replacement, and a new battery.
• Prior to this, it also had recent services in September 2019 at 20,825 miles, and in September 2017 at 19,570 miles; the latter at Hollybrook Sports Cars, involving a cambelt and tensioner change, fresh spark plugs, renewal of the cam seal, and a new fuel pump.
• During the most recent ownership, the wiring loom has been fully inspected, and new tyres have been fitted.
• Three services are on record between May 2015 and April 2016, and prior to this it is believed to have spent around seven years off the road in storage (between 2007 and 2017 the car covered just 2,600 miles).

SUMMARY

The appeal of the Lotus Elise S1 is perhaps best summarised by Andrew Frankel’s retrospective in February 2021’ Motor Sport magazine, where he concluded: “It’s not just one of the all-time great Lotuses, it’s one of the world’s finest sportscars, period.”

This particular S1 is a great example of the breed, presented in very good order throughout, and benefiting from strong recent maintenance history. For an enthusiast seeking one of the purest and most rewarding driving experiences, there are few cars better than the Elise, and this is an unspoiled example that is ready to enjoy.

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.