Highlights

One lady owner from new until June 2023
Never used on track or modified
Remarkably comprehensive folder of paperwork

The Appeal

On its launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1995, the Lotus Elise was described as ‘the world’s most advanced sports car’. Designed and developed in-house at Lotus, the car was a genuine innovation that redefined lightweight automotive engineering, with its epoxy-bonded extruded aluminium chassis.

Powered by Rover’s K-series engine, the car’s light weight helped it achieve a 0-60mph time of just 5.5 seconds. Motoring journalists and buyers loved the car; this was a new generation of light and agile performance car that thrilled purist drivers.

This one has never been used on a track and is original throughout, albeit with a few age related cosmetics to consider. It has had just one lady owner from new until earlier this year, and has a detailed history file from the original Lotus invoice to the latest service in June

The History and Paperwork

First registered in March 2000.
Mileage of just 67,000, fully supported with the history
Original service book with 12 stamps from its first 1000 miles to just over 62,000.
Original sales invoice and dealer documents, and handwritten notes of the extras supplied
Large file of invoices from the original supplying dealer and Lotus specialists, through to the present day
Original spec sheet
Serviced in June 2023
MoT valid until May 2024
15 MoT certificates to support the full online record
Current and previous V5s
Past tax discs
Original owner’s manual
Two original sets of keys with Cobra fobs as fitted by the supplying dealer, with the original dealer and Lotus keyrings.
Cobra alarm installation certificate
Manual and quick-start guide for Philips stereo

This Elise was specified and bought new in March 2000 by the only previous owner, a nurse from the north of England who kept the car and maintained it carefully through until June this year, when it was bought by the vendor. He intended to keep it and enjoy it, but a recent house move has meant he no longer has a triple garage, and as he owns other cars he has reluctantly decided to part with it.

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The Interior

Red leather trim
Original Stack dials
All factory fittings such as the steering wheel and gear knob present
Red Elise overmats and original rubber mats remain in the car
The Lotus interior is compact and simple and this example is unchanged from delivery day.
Wear on the driver’s seat bolster and the sill plate fabrics
The tread plates have marks and scuffs and there are a few marks and light scratches on some of the plastic interior trim all from normal use
Phillips radio/CD player
The vendor tells us that everything functions as it should with no issues to report
Windows and switches are all functioning correctly
Locking wheel nuts

The Elise’s was never intended to be a luxury environment, it’s functional and spartan but nonetheless attractive. This one has the inevitable signs of its age; the new owner may wish to keep the historic ‘patina’ or restore accordingly. Everything here is original with the exception of the Philips stereo, which is a later addition but comes with its instruction manual.

The storage net that lives behind the seats is also supplied but not currently fitted, and there are two locking wheel nuts.

The Exterior

Original metallic Titanium paintwork
Paintwork is showing its age but overall has a nice deep shine and a few mandatory stone chips, let down by scratches from the lady owner’s cats!
A few other scuffs and scratches around the bodywork are present and there is a small dice-sized chip on the driver’s side front wheel arch.
The original alloy wheels are all good although would benefit from a refurb
Excellent Uniroyal Rainsport tyres with less than 1000 miles of use.
Brightwork and badging all complete in very good condition
Scratch on windscreen
Dark red original convertible hood in fair condition with some minor damage but all fittings present, correct and working.
External trim, badges and lights all good and clear
Underneath looks good and solid

The Elise’s elegant lines have stood the test of time; it’s still an attractive car. The paintwork on this one is all original but has suffered from the attentions of the lady owner’s cats – there are numerous scratches evident, some of which might polish out but some are deeper.

The dark red hood is also original and has some minor damage which has been repaired, although the vendor reports that it’s weatherproof.

The alloy wheels are generally good but are showing signs of their age, while the Uniroyal tyres have covered less than 1000 miles.

The Mechanics

1.8-litre VVC Rover K-series engine
5-speed manual ‘box
Runs and drives beautifully
Cylinder head refurbished and timing belt replaced at 47, 300 miles
Fuel tank rebuild and new shock absorbers at 67, 400 miles.
Recent service in June with new discs/pads from Elise Parts, sliders and pistons serviced.
The vendor advises that the car drives as it should with no issues to report

On the day of our photo shoot, the car started instantly every time, and the engine runs with a lovely note. The vendor has thoroughly enjoyed driving it It’s clear from the service history and other paperwork that the car has been carefully maintained and any issues addressed. The current owner has made a brief video this week to show potential buyers how it runs which can be found at the end of the description.

In the engine compartment, there are signs of the car’s age but everything is in its place and there are no leaks or damage.

Summary

Amongst the paperwork with this car is an Elise buyer’s guide from Autocar magazine, and the introduction perfectly sums up the car’s appeal: ‘In traffic or on the open road, the Elise is a joy. Tough as old boots, it costs little to maintain, scarcely depreciates and is very frugal. When you’ve parked up and crawled out, you’ll just want to get in and do it all again…’

The ‘Series 1’ Lotus Elise is the car’s purest incarnation and remains the most sought-after. Good examples are increasingly hard to find and values reflect this. Despite the cosmetics, this example has low mileage, 1 owner to 2023, a complete and fascinating history and originality on its side – just in time for some late-summer, wind-in-the-hair motoring thrills.

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