1998 Lotus Elise S1

Highlights

• Lovely, original S1 Elise
• Comprehensive paperwork file and service history
• Original bill of sale
• Head gasket replaced at 51k
• Iconic green and gold colour scheme

Overview

Make no mistake – the Elise was the car that saved Lotus. After being cast aside by General Motors in the early 90s and owned by Italian enthusiast and Bugatti chairman Romano Artioli, the Norfolk sports car brand was yet again duelling with bankruptcy after suffering some hard knocks as a result of disappointing sales of the M100 Elan.

While technologically fascinating and refreshingly different, the M100 lost Lotus a stack of money leaving next to nothing left in the pot to replace it with. Its successor would be a case of back to basics, and in the most literal of ways. Luckily, Hethel’s engineers got it right first time with the Elise, creating a car that is regarded – and has been since launch - as a Pistonheads legend.

The tiny newcomer used a mix of alloy and composite materials to keep weight to a minimum – the same principles that Lotus founder Colin Chapman had insisted on with the original Lotus Seven. Keeping that weight down was the decision to use the new 1.8-litre version of the 16-valve, twin cam Rover K-Series engine, which was perfect for the job.

In all its forms, the Elise was a brilliantly engineered car that was tremendous fun to drive, but in unmodified S1 form, the concept is at its purest.

This one is a true classic – an unmolested Series 1 in great condition, finished in an evocative Lotus colour scheme and with a fabulous history file tracing it right back to Day One. It’s a real gem – one to tuck away as an appreciating classic if you can resist the draw of taking it out for a blast – which we doubt you’ll be able to…

History and documentation

• UK V5C
• MOT October 2024 – no advisories on previous inspection
• Genuine mileage
• Two keys
• Original handbooks, dealer directory and manuals
• Original bill of sale
• Cobra alarm and immobiliser
• Large folder full of service invoices and associated bills including a new head gasket at 51,000 miles
• Service history shows services at PDI (1998 – SGT, Maidenhead), 1,354 miles (1998 – SGT Maidenhead), 8,700 miles (1999 – SGT, Maidenhead), 15,966 miles (2000 – SGT, Maidenhead), 16,319 miles (2001 – HR Owen, Canary Wharf), 25,598 (2002, London Lotus Centre), 28,018 miles (2003 – HR Owen, Canary Wharf), 35,615 miles (2004 – SGT, Maidenhead), 39,255 miles (2007 – SGT, Maidenhead), 45,475 miles (2009 – High Street Garage, Princes Risborough), 49,008 miles (2010 – Colin Hickes Motor Engineers, N Yorks), 51,039 (2011 – Colin Hickes Motor Engineers, N Yorks), 52,980 miles (2012 – Colin Hickes Motor Engineers, N Yorks), 58,705 miles (2013 – Colin Hickes Motor Engineers, N Yorks), 61,991 miles (2014 – JCT600 Lotus, Leeds), 63,128 miles (2014 – Phoenix Motors, Accrington), 67,201 miles (2015 – Phoenix Motors, Accrington), 71,839 miles (2016 – Phoenix Motors, Accrington), 74,802 miles (2017 – Allon White Sports Cars, Cranfield), 78,582 miles (2018 – JP Auto Solutions Lotus Specialists, Bristol), 80,627 miles (2019 – JP Auto Solutions Lotus Specialists, Bristol), 82,666 miles (2020 – JP Auto Solutions Lotus Specialists, Bristol), 84,228 miles (2022 – JP Auto Solutions Lotus Specialists, Bristol)

Interior

• Smart beige leather upholstery
• Seats in good order with some signs of wear to driver’s seat edges
• Some minor scuffing to driver’s side sill panel and pedals
• Three-spoke Momo sports steering wheel
• Pioneer USB stereo
• Some marks to alloy lower dash panel
• Interior light taped over to reduce the brightness a little
• Generally smart overall appearance

Exterior

• Original Lotus Green paintwork in great overall order

• A few minor marks and scuffs and some road rash on lower panels, some of which are covered by paint protection film

• One minor repair carried out to front clamshell in 2023

• Superb overall condition

• Excellent gold alloys, refurbished last year, with decent quality Toyo Proxes tyres

• Green canvas roof in good order with very minor signs of weathering

• Overall, it’s in lovely original condition

Mechanical

• 1.8-litre 16v twin cam four
• 120bhp
• No MOT advisories at last test
• Rear-wheel-drive
• Five-speed manual
• Head gasket replaced at 51k
• Recent new battery
• Vendor reports a slight tappet noise on the overrun, quite normal for a K-Series
• Hugely comprehensive service record

Summary

The first-generation Elise was a work of genius – a fabulous lightweight roadster that saved Lotus from an almost definite demise and a true icon as a result.

This one’s an absolute corker – it’s in lovely condition outside and the interior is smart and appealing thanks in no small part to its unusual tan leather colour scheme. It’s a great example of the Elise at its wonderfully purest.

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