2002 Lotus Elise S2 Supercharged

Highlights

• Thoroughly upgraded Elise S2
• Hangar 111 260S supercharger conversion with 245bhp on the dyno
• Freshly recommissioned by the same specialist who built it
• Extensive service history
• Over £14,000 in documented specialist work

Overview

The Series 2 Elise is one of those cars that needs almost no introduction. Lotus took the already brilliant original, refined the cabin, softened the entry point (literally, the sills got lower), and kept everything that made the first car so addictive. The 111S sat at the top of the K-series range, its 1.8-litre VVC engine offering a useful step up from the base car with variable valve timing and a keenness to rev that rewarded every downshift. Light, direct, and with a chassis that flatters even on a wet Tuesday afternoon on a B-road, it remains one of the purest driving experiences money can buy.

This particular 111S has gone quite a bit further than Hethel ever intended. In July 2016, at 123,872 miles, it was sent to Hangar 111, one of the most respected Lotus specialists in the country, for their full 260S supercharger conversion. It's a comprehensive engine and drivetrain rebuild, not just a bolt-on blower, and the gearbox was refreshed at the same time. The result? A car that dyno'd at 236bhp (244bhp corrected) and 190 lb ft of torque when it was retested in March 2026. That's a proper step up from the standard 111S's 156bhp, and it's all documented with invoices and a dyno printout.

It's not a garage queen. The mileage tells you that, and we think that's part of the appeal. Much of it was accumulated by a long-term third keeper based in Bournemouth, who owned the car for nearly 17 years and commissioned the supercharger conversion. It's been driven, enjoyed, and maintained by people who clearly cared about it. Finished in black with that distinctive Elise silhouette, it presents well and sits on a specification that reflects years of thoughtful, knowledgeable ownership. The suspension, brakes, and interior have all been upgraded with well-chosen parts, and the details are covered in the sections below.

History and Documentation

• First registered 20th November 2002, supplied new by Nick Whale Sports Cars, Birmingham
• Five keepers from new; in current ownership since October 2025
• 15 stamps in the service book (2003 to 2017): Sep 2002 at approximately 1,300 miles, Aug 2003 at 11,692 miles, Jan 2004 at 14,023 miles, 2005 at approximately 30,213 miles, Sep 2005 at 28,663 miles including cambelt, Jul 2007 at 46,339 miles, Jun 2008 at 53,376 miles, Jun 2009 at 63,867 miles, Sep 2010, Sep 2011 at 83,467 miles, Oct 2012 at 91,433 miles, Sep 2013 at 100,120 miles, Sep 2014 at 110,785 miles including cambelt, Jul 2015 at 118,467 miles, Jun 2017 at 130,503 miles
• Services carried out by SGT Maidenhead, Lakeside Engineering, Westover Sports (Lotus, Poole), and Sportomotive (Salisbury)
• Hangar 111 260S supercharger conversion and gearbox rebuild in July 2016 at 123,872 miles (£10,792.14 documented across estimates and invoices)
• Full recommissioning by Hangar 111 in March 2026 at 153,684 miles (£3,536.38), including fuel injector replacement, uprated fuel pump, new lambda sensor, spark plugs, brake caliper overhaul, dyno session, and full geometry setup
• Nitron Super Street custom dampers fitted February 2020 (spring rates 275 front/200 rear), with setup card and service record
• MOT expires 9 Mar 2027
• HPI clear
• Original Lotus book pack, stamped service book, comprehensive invoice file, dyno printout, geometry sheet, and two Lotus-branded keys

Interior

• Black leather and Alcantara seats with Sabelt red four-point harnesses
• Lotus-badged Alcantara steering wheel shows some pilling to the Alcantara
• Carbon fibre instrument binnacle housing Lotus tachometer and Shurlok speedometer
• Aluminium gear knob with polished chrome shift surround
• Aftermarket head unit fitted; the vendor tells us the radio aerial needs sorting
• Black carpets are clean with aluminium sill protectors in place
• Leather door cards with manual window winders in good condition

Exterior

• Black paintwork presents well overall with good gloss and depth
• Some blistering and hazing evident
• Minor stone chips on the front clamshell, consistent with the mileage
• Recently refurbished alloy wheels in a dark gunmetal finish, in excellent condition
• Falken tyres are matching and appear nearly new
• Soft top in good condition
• Small mark visible near the nearside front wheelarch area on close inspection
• Front clamshell shut lines appear consistent
• Rear grille is noted as slightly loose on the bootlid
• Overall, it's still looking very respectable for its age and mileage

Mechanical

• 1.8-litre Rover K-series VVC engine with Hangar 111 260S supercharger conversion producing 244.9bhp corrected and 190 lb ft of torque, confirmed by dyno in March 2026
• Rotrex centrifugal supercharger with water-to-air chargecooler, Emerald K6 ECU, low compression pistons, uprated con rods, cast iron cylinder liners, and Piper BP270H VVC exhaust cam
• AP Racing clutch and rebuilt five-speed gearbox with new bearings and seals (both July 2016)
• Port and polished cylinder head; head gasket, cambelt, water pump, oil pump, alternator, and thermostat all replaced during the conversion
• EBC turbo grooved discs and PBS fast road pads front and rear, with Goodridge braided brake hoses
• Nitron Super Street custom dampers (275/200 spring rates), with full geometry setup by Hangar 111 in March 2026
• Janspeed exhaust with Hangar 111 GT 200bpl sports catalyst refitted after MOT
• Fuel injectors (465cc Bosch), uprated fuel pump, fuel filter, lambda sensor, and NGK uprated spark plugs all replaced in March 2026
• The left-hand driveshaft oil seal has a minor leak, noted by Hangar 111 as one to monitor
• Anti-roll bar bushes are cracked
• Rear brake disc inner faces show some corrosion; the nearside exhaust hanger is worn
• The car has suffered from the frequent Elise gripe of the heater not working but the entire system has been gone through with new actuators/resistors  etc (which involves the front clam to be removed) - a significant job out of the way
• The brakes initially felt soft when Hanger 111 installed the pads but have subsequently bedded in and the seller reports that they are now very effective

Summary

What we've got here is a comprehensively upgraded Elise 111S that someone has actually bothered to use. Yes, 153,684 miles is a big number, but this isn't a tired car. It's one that's been through the hands of a long-term keeper who loved it enough to commission a full Hangar 111 supercharger build, and a current owner who's just spent over £3,500 recommissioning it at the same specialist.

It comes with a dyno sheet showing 236bhp, a fresh geometry setup, a thick file of invoices, and an MOT running to March 2027. There are a few advisory items to keep an eye on, but they're all documented and none of them stop you driving it tomorrow. If you've been looking for an Elise with real character, serious performance, and an honest history, this one's definitely 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 Dover, Kent.