Description
Here we have for sale my Series 1 Lotus Elise, MY'01 Y reg, finished in Norfolk Mustard. With a genuine less than 30k on the clock, I am the second owner, the first owner buying the car new from Murray Motor Company in Edinburgh. I bought the car from him in Jun 2021 and it comes with a huge file of paperwork, past servicing and MOT certificates (in the days before online, remember those?!), tax discs and receipts for accessories and work done.
The car in essentially untouched in terms of after market accessories, the only changes in that department being Series 2 Bilstien suspension and a Janspeed stainless steel rear silencer, and the car retains it’s original cat and airbox.
Since I have owned the car I was not required to do anything to it other than cosset it in the garage and keep the battery on an optimiser for good health while it was wrapped up in the warmth and dry.
Earlier this year (2026) however I decided it was time for a refresh and had an extensive amount of renewing of the underside - the list is below and the work was carried out by renowned specialists Steve Williams Sports Cars in Maidenhead. The list is extensive and covers the full suspension and geometry components plus a few extras and the car was treated to a full C service with all belts and fluids being replaced with Lotus recommended. I have included photos of the new suspension from all 4 corners.
Work carried out:
REPLACE REVERSE LIGHT SWITCH
REPLACE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR
STRIP N/ S DOOR AND REPAIR WINDOW
REMOVE DRIVE SHAFTS AND REPLACE CV BOOTS
CLEAN OFF RUST AND PAINT SHAFTS BEFORE RE FITTING
REPLACE GEAR BOX OIL
STRIP OUT ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND REPLACE WITH NEW AS LISTED BELOW
CHECK AND RESET GEOMETRY
REMOVE FUEL TANK AND REPLACE REAR BRAKE PIPES
BLEED BRAKE SYSTEM
MOT
Parts:
1 FULL SET SUSPENSION ARMS
1 SET SUSPENSION BUSHES
1 SET SUSPENSION BOLTS
8 BALL JOINTS
1 ANTI ROLL BAR
2 ARB BUSHES
2 ARB DROP LINKS
1 SET BILSTEIN DAMPERS
1 REAR TOE LINK KIT
4 DRIVE SHAFT BOOTS
3 REAR BRAKE PIPES
1 BRAKE FLUID
2 GEAR OIL
1 REVERSE LAMP SWITCH
1 MULTI FUNCTION RELAY
1 UNDER TRAY FITTING KIT
1 CAM BELT
1 ALTERNATOR BELT
1 SPEED SENSOR
Since then the car has done around 200 miles and after owning 12 of these S1 Elises since my first in ’00, I can honestly say it drives like no other, it is tight and the steering feel and cornering is sublime and pin-sharp. As you can see from the photos taken today (first day of decent sunshine we’ve had in ages up here!) it gleams in the sunshine and the pearlescent Norfolk Mustard paint really sets of the curves of the car.
The interior is full black leather and shows very little signs of wear, a little scrubbing on the sill cover on the drivers side as you can see. Having the Lotus tailored mats from new means the floor is in good condition too, and these are removed every winter to allow the floor to breathe. The car retains the original window winders and press studs and I have resisted the urge to replace with aluminium in order to retain its originality.
I will be sorry to see the Elise go, but my bones are struggling getting in and out of it now with the roof on and this is a car that needs to be driven and enjoyed, especially now it’s fully serviced and mechanically sorted.
I’m happy to answer any questions anyone may have, and happy to take any pics of anything I may have missed. Many thanks for taking the time to read this and all the best.
