Description
I am selling my 1990 Lotus Elan M100 SE finished in red with red and grey interior and 16” alloy wheels from the S2. I have owned her since April 2019 and not used her for the past couple of years.
She came to me with her original handbook/ service book, plus a large amount of paperwork comprising numerous MOT certificates, service invoices, details of other work undertaken during her lifetime and information from DVLA relating to previous owners and private registration numbers. The service book is fully stamped up and there are invoices for services which are recorded in the book plus additional services which could not be recorded in the book as it was full.
She starts upon the first turn of the key with all the warning lights extinguishing as they should and holds very good oil pressure. All of the electrical items are working, including all the dials and gauges. She would perform faultlessly with plenty of power on tap when I was using her and I have no reason to doubt that this remains the case now. She still has that distinctive M100 sound to her upon start-up. I had the timing belt and water pump replaced in 2021 @ 125, 020 miles and, at the same time, the tensioner was replaced plus the auxiliary drive belts.
Externally, she polishes up well and the fibreglass bodywork is in very good order for her age. There are a few very small chips and marks plus some spider cracking but nothing which is immediately noticeable or which would warrant restoration. She is perfectly presentable and can be used as is. The wheels clean up well but are suffering from slight kerbing, plus lacquer peel around the edge of one of them and one of the centre caps is missing. The hood was replaced with a mohair item by the previous owner in 2017 and remains in excellent condition with a lovely clear plastic rear window. The seals between the doors and windows need to be replaced, as do those which run down both sides of the windscreen. I purchased replacement items from SJ Sportscars and these are included in the sale, along with a rubber seal which fits between the bodywork and the pipe which leads to the throttle body. She still has her perspex rear number plate cover, although this has a small crack, which you can see in the pictures.
Internally she needs fettling, although you could use her as is, which is exactly what I did. Both seats would benefit from being re-upholstered and the metal plates to the side of the headrests need to be rubbed down and re-sprayed, as they have gone a bit rusty. You will also note that the glovebox is missing. I do have this, plus all the fixings bar the bent wire part which the latch clips into and it is all currently in the boot, along with the seals mentioned above.
My reason for selling the Elan is that she is not getting used and deserves to go to somebody who will get her back on the road and, at some point, sort out the interior and exterior items which need attention. She currently does not have an MOT and has an issue with regards to the handbrake which does not engage on one side and only just engages on the other. I purchased a pair of reconditioned rear callipers from SJ Sportscars, as I believed this to be the issue but it has made no difference. It could be something as simple as the handbrake cables, which could have seized due to lack of use but SJ Sportscars have confirmed via e-mail that the callipers can be returned to them for inspection free of charge. I will forward this e-mail to the new owner so they can accept this offer, if need be. I have reached the stage where I have no inclination to explore the handbrake issue any further and feel that it would be in the Elan’s best interests to be bought by somebody who will give her the attention she deserves.
In my opinion, she is an excellent example of the M100 and just needs a bit of fettling. She has an extensive history file and is finished in a classic colour combination. I do have a walk around video available and, if anyone would like to see this, please let me know.
If anyone has any questions or would like to arrange a viewing, please feel free to either contact me.
Thanks
Bradley
