2000 Lotus Elise S1

Highlights

• Azure Blue S1 with just 30,633 miles from new

• Predominantly Lotus main dealer serviced throughout its 26-year life

• Comprehensive stamped service book and full folder of invoices

• Lotus Level 2 sports exhaust fitted by Stratton Motor Company in 2013

• Floor module Grade A corrosion repair completed by Stratton in 2022

• Current MOT to October 2026 with clean pass

• HPI clear

Overview

The original Elise arrived in 1996 and promptly rewrote the rulebook for lightweight sports cars. Built around a bonded aluminium chassis developed with Hydro Aluminium, it tipped the scales at barely over 700 kg, and the result was a car that felt genuinely alive at any speed. Lotus kept things deliberately simple: a mid-mounted Rover K-Series engine, a five-speed manual gearbox, and virtually nothing between the driver and the road. It didn't need more. The S1's combination of featherweight agility, uncorrupted steering feel, and surprising real-world usability earned it a devoted following that's only grown stronger in the years since.

This Azure Blue example was first registered on 26 April 2000 and has covered just 30,633 miles in 26 years, averaging roughly 1,200 miles per year. It's the sort of Elise that was bought to be cherished rather than thrashed, and its history file tells that story eloquently. The stamped service book and thick folder of invoices show a car that's been looked after by people who understood what they had, with the vast majority of work carried out by Stratton Motor Company in Norfolk and ES Motorsport in Fritton.

Along the way it's gained a Lotus Level 2 sports exhaust and benefited from a thorough floor module corrosion repair to both footwells in 2022. It comes to market with a clean MOT pass valid through to October 2026, and presented in Azure Blue, one of the more distinctive S1 colours.

This is an Elise that's been kept rather than merely owned, and its gently accumulated mileage and careful upkeep make it a compelling proposition for anyone looking for a well-documented, honest S1.

History and Documentation

• First registered 26 April 2000, PDI carried out on 20 April 2000 by Kinsey Jones Limited, Cheadle

• Five former keepers plus the current (sixth) registered from May 2026. Keeper two retained the car for over 14 years, keeper four for nearly eight years

• Stamped service book records and supporting invoices document the following: May 2000 @ 1,465 miles (after-sales service, Kinsey Jones), Mar 2001 @ 6,110 miles (A service, Kinsey Jones), Apr 2002 @ 7,972 miles (A service, brake fluid, Lotus Ribble Valley), ~2002 @ 12,200 miles (B service, London Lotus Centre & A service with cambelt, Stratton Motor Company), ~2005 @ 15,145 miles (A service, Stratton), Apr 2009 @ 18,038 miles (B service, cambelt, Yokohama tyres, ignition leads, spark plugs, Stratton), Apr 2010 @ 18,177 miles (A/B service, Stratton), May 2011 @ 20,090 miles (A service, coolant, front brake pads, wiper blade, Stratton), May 2012 @ 21,557 miles (A service, Stratton), May 2013 @ 22,406 miles (C service, timing belt, battery, Level 2 sports exhaust, Stratton), Jul 2013 @ 23,080 miles (window glass repair, ignition leads, misfire check, Stratton), May 2014 @ 23,821 miles (A service, brake fluid, Stratton), Mar 2016 @ 24,538 miles (A service, brakes un-seized/bled, front ARB bushes, speedo drive sensor, ES Motorsport), Jun 2018 @ 25,580 miles (A service, long-term storage check, brake fluid, ES Motorsport), Oct 2022 @ 28,262 miles (window repair, key fob, expansion tank, wiper, chassis floor module corrosion repair to footwells, carpets, Stratton), Apr 2023 @ ~28,500 miles (A service, gear cable bushes, window repair, ES Motorsport), Nov 2023 @ 29,153 miles (exhaust downpipe, O2 sensor thread repair, window glass, MOT, Stratton), Oct 2025 @ 30,454 miles (offside rear wheel bearing, MOT retest, Postmill Garage) 

• MOT history shows 23 tests with 18 passes. Current MOT valid to 05 October 2026, most recent pass on 06 October 2025 at 30,463 miles (clean pass, no advisories)

• Two keys 

• HPI clear, plate transfer noted

• Original Lotus book pack including Driving Controls, Technical Data, Warranty booklet, Maintenance Record, and Dealer Directory

Interior

• Black leather seats in good overall condition with no obvious rips or significant wear visible in photos

• Lotus-branded steering wheel with central badge

• Stack instrument cluster with tachometer and speedometer, odometer reading 30,633 miles

• Five-speed manual gearbox with polished gear knob

• Elise-branded floor mats

• Pioneer head unit

• Chrome interior door pulls and column stalks for lights, indicators, and wipers

• Black carpets appear clean and tidy (carpet set replaced by Stratton in Oct 2022)

• Exposed aluminium tub visible as per the S1's design, presenting tidily

• Seatbelts present and in good order

Exterior

• Azure Blue paintwork presenting well in photos, with good gloss and depth of colour

• Clean body panels with straight shut lines and no obvious dents, cracks, or significant damage visible

• Black fabric soft top fitted, appearing in decent condition with white contrast stitching

• Silver multi-spoke alloy wheels in good condition

• Lotus and Elise badging present at the rear, nose badge intact

• Twin exhaust tailpipes from the Lotus Level 2 sports exhaust

• Front and rear lamps clear and clean, door mirrors intact

• Windscreen and wiper in good order

• Floor module Grade A corrosion repair to both nearside and offside footwells completed by Stratton in October 2022, visible underneath

• Some minor fibreglass wear at the lower rear edges underneath and typical light road grime on the underside, consistent with age and use

Mechanical

• 1.8-litre Rover K-Series four-cylinder engine producing 118 bhp and 122 lb ft of torque, driving the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox

• 0-62 mph in 5.5 seconds, top speed of 124 mph, kerb weight of 723 kg

• Lotus Level 2 sports exhaust fitted by Stratton Motor Company in May 2013

• Offside rear wheel bearing replaced in October 2025 at 30,454 miles (Postmill Garage)

• Expansion tank replaced in October 2022

• Exhaust down pipe replaced in November 2023 owing to corroded manifold studs, with O2 sensor thread repair

Summary

With just 30,633 miles on the clock and a service history that reads like a model of conscientious ownership, this Azure Blue Elise S1 is a genuinely well-documented example of Lotus's iconic lightweight sports car. The stamped service book and comprehensive invoice file trace 26 years of predominantly Lotus main dealer care, and the car arrives with a current MOT, clear HPI, and its original book pack. It's a car that's been cherished, carefully maintained, and sparingly used. For anyone seeking an honest, low-mileage S1 with the paperwork to prove it, this one's well worth a closer look.

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 Luton.