1963 Lotus Elan S1
Highlights
- Restoration completed in 2021
- Chassis replaced with a galvanized unit
- Engine rebuilt with new ancillaries
- Supplied with both a hardtop and soft top frame
The Appeal
The Lotus Elan S1 is among the most revered lightweight sports cars of the 1960s. Colin Chapman's ingenious combination of a backbone chassis, fiberglass body, and Lotus-Ford twin-cam engine produced a car that was remarkably agile and rewarding to drive, setting the benchmark for small British sports cars for decades to come.
This 1963 example was imported from Florida in 2008 and subsequently underwent a thorough restoration, completed in 2021. The scope of work included replacing the chassis with a galvanized unit, overhauling the body shell, and rebuilding the engine. The paintwork was renewed at around the same time, and the interior was retrimmed. Always garage-kept, this Elan is offered with both a hardtop and a soft top frame. The vendor describes it as very pleasant and responsive to drive, and it is being sold simply because it has not seen enough use to justify keeping it.
Key Information
- Mileage: 53,075 km indicated (the odometer has been around the clock or replaced; the reading is not warranted)
- Country of registration: France (Carte Grise de Collection)
- Technical inspection status: expired since March 2021
- Technical specs: 1.6L DOHC inline-four Lotus-Ford twin cam engine producing around 105bhp with twin Weber carburetors, paired with a four-speed manual gearbox driving the rear wheels
- Paperwork: registration document and restoration invoices
The Detail
- Imported from Florida in 2008
- Yellow paintwork with a black roof and stripe
- 13-inch wheels with three-eared knock-offs
- Retrimmed black faux leather interior with wood inlays
- Chassis replaced with a galvanized unit during the restoration
- Body shell overhauled
- Engine rebuilt, including new core plugs, renovated radiator, and new water pump
- Slight oil leak noted at the engine sump/crankcase
- Paintwork renewed approximately five years ago with the vendor noting only very light scratches and slight defects
- Carpet slightly worn
- Always garage-kept
- Has not been driven much since restoration, which is the stated reason for sale
Comments
Vintage••••
Hello, could you explain what's going on with this unusual chassis number (DR141501MO), as Lotus never issued a number like that? Also, why were the front bumper and all the wings modified during the restoration? That's not what a standard S1 looked like at all! Finally, was the green stripe painted on or just stuck on? Thanks in advance.
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Se••••
Thanks.
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vincent••••
BidderHello, do you have a restoration file with invoices? Thanks in advance, regards.
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rochdal••••
Hello yes I have invoices, lots of parts are new. From the photos you can see it's a complete restoration from the chassis to the body itself. Cheers
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sox••••
BidderHi, in the video at 0.55 when the car starts it looks like it's not running on all 4 cylinders, would you be able to provide a compression test report? Thanks
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rochdal••••
hello yes it was running on 3 cylinders, I was waiting for the mechanic who managed to come after the video actually, turned out one of the 4 new spark plugs was faulty, it's been running really well since then cheers
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