Lotus Elan SE S4 1970

Description:

In Brief:

• Tidy example of S4 Elan SE
• Finished in eye-catching ‘Lotus Yellow’ over a black interior
• Comes with a large history file inluding invoices for recent work circa £8,000
• One of just 162 S4 Elan’s left registered for use on UK roads
• Owned by The Vendor for the last 13 years

On the Surface: This is a tidy example of a Series 4 Lotus Elan SE. It is finished in what is believed to be the eye-catching ‘Lotus Yellow’ over a black interior. The Vendor has owned the car for nearly 14 years, during which time it has been sparingly used and always garaged.

Maintenance & History: This Lotus Elan SE has a comprehensive history file. Significant recent work includes a full suspension overhaul, the installation of a new ‘fast road’ clutch assembly and bearings, a new radiator and a ‘Pacel’ fan kit. This extensive work was completed by Paul Matty Sports Cars, a Lotus specialist, at a cost of £6,908.58. Additional maintenance invoices from local specialist garages total nearly £1,200. More recent updates include a new battery, a new soft top, and replacement rotoflex couplings. The car underwent a full inspection by a specialist garage in May.

This Elan comes with a substantial amount of documentation, including invoices and history dating back to 1984. The history file includes ownership details from the DVLA, various MOT certificates and old tax discs. Additionally, the original Owner’s Handbook and Service book are present, with the latter showing five service stamps between 1970 and 1972. Previous owners have also invested significantly in the car, including the installation of a galvanised chassis.

The Model: The Lotus Elan was the first Lotus road car to feature a steel backbone chassis with a fiberglass body, a construction method that became a hallmark of Lotus designs for nearly three decades after the introduction of the Elan. Weighing approximately 680kg, the Elan embodies Colin Chapman’s design philosophy of minimal weight. The car was technologically advanced for its time, boasting a DOHC 1,558 cc engine, four-wheel disc brakes, rack and pinion steering and four-wheel independent suspension. The Elan is well respected, in fact, renowned automotive designer Gordon Murray, creator of the McLaren F1, once remarked that his only disappointment with the McLaren F1 was that he could not replicate the perfect steering of the Lotus Elan.

The S4 model was introduced in late 1968 and featured updated bodywork with wider and squarer wheel arches to accommodate larger wheels and radial tyres, a redesigned dashboard with flush-fitting rocker switches and other improvements. The SE variant featured a twin-cam engine producing 124 bhp, achieved through the use of a D-type camshaft.

Only 2,778 S4 Elans were ever produced and now it is quoted that only 162 examples are registered for use on UK roads.

Sale Insight: The Vendor has decided to sell this cherished car due to his difficulty in getting in and out of it. This well looked after and sparingly used Lotus Elan SE presents a great opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to own one the highest regarded classics for it’s advanced engineering and iconic design.