Lotus Elise S1

The Series 1 Elise is the car that rebuilt Lotus's reputation: a bonded aluminium tub, a fibreglass body and a Rover K-series engine in a car weighing well under a tonne. With 118 bhp it is not fast on paper, but the steering and the balance are the draw. Few survive in unmolested condition.

This one was first registered in September 1997 and has covered just 6,793 miles. It is finished in Calypso Red with the factory gloss black hardtop and a black leather interior, and is described as original throughout, including the sports exhaust, MMC brakes, driving lamps and alarm. It still wears its original Pirelli tyres, with tread reported at 5mm at the lowest point, though they are due replacement on age.

There have been two owners. The first kept it from new until this year, when it was supplied to the second by Lotus main agent Bell and Colvill. The service history is invoice-backed from 1997 to 2025, with the stamped service book, manuals and historic MOT certificates.