1998 Lotus S1 Elise Sport 190

Highlights

• 1 of only 31 UK cars ever produced, the rarest of all S1 Elise models
• Sought after and valuable private registration included
• Vast history file and service record, full Lotus Provenance
• Some well specified enhancements (all original parts included)
• Maintained in superb overall condition

Overview

Here at PistonHead Towers, we see a lot of interesting cars, cherished cars, fast cars and rare cars. We’re ruined really. However, what we very rarely see is a car that ticks every single one of those boxes. That’s the holy grail for us petrolheads.

And so we present to you, the holy grail. Yes, not only is this a Series 1 Elise Sport 190 (one of only 31 made for the UK, according to Lotus), but it’s in the best colour (Mustard Yellow Spice Metallic – again, one of only five according to the Lotus Archives), has been magnificently well maintained and comes with a raft of enhancements to make the driving experience even better. Oh, and all the original parts are included too, just in case you want to return it to full factory specification.

Pumping that rorty little 1.8-litre K-Series up to a mighty 190bhp from the original 120bhp would have seemed like ‘job done’ to most of us. But not Lotus, oh no. Their Special Vehicle Operations department really went to town on the 190, gifting it lighter glass-fibre bodywork, a lighter dashboard, fixed Corbeau racing buckets, a close ratio transmission and uprated brakes. The result was that the already featherweight (725Kg) Elise was pared back even further to a bantamweight 670Kg. That’s like losing a small adult. Or two decent size labradors.

As you can imagine, the driving experience is phenomenal. Visceral, whip-crack reactive and intensely focused – yet not undrivable. The current owner has always used the car on the roads and never on track, and says it’s a fantastic drive.

For anyone that has ever wanted to put a Series 1 Elise in their garage – and that really should be all of you – then the 190 really is the one to get. But of course, they’re as rare as rocking horse droppings. Quite handy that this absolute gem of an example is being offered up for auction then, isn’t it? You know what to do…

History and documentation

• Registered 6th November 1998, supplied by Bell & Colvill
• Original SVA certificate from 1998 included
• Two former owners, current owner since 24 November 2016
• Full document pack and two keys
• Lotus Certificate of Provenance and letter from the Lotus Archivist
• Extensive file of invoices and receipts for servicing and maintenance
• The first two owners had the car regularly serviced at Bell & Colvill, the supplying dealership
• Stamped service book from new to 2008
• The car was in storage for a few years, before being purchased by the current owner and recommissioned
• Currently just under 45,500 miles on the clock, verified by service and MOT records
• Current MOT with no advisories, expires 18th June 2025
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear (as of July 2024)
• Lotus service manual included, along with Lotus service tools, including a low-height trolley jack from Elise Parts with its original box, and some spares
• All of the original parts are included, as well as the installation instructions for the Elise Parts additions so the car can be returned to factory stock
• Perfectly apt and stonkingly rare ‘S190LOT’ registration is included in the sale
• While it would be hilarious if this was London ULEZ compliant, it isn’t, of course
• The owner is a Lotus enthusiast and experienced engineer with their own workshop, during their ownership they have serviced and maintained the car, with receipts for all parts
• Following extensive research, he was also able to fabricate a replacement diagonal brace bar or ‘petty bar’ to the original specification to replace the original which was mislaid during the previous owner’s tenure
• The owner tells us they have only ever taken the car out in the dry, never tracked it, and have always kept it covered and garaged when not in use
• This car is now reluctantly offered for sale as the vendor is relocating

Interior

• Striking black and red Motorsport 190 upholstery, showing no discernible wear or damage
• Corbeau fixed racing buckets with front and rear embroidery to the headrest
• New six-point race harnesses, finished in red
• The driver’s seat has been renewed, while the passenger seat has been factory refurbished
• Elise Parts driver’s sun visor
• Elise Parts oil pressure and temperature gauges installed to the lower section of the dashboard
• Elise Parts aluminium window winders and door trim fasteners
• Elise Parts Quickshift and polished gear gate
• Factory roll cage with removable race petty bar roll bar pad fitted
• New black leather sill protectors have been fitted, along with new inner and outer door windows seals
• New OEM ‘Elise’ floor mats
• A new passenger foot rest plate has been fitted, and has been modified to accommodate the floor socket for the (removable) petty bar
• All of the trim and switchgear looks to be in fine fettle, with no cracks, UV damage or other issues we could see, other than some light wear to the original Momo quick-release steering wheel
• Overall, the cabin is in excellent condition, with the vendor reporting no faults or issues

Exterior

• Extremely rare Mustard Yellow Spice Metallic (B36) paintwork which looks spectacular in the sunlight
• The paintwork looks good for its age, with some light stone chips to the usual places (lower front clamshell, sills and arches)
• The front and rear clamshells look to be in excellent condition, with no notable damage or cracks
• The vendor reports some hairline gel cracks under the rear number plate and a slight mark on the offside rear clamshell
• In addition, he notes that there are some very small stone chips on the windscreen, a small crack in the polycarbonate rear screen and a very small dent on the alloy bonnet
• All of the external trim and badging looks to be complete and in good order
• The first owner had the front floors replaced under factory recall by Bell & Colvill and, since then, the rear floors have also been renewed to match
• Underneath, it looks very clean and tidy, with no signs of corrosion or significant damage we could see, just a few scrapes to the lower edge of the front clamshell
• A new black Elise Parts Mohair hood has been fitted, and the car also comes with a ‘shower cap’ both of which have seen very little use; the original hood which remains serviceable is also provided
• To keep the dust off indoors, the owner purchased a full cover which is also provided and can be used outdoors to protect the car from the elements
• As befits the motorsport nature of the car, there is a cut-off on the front offside wing as part of the 190 spec
• A new set of now ultra-rare Rimstocks were sourced and fitted by Bell & Colvill during the previous ownership and the rears have been replaced by the current owner for cosmetic reasons
• The wheels are in very good condition, with no kerbing or lacquer damage that we could see, and they’re staggered with a 15-inch 195-section to the front and 16-inch 225-section to the rear
• A relatively fresh set of matched Yokohama tyres is fitted, which the vendor tells us have done less than 2,000 miles

Mechanical

• 1,796cc ‘VHPD’ (Very High Power Derivative) twin-cam, 16-valve K-Series
• Lotus SVO’s 190 mechanical upgrades included: upgraded cylinder head, pistons, valves, crankshaft and flywheel
• Factory rated at 190bhp @ 7,000rpm with an 8,000rpm redline (standard S1 output is 120bhp)
• Accelerates from 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds
• Five-speed manual transmission – close ratio box specially fitted to the 190
• The car is currently running with a bypass pipe in the exhaust but a cat is supplied which can be fitted to make the car fully MOT-compliant
• Uprated Elise Parts gear linkage
• Uprated Bilstein dampers which work well for road use; the stock adjustable Koni suspension is included, which may be more suitable for track outings
• Elise Parts performance brake discs and bells, offering excellent and progressive stopping power
• The vendor tells us that the aftermarket alarm microswitch on the engine cover is broken, but as they keep the car garaged this has never been an issue
• We’re assured the engine uses no oil, runs with absolutely no issues and performs superbly
• The owner tells us that the fan cuts in ay 96C and out again at 89C, just as it should
• A full ‘C’ service was carried out in January 2024 at 45,402 miles – this included the cambelt, water pump, auxiliary belt, tensioner and the fluids
• There is a frankly staggering amount of paperwork that comes with the car, detailing a very comprehensive service history, and the car has passed every MOT since 2017 without any advisories
• As you’d expect from a motorsport special, it sounds incredible, with a baritone burble at tickover (about 1,100rpm due to the ‘cammy’ nature of the engine)

Summary

Where do we start with something as special as this? This is a truly special car, highly sought after by Elise aficionados. There won’t be many opportunities to put something as remarkable as this machine on your driveway.

Besides being vanishingly rare, it’s been preserved and cared for meticulously by the vendor, with extensive paperwork and Lotus Provenance for added peace of mind. And, while the vendor has carried out some excellent and worthy enhancements, all the original parts are there to return it to stock, should you wish to do so.

Nothing else drives like an Elise. They’re a near hypnotic driving experience, and the 190 is rightly revered as an all-time great. Collectible, brilliant to drive and very, very yellow, there is quite literally nothing we don’t like about this lovely little Lotus.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Ilfracombe, Devon.