1963' Lotus Elan

To be offered by Silverstone Auctions as part of the 'Silverstone Classic Live Online Sale' on Friday 31st July. Please see our website for full listings and to find out more on how to register for bidding.

Lot No. 339
Estimate: £35,000 - £45,000
Buyers Premium 12.5% + VAT


One of the first 200 Elans produced and an original right-hand drive car
Matching numbers authenticated by Lotus Club GB
Chassis up restoration in 2010/2011
Complete with original Works hardtop, hood and hood frame
A superb example of one of the very first Lotus Elan S1s
Your earliest inspection is encouraged and welcomed
In the early 1960s, before any production Elans were built, Colin Chapman decided to outsource bodyshell production to Bourne Plastics in Netherfield Nottingham. The mainstay of their business at that time was the production of fibreglass boat hulls, but in 1962 they won a £100,000 contract to supply GRP bodies for the new Lotus Elan sports car. This was seen as a breakthrough for the company and, remarked the Nottingham Evening Post, “represented the city’s re-entry into the car industry”. Special tools and moulding equipment were installed at the Netherfield factory to achieve the five-part body-forming process and over the next two years, Bourne’s went on to make approximately two hundred bodies before demand became too great and production was transferred in-house to Lotus Cars in 1964.

Totally restored from the chassis up in 2010/ 2011, this particular S1 was actually exported to the East Coast of America in 1972 /73 before returning to the UK in need of some attention. This early Elan has now been bought back to life with a conscious nod to originality, forming part of a small Lotus collection ever since. Its condition is superb throughout and a testament to its fastidious owner. Attention to detail is paramount with vehicles of this type and this particular Elan is no exception with the underside and running gear almost as clean and as tidy as the top of this delightful Lotus and, as you might hope, the 'S Bourne & Co (Plastics) Ltd.' plaque remains in place on the bulkhead and the engine bay, boot and underside still wear their faithful grey Gelcoat, exactly as it would have left Netherfield prior to final assembly.

A much sought-after 60s sports car that was produced with minimum weight in mind whilst still providing room for a 6’ tall driver together with practical luggage carrying capacity, the Elan was instantly popular. Around 900 of the early Series 1 cars were produced with many being converted to race specification, and a few lost in the mists of time making this Bourne-bodied example a very rare thing indeed.

Complete with a comprehensive history file, including the buff logbook, invoices from its time over the pond and later paperwork, MOTs etc.

You can now book a one to one appointment (up to one hour) to view this lot at our central location between 16th and 30th July. Please contact us on the details below to secure your appointment or using the button below to discuss the car in more detail. The health and safety of both our customers and team remains the utmost priority, we are therefore operating to strict COVID-19 guidelines and full instructions for arrival and inspection protocols will be given when making your appointment.