1967' Lotus Elan photo #1
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6 photos

1967' Lotus Elan

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£25,000
Published 30 January 2025ID: golX8A

Information from the owner

Body: Sports Car
Age: 58 years

Seller's comments about 1967' Lotus Elan

This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at Race Retro 2025 - Collectors' Cars on Saturday the 22nd of February, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh Rd, Coventry, CV8 2LG. Arguably one of the most significant models in the long history of Lotus, the original ‘Type 26’ Elan of 1962 is the car that perhaps best encapsulates the true Lotus ethos of how a sports car should drive. Built on a sturdy steel backbone chassis with competition derived suspension, a Triumph steering rack and Girling disc brakes all round, the Elan was endowed with terrific handling and road-holding. The lightweight body was made from fibreglass, while under the bonnet a highly modified 1498cc (later 1558cc) Ford Cortina unit incorporating Lotus's own twin-camshaft cylinder head – bestowing the Elan with tremendous performance - whilst both the gearbox and differential also came from Ford. Launched as a roadster with minimal creature comforts, the Elan was sold both in kit form or fully built and was constantly improved, becoming the S2 in 1964 before a S3 version was launched at the London Motor Show in September 1965, with two new Type Numbers - the 36 (Fixed-head Coupé) and the 45 (Drophead Coupé / replacing the Type 26) which appeared some nine months later. Heralded as the most civilized Elan yet, the S3 was more refined and better equipped and even had decent weather protection, with door window frames and a proper hood, plus electric windows, a re-designed dashboard and better trim. The S3 continued to employ the rugged Ford-derived twin-cam motor, developing 105bhp (118bhp was available from the SE model) with twin Weber 40DCOE carburettors and a four-speed gearbox. Sold between 1965 and 1968 with a list price of £1, 262 in component form (or £1, 553 fully built), some 1, 450 Elan S3 Dropheads were made. The Autocar summed up their 1967 road test of an S3 by saying “There can be few faster ways of A-B motoring than in a Lotus Elan and we found there are even fewer ways in which we can enjoy ourselves so much in the process” while Classic & Sportscar rated the Elan as the “best sports car ever” in their July 2012 issue. Powerful, light in weight and endowed with exceptional roadholding and handling, the Elan proved an immense commercial success for Lotus, slightly fewer than 9, 000 being produced by the time production ceased in 1973

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