1998 Lotus Elise S1

Highlights

• Outstanding history
• Current owner for 17 years
• Extensively upgraded and fettled in current ownership
• Upgraded Piper 4-2-1 manifold
• On-the-button and ready to enjoy

Overview

Often credited with being ‘the car that saved Lotus’ the S1 Elise has been lauded with praise from all corners of the automotive kingdom, thanks to its rev-happy K-Series engine, engaging driving experience and its ability to punch far above its tiny weight in terms of performance, both on and off-track.

The S1 Elise was unveiled at a time of turmoil for Lotus in the mid-90s. Thankfully, the Elise transformed the plucky Norfolk-based manufacturers fortunes, and remains a firm favourite amongst enthusiasts to this day, with PH users voting the Elise the ‘best sports car of the last 25 years’ back in February 2023.

Tipping the scales at just over 700kg, this featherweight fighter has been universally praised for its ability to punch far above its weight, making it a hit for casual drivers and track day heroes alike.

Built in March 1998 in Titanium Metallic Silver with a contrasting Burgundy soft top, this stunning Elise S1 has been in the care of its current owner since 2006, when he bought the car from Pistonheads (of course, where else!) In the years since - in his own words - he has spent the time addressing all the known faults, failings and quirks of the S1 Elise, to transform it into a car that he can trust without fail, and yet retains all the wonderful qualities of the Elise that makes it such a fan favourite. The upgrades include a full suspension overhaul and fitment of Nitron dampers, new radiator, new fan, upgraded head gasket, new heater matrix, braided brake and clutch hoses, Piper 4-2-1 exhaust manifold and more.

For the first four years of ownership, the car was driven regularly, and was then used as a weekend toy, being stored in a dry climate-controlled garage underneath a model-specific indoor cover.

In addition to the mechanical upgrades, a colour-matching hardtop (Eliseparts) is supplied with the car, along with a plethora of mechanical and aesthetic spares. Having been looked after by well-regarded specialist Back on Track of Guildford, it is now time for this Elise S1 to head for pastures new, as the seller is now embarking on another ‘automotive adventure’ and needs the space currently occupied by this diminutive rocketship.

History and documentation

• Registered 31 Mar 1998
• Stamped service book with services as follows: May 1998 @ 1,478 miles, Aug 1998 @ 7,041 miles, Jul 1999 @ 16,646 miles, Apr 2000 @ 24,661 miles, Sep 2002 @ 26,606 miles, May 2004 @ 28,012 miles, Mar 2005 @ 29,735 miles, Apr 2006 @ 33,553 miles, Feb 2007 @ 37,621 miles, Mar 2008 @ 45,321 miles, Jul 2009 @ 55,016 miles, Oct 2017 @ 74,529 miles, Jan 2022 @ 77,509 miles, Jan 2023 @ 78,497 miles
• Full document pack
• Certificate of provenance from Lotus, signed by the company archivist
• Collection of invoices and old MOT certificates from purchase in 2006 to present, all contained in a large lever-arch file
• Featured in MG Owners Club magazine Feb 2013 as comparison with MG TF - copy included in sale
• Printout of original (PH!) advert from September 2006
• Two keys
• Hardtop (Eliseparts), indoor car cover and bag, Elemental shower cap’ with cover, Lotus hood bag for soft top, spare radiator to engine pipe (new and unused - now hard to source) alloy replacement floor panels, replacement alloy pedal pads for brake/clutch pedals, new floor panels, original airbox, original plastic throttle body, original orange front indicators and side repeaters, trickle charger, original plastic window winders, spare front/rear mesh grilles all included in the sale
• Current MOT with no advisories expires 23 Sep 2025
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear

Interior

• Early rubber mat car, with the pared-back interior presenting very well thanks to considerate upgrades and careful ownership
• All floor corrosion neutralised and treated with POR15
• Small scuffs noted to the dashboard ahead of the driver
• Light patination to the removable MOMO steering wheel as fitted to Sport 190 model
• Typical wear to high-traffic areas such as the door cards, sills and footwells
• The instrument binnacle is cracking or delaminating at the edges; the seller has a replacement sticker for the glass to put this right but never applied it as the whole panel functions perfectly and this will be supplied with the car
• Upgraded Kenwood stereo fitted
• Both seats are in excellent shape, with no heavy wear or staining
• Seats recovered by Allon White with Lotus Probax foam with Keprotec to match re-covered sill pads which were refurbished by Lotus Trimshop
• The seller states the refurbished seats are fantastically comfortable and more supportive than OE items
• Lotus Trimshop refurbished hood
• Side window seals replaced
• No reported faults or issues

Exterior

• Titanium Metallic paintwork and fibreglass bodywork in very good overall condition
• This is a car that has clearly been used as Lotus intended, but also cherished and kept in top condition
• The front end and exposed edges display the usual smattering of stone chips, with a few larger marks around the front ‘mouth’
• New front/rear grilles
• New lights behind rear grilles
• New running lights with protective covers
• To the rear, the outermost edges of the soft top appear to be lightly stained or discoloured
• The old PPF around the rear arches has discoloured and faded
• Replacement headlamps fitted, with brighter bulbs and stainless headlight retaining rings inside of the front clam
• We note some wear/deterioration on the inside of the O/S headlamp bezel
• All four wheels are in excellent condition, wrapped in Avon ZZR tyres
• The chrome filler cap is chipped
• There appears to be an area of light wear above the exhaust exits
• Overall, this is a well-kept example of the iconic S1 Elise, that still looks fantastic to this day

Mechanical

• 1,796cc Rover K-Series inline-four engine producing 118 bhp
• Five-speed manual transaxle gearbox, sending power to the rear wheels
• The engine bay presents very well overall
• ​​The bulkhead heat shielding has frayed at the edges
• Full suspension overhaul inc S2 kit plus new component arms, roll bar, bushes and “every last nut and bolt” replaced
• Nitron adjustable dampers
• Eliseparts toe links
• Geometry setup by Back on Track
• Eliseshop “Hurricane” induction kit
• 52mm throttle body upgrade
• Piper 4-2-1 exhaust manifold
• Sport 160 rear exhaust section
• K Series steel pin head gasket
• New alternator and coil
• Additional heat shielding for exhaust and alternator area
• Blue Magnacor leads, new cap and rotor arm
• New alloy radiator with no plastic end caps
• Upgraded Eliseshop heater matrix
• New washer bottle and pump
• Braided clutch hose
• Clutch trunnion kit and throttle linkage kit fitted
• New gear linkages
• Gearbox oil replacement 1-2k miles ago
• Replacement stainless steel Eliseparts fuel filler neck
• EBC grooved and belled discs with Mintex 1144 pads and braided hoses
• New cooling fan
• The seller notes the car has been run on E5 / Super ever since introduction of E10 fuel at pumps
• As far as possible, the seller has avoided driving it in the rain, and it has never been driven on salted roads in his ownership
• No reported faults or issues, with the seller stating that it is “enormous fun to drive - pound-for-pound it is simply unmatchable”

Summary

The S1 Elise continues to be hugely well-regarded as a driver’s car but this owner has taken the opportunity over his extended ownership to refine and improve on the original experience. Now he’s moving on to his next project, it’s your opportunity to acquire one of the all-time greats with the benefit of all that fettling. Don’t miss out!

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 Horsham, West Sussex.