The Lotus Elise was a revelation when it was launched and has captured imaginations ever since. 

The lightweight, stripped out racer for the road looked amazing but drove even better, and values have been climbing in recent years as there is so little else that can do the same thing.

This car has been with its first owner since new, and he definitely falls into the enthusiast category, having meticulously maintained the car, taken care of all the reliability upgrades and even replaced the engine with a new post MG-Rover reworked K Series 

The Lotus comes with three thick binders of receipts filled chronologically, detailing every job done to the car throughout its life, one covering just the first years correspondence with the Lotus dealer, the next two contain annual MOTs and receipts for service every year, as well as far more as a huge number of upgrades under the skin have been added over the years, as well as major maintenance such as cambelts, brakes and tyres, a rebuild of the gearbox and a recent replacement engine.

It comes with not one but three service books, filled first with main dealer Bell & Colville stamps followed by Lotus specialists such as Sinclairs and Maidstone Sports Cars.

One important document is the Certificate of Conformity showing it’s emissions levels put it in the ULEZ exempt category.

Over the 23 years he has owned the Lotus, the owner has used it extensively and worked hard to keep the car in the best running condition possible.

Elise cabins are pretty basic, built with weight reduction in mind as much as possible, exposed aluminium of the cars frame is visible on all sides and the floor coverings are simple, so these tough surfaces don't show signs of wear very much. 

The chairs are lightweight moulded buckets seats trimmed in leather with alcantara side panels.

Having been well used over the years, the fabric seat edges have worn through in places, and there leather centres have some patina from use, and the padding on the sill tops also shows signs of wear.

To make climbing in and out easier, the Momo Corse steering wheel is removable, with spring loaded contacts for the horn, and a bank of switches has been added to the right of the wheel, including one for a heated windscreen. It should be noted that the vendor has indicated that the radio is currently not working. 

Behind the seats is a bar to mount the race harnesses, and Dynamat sound deadening has been added the bulkhead and floor.

The silver paint shows the shape of the car well, and it is a very pretty machine. 

The original alloy wheels are unmarked with recent Yokohama tyres and the car has had LED headlamps fitted. Under the front bonnet the hinge has been re-bonded as this is a known failure point.

There are a lot of stone chips around the car, across the nose and some micro blisters in a couple of spots including the drivers door, and some patches of crazing, one of the engine cover. 

The paint protection film on the rear arches has yellowed and cracked. There is a small scuff on the front corner of the roof, and the rubber over the drivers window worn from climbing in and out.

This might be a 1999 Lotus, but mechanically its far younger. 

The owner has maintained it fastidiously, over the years it has wanted for nothing, no matter how small or large, as the thick folders of receipts for work and parts testify.

The biggest update has been a new engine 5000 miles ago from Eliseparts, fitted with T160 pistons, this is one of the new Chinese K Series with improved metals and gaskets, which have proved to be far more reliable than original ,and in 2018 the gearbox was rebuilt with a Quaife ATB LSD limited slip diff.

In the last couple of years, and very few miles thanks to covid, it has had a recent battery, a new starter motor, new alloy radiator, new silicone hoses in the front at the radiator and in the engine bay, uprated coolant pressure valve, uprated throttle body, it has a new dipstick, oil filler cap, header tank and cap, there are uprated rubber gearbox mounts and gear selector kit, new rear toe links and more.

Although the paint is not perfect, this is a fantastic drivers car brimming with new and upgraded parts focused on making this as reliable and enjoyable to drive as possible, and everything has come from or been done by recognised Elise specialists.

The new engine and rebuilt LSD gearbox are an excellent and expensive combination, making this one of the most usable Elises around.