Very desirable example of one of the best British sports cars of the last 25 years
Distinctive road legal, track-focussed version of the Elise
1 of just 340 built
Low mileage with Lotus service history
Factory standard car that has clearly been cared for
Ultra-light design with 0-60 mph in just 4.4secs
177bhp ‘Very High Power Derative’ version of the proven K-Series engine
Very rare prototype hard top with gull wings included
MOT to June 2023 with no advisories
The Appeal
The success of Lotus’ Elise left some would-be buyers clamouring for something even lighter, faster and above all rarer. In 1998 Lotus obliged, unveiling the 340R, of which just 340 would ever be built. It was available for one year only, in 2000, and the full run sold out before production began.
The 340R’s distinctive bodywork – if the minimal collection of panels warrants that description – helped shave 20% off the already light weight of the Elise. The result was an even sharper, quicker car: quite an achievement considering the innate abilities of the original.
This low mileage 340R has clearly been cared for, its anthracite grey and black bodywork and numerous exposed features all being in very good condition. It is unusual, perhaps unique, in having a hard top that features remarkable gullwing doors and gives this otherwise roofless car broader all-weather capabilities. The Lotus 340R had few competitors when it was new, making this a very rare opportunity to buy a brilliant British sports car from one of our greatest car makers. vOlCgwdT1ifPR1zQHyBhauhYqjYbUjZ7hARlSYod.jpg560.64 KB
The History And Paperwork
First registered 27th June 2000
Number 276 of 340 built
Lotus handbook
Scheduled service at 12,500 miles in June 2020 by Lotus main dealer
Brake pads, timing belt and water pump done in May 2022
Attractive bright Alcantara seat and steering wheel trim in good condition
Carbon fibre highlights
Blue Lotus tonneau cover matches seat trim
Schroth four point safety harnesses
Colin Chapman’s maxim was ‘add lightness,’ favouring better engineering over more power. That simple, clever ethos is nowhere more evident that in the interior of this 340R. ‘Minimalism’ feels like it only begins to describe the clearly focussed approach to removing anything that isn’t absolutely and strictly necessary for the business of driving.
The result is remarkable, an interior that is simple and entirely about focus and avoiding distraction. It is cleverly designed, the duo of instruments augmented by a simple line of switches down the centre of the car. And that’s pretty much it.
The interior of this 23 year old car is in remarkable condition, reflecting the careful owners and low miles. The bright blue Alcantara seats contrast nicely with the swathes of aluminium, which are alleviated by fillets of carbon fibre. The indications of age are very minor: there are some scuffs on the lower dash roll, the centre console trim and the aluminium sill covers, particularly on the driver’s side. The aluminium has also worn beneath the pedals and there is a light sheen on the steering wheel.
Ultra lightweight body shaves 175kg off the standard Elise kerb weight to just 701kg
Factory standard alloy wheels fitted all round
Yokohama tyres dated to 2009 but very similar to the specially-designed tyres fitted at the factory
Extremely rare prototype hard top by Reverie Composites with clever gull wing doors
All 340Rs were supplied in Anthracite Grey with black spoilers and mud guards
It may be registered as a road car but there is something hybrid about the 340R, blending as it does a planted four-wheeled stance with bodywork somewhere between a race car and a motorbike. It is very distinctive yet born of engineering goals: it helps the 340R knock over 20% off the kerb weight of the standard Elise, a car not generally noted for being portly.
All 340Rs were supplied by the factory in a combination of Anthracite grey metallic with black spoilers and mud guards. The bodywork on this car is in very good condition, only inevitable stone chips, particularly to the vulnerable rear mudguards and engine vents, detracting.
The light grey paintwork cleverly hides the small number of stone chips on the front of the car. Both rear mudguards and engine vents have various stone chips.
On the back of the car there is a scuff above the central fog light. For completeness the lower edges of both exhaust tips show signs of deterioration.
The factory standard alloy wheels – 15inch on the front, 16inch on the back – are in very good unmarked condition, which is perhaps the best reflection of how well this car has been looked after by its four owners. The rims are shod with quality Yokohama tyres: the original 340R was sold with specially developed tyres. The Yokohamas are the closest available match to those.
The most distinctive feature of an already highly distinctive car is likely its unusual hard top. This was developed by Reverie Composites, a company run by one of the Lotus engineers behind the 340R, and features a svelte shape that is cohesive with the car’s design. Never formally manufactured, just a handful of prototypes were sold of which this is one. It features clever gullwing doors and enables the 340R to be used in all weathers. The Seller states that the hard top is not perfect and may need some reconditioning, but it looks to be in good condition in the photographs. fYSzgZnyNJqriBatNC72XAoF0AEQJ34MbrrfXNtW.jpg639.57 KB
The Mechanics
1.8litre Rover K-Series engine in ‘VHPD’ (Very High Power Derivative) form developing 177bhp
0-60mph in 4.4secs
5spd manual Rover gearbox
Janspeed exhaust fitted
12,500 scheduled main dealer service in June 2020
Oil and filter change at specialist in May 2022
Brake pads, timing belt and water pump replaced in May 2020
New battery in 2022 and kept on trickle charge when not in use
Where other cars make do with ever greater engine capacities, Lotus’ commitment to lightness enables the 340R to deliver devastating performance with just a 1.8litre K-Series motor, albeit in what the firm calls ‘Very High Power Derivative’ output. The 340R needs just 177bhp to deliver 60mph in under 4.5secs.
This low mileage car comes with good service history, including the scheduled 12,500 mile service carried out by a Lotus main dealer in 2020. Other work includes replacing the timing chain and water pump in May 2022 when the car also had an oil and filter change.
Also in 2022 the Seller replaced the battery. This is a particularly complicated job on the 340R and therefore one of those jobs that will likely please any enthusiast buyer. During his tenure the Seller has kept the car on a trickle charge when not in use to maintain the battery condition.
The very low volume 340R is all about single-minded focus: it is a track car that is road legal. That obsession delivered a car that was highly rated by journalists and buyers when it was new and remains one of the greatest British sports cars of the last 25 years.
This low mileage 340R is in very good condition and has clearly been cared for. The required and proactive service work – like the timing belt – has been done. There is also the added appeal of that extremely rare and very desirable hard top, which transforms how and when this car can be enjoyed. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a hugely capable Lotus that will surely deliver smiles by the mile.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
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