Colin Chapman said "simplify, then add lightness". Something we unfortunately don't come across these days. By now, a B-segment car already weighs almost double the weight of an Elise.... In 1996, Lotus launched the brand's saviour with a bonded aluminium chassis guaranteeing enormous rigidity. The car had to be a success, as the water was running out. Initially, the Elise, designed by Julian Thomson, former chief designer, and Richard Rackham, (chief engineer), was fitted with a 1.8-litre K-Series petrol engine from Rover with an output of 88 kW (120hp). Later came other (more powerful) variants. Now 120hp seems little by today's standards, but surely you have to give a modern car at least double the power to achieve the same speed. Not to mention braking and steering, as weight is and remains a limiting factor. There are very few cars that ride, steer and brake so nicely and purely. The lightweight Elise is a breath of fresh air: nothing power-assisted, as smooth as a 911 of that era and guarantees the purest driving experience. The price-performance ratio is unprecedented.
The Elise offered by us has as its only options the red hood, a removable aluminium luggage rack and the inflatable lumbar support in the driver's seat. At the time, the seller was looking for an original left-hand drive and untouched example. Many Elises are imported cheaply from the UK and then converted to LHD. Nothing wrong with that in itself, but a factory-built car with the steering wheel in the right place is actually as it should be. The car came to the Netherlands from Germany in 2004 and has had three owners in the Netherlands. It is not a museum piece but technically a very well maintained car by the Lotus specialists at Van Sten Engineering and van der Kooij sportscars. The bodywork was probably once painted but shows no signs of previous major damage or cracks and the interior, equipped with blue leather-upholstered sports seats, is in clean condition. The entire service history is known including the odometer readings. Shortly after the car came to the Netherlands, an engine change took place at 46000km. The suspension has been modified with Nitron Street Series shock absorbers and to make things sound a bit nicer, a stainless steel Larini exhaust fitted with sports catalysts.
Our opinion
A car every sports car enthusiast should have on their bucket list. The Lotus Elise represents the brand's core values. Light, fast, agile and averse to all kinds of unnecessary trappings. What a fun car to see and drive and definitely a classic for the future. Cheap Elises have long been hard to find and a very well-maintained one (and then also left-hand drive from the factory) all the more rare. In this case, a real driver's car and so it should be. For half the price of a 911 from the same year you drive something different and above all more exclusive. An Elise dances over the road with unfiltered precision and gives you the real sports car feeling.
About the seller
The seller was looking for another special car in 2021. He already had all sorts of things in the garage, but a Lotus, with all its distinct features was still missing. As he himself is not a tinkerer but a driver, it had to be a well-maintained example with a clear history and, in addition, left-hand drive!
He has now driven it for just under 4,000km and still finds it a great car. He has since found out that as COO of a start-up and father of a son, he does not have endless time to drive all his cars and has decided to sell a few.
Equipment
This Lotus Elise S1 includes:
- Red convertible top,
- Removable aluminium luggage rack,
- Inflatable lumbar support in the driver's seat.
Modifications
- Nitron Street Series shock absorbers
- Stainless steel Larini exhaust fitted with sports catalysts.
Notes
The car is in fine condition and has signs of use befitting its age and mileage. The interior has some signs of use but is not excessively worn or damaged. The mats and panels are clean.
No paintwork was carried out during its ownership but the valuer mentions that the car must have been repainted once before, and also that the polyester bodywork has been well maintained, is tight and flawless and shows no signs of previous major or poor damage repair. There is a weathered spot on one of the flanks and the car has some patina.
Service history
13-08-2001 - 1,660km - Red Motorsport GMBH: after-sales service
16-05-2003 - 17,333km - Red Motorsport GMBH: service
27-08-2004 - 46,096km - Van der Kooij Sportscars: engine change (engine with 23,300km)
11-05-2007 - 61,385km - Van der Kooij Sportscars: service + distribution
11-08-2008 - 71,496km - Van der Kooij Sportscars: servicing
11-12-2008 - 71,931km - Van der Kooij Sportscars: various minor maintenance (warranty)
16-10-2009 - 77,495km - Van der Kooij Sportscars: front paint job
22-12-2009 - 77,988km - Van der Kooij Sportscars: servicing + distribution
17-05-2010 Van der Kooij Sportscars: exhaust system
17-07-2010 - 80,355km - Van Sten Engineering: tyres
28-10-2010 - Van der Kooij Sportscars: windscreen
03-11-2010 - Van der Kooij Sportscars: miscellaneous minor maintenance
06-09-2011 - Van der Kooij Sportscars: tyres
06-09-2011 - Van der Kooij Sportscars: tyres
02-11-2011 - 87,847km - Van der Kooij Sportscars: wheel bearing LV
09-11-2012 - 93.481km - Van der Kooij Sportscars: service
10-10-2013 - 97,743km - Van der Kooij Sportscars: service
27-10-2014 - 100,489km - Van der Kooij Sportscars: miscellaneous minor maintenance
05-11-2016 - 101,270km - Van Sten Engineering: servicing + distribution
28-10-2016 - 103,684km - Van Sten Engineering: servicing + alignment
03-09-2018 - 107,829km - Van Sten Engineering: servicing + distribution
27-08-2019 - 110,065km - Van Sten Engineering: servicing + tyres
08-09-2021 - 113,332km - Van Sten Engineering: servicing
06-10-2023 - 115,887km - Van der Kooij Sportscars: adjustment windows
Included in the sale
- Two keys
- Luggage rack
- Maintenance history
Summary
Seller - Hugo
Seller type - Private
Location - Eindhoven
Chassis number - SCCGA1117YHD31729
Registration number - 83-NR-SV
First registration - 13-08-2001
Mileage - 116,440 KM
Demonstrable - Yes
Warranty - No
VAT/Margin car - Margin
Bodywork - Convertible
Engine - 1.8 litre four cylinder with 120hp
Traction - Rear-wheel drive
Transmission - Manual
Exterior - Silver
Interior - Blue leather
Smoking car - No
Owners - 3rd owner in the Netherlands
Owned since - 2021
Tyres -Yokohama Neova 225-45-16 and 195-50-15 DOT 2019, > 5mm
The description of this Collectable has been created with the utmost care, based on the information provided by and validated by the seller. Based on the information provided, The Collectables performs a (pre)selection and consults public sources for any irregularities. However, bidders should ascertain for themselves the accuracy of the description and may, if they wish, conduct (or have conducted) personal research. All Collectables on our platform can be subjected to any possible inspection, examination or valuation in advance by buyers, in consultation with the seller, of course. Consult our General Terms and Conditions for more details.
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