1997 Lotus Elise S1

Highlights

• One former keeper

• Current owner since 1998

• Significant rebuild in 2025

• £1500 in labour

• Speedline wheels

Overview

Genuinely small and lightweight cars seem to be a thing of the past now. Kerb weights and chassis dimension have grown over the years as customers have become partial to things like climate control and carpets. So if you want to buck this trend and experience motoring which is truly direct and responsive, then the only sensible option is to buy a Lotus Elise. 

This Elise has been with its current owner since October 1998, when it was only one year old. In all those years it has only covered 37-and-a-bit thousand miles, and has recently benefited from extensive servicing. A long list of components have been replaced in 2025, including the timing belt, wishbones, clutch, water pump, and starter motor. So you’ll be able to busy yourself with enjoying this car on the road. 

The minimalist interior remains beautifully original. It has a CD player and a few instruments, but not much else. Entertainment is instead found in the form of the driving experience, the precise handling, the five-speed ‘box, the positive and direct feel. 

Presented in very fine condition inside and out, this Elise has clearly been well looked after over the years. It presents an excellent opportunity to own and enjoy the kind of car we’re unlikely to see being built again: a true lightweight sportscar available to the masses. 

History and documentation

• Registered 9 June 1997

• Only one former keeper

• The current owner bought the car from its first owner in Oct 1998

• Stamped service book with services as follows: Jun 1997 @ 488 miles, Jul 1998 @ 2,401 miles, Aug 1999 @ 6,607 miles Aug 2000 @ 11,009 miles, Aug 2002 @ 16,990 miles, Sep 2003 @ 19,261 miles, Sep 2004 @ 20,403 miles, Sep 2005 @ 21,634 miles, Nov 2006 @ 24,440 miles, Dec 2007 @ 26,082 miles, Dec 2009 @ 29,242 miles, Nov 2010 @ 31,068 miles, Oct 2011 @ 31,915 miles, Oct 2012 @ 33,621 miles, Sep 2013 @ 34,713 miles

• Recent service invoice: Mar 2025 @ 37,329 miles

• Original document pack

• Collection of invoices for parts and servicing

• Old paper tax discs 

• Two keys

• Current MOT with no advisories expires 13 Feb 2026

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI clear

Interior

• The attractively minimalist interior features exposed aluminium

• Supportive bucket seats with comfortable velour upholstery 

• Leather trim pieces on the sills 

• The upholstery is showing very few signs of wear 

• Manual seat adjusters fore and aft for the driver's seat; the passenger seat is fixed

• No carpets

• Manual window winders 

• Leather-trimmed steering wheel

• Aluminium pedals and passenger footrest

• Simple, uncluttered dashboard

• Analogue instruments

• Luxuries include a stereo CD player, and little else

• Cargo net behind the seats 

• Headlining

• Small canvas bag-lined boot at the rear

• Original bags for the soft top and supporting struts are included which allow the soft top to be stored behind the seats

Exterior

• Superbly styled, with a low stance and poised look

• Finished in silver with contrasting red soft top roof

• The paint appears to be very good for its age 

• Very few chips or scratches 

• Composite body panels also well presented 

• No obvious dents or damage 

• 15-inch Speedline Corse alloy wheels

• Original set of Lotus wheels included in sale 

• Matching Yokohama tyres

• Lotus badges present front and rear 

• Windscreen replaced in 2025

• The red soft top roof is in good condition, with a small stain on the nearside rear corner 

• The clear protective panels by the rear wheel arches have faded 

• Central twin tailpipe tips 

Mechanical

• 1,796 cc four-cylinder engine

• Produces 120 bhp, and 122 lb ft as standard

• Top speed 124 mph, 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds

• The seller tells us that the car received a Bell & Colvill Sport 160 upgrade which involved work on the engine, including the red cover, a sports air filter, a close ratio gearbox and stainless steel sports exhaust, though he has not been able to locate the paperwork for this

• Subsequently we're told that the exhaust manifold and catalytic converter were changed for sports items

• Five-speed manual gearbox

• Rear-wheel drive

• Engine bay clean and tidy

• The car received a significant rebuild in Feb 2025 

• Parts included a suspension kit, immobiliser bypass, timing belt, brake master cylinder, oil change, and water pump

• There is an invoice on file for the work including £1,500 of labour 

• The vendor informs us that the undertrays and all wishbones were replaced during the rebuild 

• In Mar 2025 the clutch and alternator were replaced

• In Jul 2025 the starter motor was replaced

• The engine immobiliser was bypassed during the rebuild

• The seller also tells us that the battery and spark plugs have been recently replaced 

• The car is said to start and run normally 

• No major issues reported 

Summary

If you’ve not experienced the lightweight joy of a Lotus before, then an Elise is the logical place to start. It offers an accessible entry point into this world of supreme handling and responsiveness,  and this one comes with all the reassurance of extensive recent servicing. 

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Glasgow, Scotland.