Description
1999 Lotus Elise S1 with DVA K13a upgrade – 38k miles
Many thanks for viewing the advert, I’ve owned this car for more than 10 years and it represents the perfect fast road performance set-up. It’s sublime to drive, sounds fantastic, provides great feedback and has had the weak areas of the S1 addressed so it’s ready for the next owner to enjoy. I know my Elises inside and out, have completely rebuilt several as well completed a Honda conversion & resolved many issues with friends cars and help run one of the owners clubs. This car has only been used in the dry during my ownership, I have another car that I take on track so it's been pampered.
The spec is as follows - significant amounts have been spent on this car, representing excellent value!
1999 Lotus Elise S1 – registered in August 1999, 4 owners including me. The car also appeared briefly on The Grand Tour - 7 years ago.
Engine & transmission
1. 8 Litre Rover K series engine – by Dave Andrews to DVA K13a spec (which made 155bhp when dyno'd) :
Ported cylinder head modified flow enough air for 175BHP providing scope for future upgrades
- Deflashed inlet manifold
- Modified stock air box to increase flow, plus K&N Panel filter
- Piper 633 camshafts
- Adjustable Piper vernier pulleys (timed by DVA)
- Emerald K6 ECU - with map that operates in closed-loop mode for MOT compliance
- 52mm Aluminium throttle body
- Upgraded Eliseparts throttle linkage
- 82 degree PRRT thermostat
- Clutch pedal truneon bush upgraded - so a nice smooth action
- Upgraded gear linkage bushes
- Braided clutch hose
- Janspeed large bore 4-2-1 exhaust manifold with Eliseparts flex sports cat
- Brooke Kensington Silencer
- B4BP Close ratio gearbox – reconditioned by transmission solutions
- Upgraded rear engine steady mount
- Aluminium radiator & replaced fan
Handling
- Reconditioned steering rack with bronze cups – completed by Hofmanns
- Nitron NTR 40 dampers with Hofmanns geometry
- Upgraded uniball double-sheer toe links (Elise-shop) - a very important safety item in my opinion - I always change these on my cars
- Carbon Lorraine RC5 pads, braided hoses, Motul RPF600 fluid, plain Pagid discs all round, the feel is great & bite excellent
Interior
- Floors are corrosion-free and were addressed as a factory recall years ago
- Refurbished S1 seats with probax inserts & cushions
- Sill pads are in A1 condition & not worn
- It’s a lovely place to be, very comfortable & tidy
Exterior
- New aluminium paintwork is in excellent condition, it has the later GRP boot lid
- Clear indicators - very desirable, as new
- Eliseparts headlight covers
- Black rear stone guards
- Soft top is in great condition, with the plastic strip remaining unbroken
- Door seals are not corroded unlike many and are nice and flat
- Grilles are very good too - not corroded at all
- Victory wheels finished in black with Nankang NS-2R tyres all round
Overall, it’s a lovely example. I’ve regularly maintained and improved it over the years. The gear change is slick direct, brake pedal solid, throttle response immediate. It turns in beautifully and has a much more urgent level of torque than the original 118bhp cars, while still not being overly loud. I always have used top quality oil – such as Millers CFS, Fuchs Pro S. While I’ve owned the car it has only been used on the road, although I am sure it would be very entertaining on track too and has enough parts upgraded that it would certainly be up to it. It fires up on the button and has never let me down, it just needs to be driven. Large folder of receipts and has the original ECU present. The alarm siren even works properly! If you’re looking for a fun Rover K powered Elise that is very entertaining to drive and ready for the summer, this could be it. I purchased this car nearly 11 years ago from a fellow enthusiastand was really impressed with it's condition. I am the 4th owner, since then, the car has been cherished and used sparingly. Always garaged, never left outside meaning that it is well preserved. It has a large folder of service history & receipts, I have upgraded components that make sense, being a director of Seloc. org & Elise fanatic I understand how these cars function and have worked on many of them over the years overcoming issues that have plagued their owners! If you're looking for a lovely driving car that will be reliable then this one is certainly worth consideration. Drop me a line and I'll answer any questions as I know it inside-out.
If you want to take a base car and get to the same spec then this is what it would cost :
Janspeed 4-2-1 Large Bore Manifold £948. 00 + VAT
Victory Wheels - £1200-1500 a set
Dampers - at least £1500 now
Seats - £1200 + sill pads so £1400
Toe links - £350
Emerald K6 ECU - £740
DVA K13a engine work - £1875 + fitting
Close ratio gearbox - they go for around £700 now
Sports cat - £500
Clear indicators £200
Headlight covers £100
Alloy radiator £299 + VAT
£10, 104. 60 and fitting on top of all of that too
