1999 lotus elise s1

For many, the recent end of production for the Lotus Elise was a sad day. Although they’ve been hard at work developing new models, it’s unlikely that we’ll see a pure driver’s car of the like of the Lotus Elise again. In truth, legislation and market forces had already driven Lotus away from the purity of the Elise S1 and this is reflected in prices which have been climbing steadily.

This British Racing Green example, well known to Club Lotus, has had only 3 owners and has extensive history to demonstrate that they were all caring. It’s had some subtle performance upgrades in a ram air filter and stainless steel exhaust which take the output to around 130bhp and is in great condition, having been used by the last owner largely for visiting club meetings. The Elise has covered 61,000 warranted miles from new and has been pampered all its life with full service history and a comprehensive file of documentation dating back to registration. With a current MoT and recent service including a fresh cambelt, this example is very much ready to be enjoyed.

The traditional hue of the British sports car suits the Elise very well and the paintwork retains a deep lustre, although does show some stone chips, particularly on the front nose cone, as is fairly typical for an Elise. It’s reportedly been garaged all its life and this shows in the condition of the ancillary items such as lights and window seals, which all look to be faring very well.

As you would hope, the car starts first time every time. It ticks over with a slightly raspier exhaust note than normal but the stainless steel exhaust system is subtle and, when on the move, it’s barely noisier than the standard system from in the cabin. Otherwise, it’s business as usual for a well-looked after Elise which is to say go-kart handling, strong acceleration and braking and a smooth gearchange. The clutch is nice and light also and there are no untoward noises.

One of the joys of the Elise, particularly in Series 1 form, is its low weight, to which its minimal interior is a key contributor. But while it’s had plenty of lightness added, it still manages to accommodate leather seats, here finished in Magnolia and having worn very well, if showing a little patina on the driver’s seat from climbing in and out. The steering wheel is an uprated Momo item and there is a Kenwood head unit, sitting in a dashboard that remains in great condition.

The roof presents a number of options with a soft top, hard top and lightweight ‘shower cap’ all included, so this is very much an Elise for all seasons. Behind the engine compartment there is a small carpet-lined boot which is very clean and tidy, just in case you love driving it so much that you can’t resist taking it to the shops.

Lotus Elise S1 service history:

• 9,808 Miles (14/09/2000) - Service A, Lotus Schedule A
• 15,467 Miles (31/08/2001) - Service A, Lotus Schedule A
• 20,698 Miles (24/09/2002) - Service B, Lotus Schedule B
• 32,052 Miles (29/08/2003) - Service A, Lotus Schedule A
• 35,558 Miles (10/06/2004) - Service A, Lotus Schedule A
• 45,185 Miles (13/10/2005) - Service C, Lotus Schedule C
• 53,791 Miles (19/04/2007) - Service A, Lotus Schedule A
• 55,235 Miles (20/05/2010) - Service B, Lotus Schedule A, including belts
• 56,727 Miles (09/11/2012) - Service A, Lotus Schedule B
• 57,244 Miles (29/09/2014) - Service A, Lotus Schedule A
• 57,677 Miles (21/11/2016) - Service B, Lotus Schedule A
• 59,280 Miles (13/11/2018) - Service A, Lotus Schedule C
• 60,917 Miles (26/11/2020) - Service C, Lotus Schedule A, including cambelt

https://youtu.be/l5wYXiD2VfA

This Lotus Elise S1 is now sold.

SIMILAR QUALITY EXAMPLES WANTED

Please contact Phil on 01932 640113 or phil@pm-antiques.co.uk with any sales enquiries.