Description
Kelham Hall | Newark, Nottinghamshire
Viewing: Tues 17th March 2026 from 12pm
Auction: Weds 18th March 2026
Location: Kelham Hall Main Street, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 5QX
1970 Lotus Elan S4 SE Drophead Coupe
Estimate
£22, 000 - £26, 000
Registration No: YYO 6H
Chassis No: 459765
MOT: August 2026
Desirable SE (Special Equipment) example
Subject to a comprehensive restoration during the early 2000s, including a new chassis
A further c.£7, 000 spent at Classic Restorations (Scotland) in 2019
Having owned this car in the 1970s, the vendor repurchased it and drove it back from Aberdeen to the Midlands in recent years
The brainchild of Lotus design and development engineer Ron Hickman, the Elan was introduced at the 1962 Earls Court Motor Show. Based around a steel backbone chassis (a. k. a. the 'Chapman Bracket') clad with lightweight fibreglass bodywork, the newcomer boasted such niceties as all-round independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, pop-up headlights and integral bumpers. Initially equipped with a 1, 498cc twin-cam four-cylinder engine derived from the Ford Kent unit, displacement was raised to 1, 558cc for 1963. All models had manual four-speed transmissions, except the late +2s, which gained a fifth speed. The diminutive Lotus rewrote the class rulebook in terms of ride, handling and performance. Arriving during March, 1968, the S4 was only in production for roughly two years. According to the Elan Registry, 2, 976 S4s were built, of which there are 295 registered survivors. Most desirable among the Elans were the high-performance SE (Special Equipment) models, which enjoyed such features as higher-lift cams, rejetted carburettors and a four-branch exhaust.
Remarkably, the present owner of this desirable Elan SE had previously owned it in the 1970s. Upon learning of its survival in recent years, he had to buy it back and drove it home from Aberdeen to the Midlands. Formerly, it had been acquired in 1999 by an owner who completely restored it between the early 2000s and circa 2012. This extremely comprehensive job involved a new chassis, renewal of the steering rack, brakes, clutch and suspension, and a full repaint in the original Lotus Yellow. The dashboard was refurbished and the rubber driveshaft couplings, exhaust system and much of the chrome were replaced. Later in the restoration, the engine was overhauled to the original specification, with the correct Weber carburettors, a new timing chain a new water pump. It was also extensively rewired.
The restorer sold the car in 2015 and the new owner lavished even more attention on it. Entrusting it to Classic Restorations (Scotland) Ltd., he commissioned work costing £6, 843. 75 during two months of 2019. The various jobs included replacing the gearbox oil seal, refurbishing the suspension with new shock absorber rubbers, and rehanging the doors. Some £1, 600 was spent in 2021, including fitment of new clutch and brake master cylinders. A very thorough service by Clydesdale Classic Cars, involved the renewal of the crank seal, and the gaskets for the sump, fuel pump, exhaust manifold and rear oil seal housing. In 2022, the Elan received new brake pads and a carburettor refurbishment. When it first returned to the road in 2011, the odometer had been reset from 82, 626 miles. By 2017, it had covered 800 miles, and the present reading is only around 10, 000. This S4 is a very smart and usable example of the breed, and is offered for sale with the V5C, assorted invoices, some older MOTs, and a current MOT valid to August, 2026.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
Catalogues can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people).
