The Elise is very much regarded as the car that saved Lotus. Affordable, great to drive and stunning to look at, the company’s first small sports car since the Elan was an instant hit, winning the hearts and minds of sports car fans across the world. 

Powered by a Lotus-tuned version of the Rover K-Series engine, its 120bhp power output wasn’t huge on paper, but given the Elise’s light weight of less than 800kg, it was plenty quick enough – 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds made it an absolute scream to drive, especially when coupled to the car’s wonderful tubular spaceframe chassis. 

The Type 23 was revealed in 2003 as a limited run of just 50 cars to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Lotus Type 23 racing car’s Nürburgring debut, in which Colin Chapman’s baby race car destroyed much bigger and more powerful opposition from Ferrari, Maserati and Porsche. 

The Type 23 emulated the look of the classic racer with its Old English White with Lotus Racing Green twin stripe colour scheme, subtly complemented by two proudly displayed Lotus heritage laurels and six-spoke silver alloy wheels, with a bespoke green perforated leather interior.

This one is the very last Type 23 produced – number 50 out of 50 – and was originally owned by Lotus Cars itself, hence the Norfolk registration. It has huge collector potential as a result. 

 

Registered in March 2003, AU03 CZW has been enthusiast-owned for most of its life and comes with a comprehensive service history. 

It first belonged to Lotus before being sold to an owner in Yorkshire at 12 months old and has been maintained by either Lotus dealers of main dealers ever since. It has covered 65,755 miles from new and has service history up to 62,332 miles. It will be supplied freshly serviced and with the book stamped, and with a new MOT certificate. 

The car comes with a full UK V5 and will have a fresh MOT at the point of sale. Also included with it are a service book, stamped by JCT 600 Lotus in Leeds at 13,874, 22,154, 37,979, 44,424, 52,409 and 55,333 miles. It was next stamped by Startsone Lotus in Leicester at 57,959 miles and by two independents since, one in Cheshire and one in Derbyshire. 

It also comes with its original book pack containing an owners’ manual and a few additional bills, plus a printout and photos of when it as sold by a specialist a few years back. 

The Elise looks stunning in its Old English White colour scheme, with Lotus Green stripes. It is free from any damage and the paint condition is excellent, as are the alloy wheels, all of which are shod with good quality tyres with plenty of tread. 

The original Lotus Racing laurel emblems are present and correct on both sides and the car comes with a detachable hardtop that matches the exterior colour scheme, as well as a stylish green soft top.

It’s a fabulous and fresh-looking car, supplied with a full HPI certificate showing it has never been subject to an insurance claim or major damage. 

Inside, the Elise has green perforated leather seats, embossed with Lotus Racing laurels in the head restraints. The seats are edged in grey Alcantara and are in fine condition, with no notable wear.

The cabin is otherwise pretty basic, as befitting of a pure sports car. The controls all work as they should, including the digital mileage, fuel and trip display. 

Under the rear engine cover you’ll find Lotus’s version of the venerable Rover K-Series engine, which starts and runs well and holds good oil pressure. 

The unit holds a steady temperature and the coolant and oil are both clear suggesting there are none of the head gasket issues that plagued Rover models with the same engine. 

The vendor reports that the car drives superbly, with amazing handling and eager acceleration, while the short-shift gearbox is said to be a delight to use. Recent work carried out on the car includes new rear wheel bearings. 

The Elise is a great choice of modern classic sports car in any format – even a standard one is an absolute joy to drive, and values of good, well-preserved examples are very much on an upward trajectory. 

This one has the added appeal of being a very rare special edition, while the fact it is the very last one of its type made adds to its future investment potential. Yet as well as being a sound purchase for the future, it’s also a tremendously good fun car to drive with amazing handling and performance. 

It’s a great car – hugely likeable for many reasons, rare and immaculately presented, steeped in motorsport heritage and backed up by a decent service history that shows it has been properly looked after throughout its life.