The Elise, named after Lotus Chairman Romano Artioli’s daughter - Elisa, marked an incredibly important chapter in Lotus history. We are proud to bring to the market this incredible example, spectacular condition, fastidious main dealer service history and in the the same ownership for nearly 25 years, makes this surely the best S1 Elise on the market.

This Car

Originally purchased by its current owner in 2002, this Elise has led a pampered life and is only being offered to the market due to lack of use, having covered only 90 miles in the last year. Whilst not being used, the owner has properly kept the car safe, having it stored in our dedicated storage facility, upgrading to protect the car in a dedicated air chamber.

The car presents in truly wonderful condition and feels better than its age suggests, truly box fresh. The owner has chosen to do a few minor, sympathetic upgrades including aluminium window winders, a polished gear knob and a brand-new MOMO steering wheel, however all original parts are present and in good condition should you wish to revert to the original parts.

The history file is huge and contains nearly £15,000 of invoices from the current owner’s keepership, all from Lotus main dealers, predominantly Bell & Colvill with a few also from HR Owen. Accompanying the invoices is two stamped service books to further back up the service history of this car. It is fairly common to find cars with low miles where the owner decides to skip annual services, on the basis that they feel they haven’t covered enough miles to warrant one. This can often cause issues as fluid and lubricants degrade over time so still require changing, so it is refreshing to see a car so well serviced despite often having travelled minimal miles between services.

Thanks to its proper ongoing maintenance, this car feels fantastic to drive. The moment you pull away, you note that everything feels tight. First gear is selected via a precise engagement of the short throw gearbox, you quickly notice that the steering feels almost telepathic in how it communicates with the driver, and the engine spins up with eagerness, as is characteristic of the Rover K-Series unit.

This Model

The Lotus Elise S1 is one of the most significant British sports cars of the modern era, combining Lotus’s traditional philosophy of lightness with innovative engineering and an uncompromising focus on driving enjoyment. First unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1995 and entering production in 1996, the Elise transformed Lotus’s fortunes and established a template that would remain central to the marque for the next 25 years.

At its heart was a revolutionary bonded and extruded aluminium chassis, clothed in lightweight composite bodywork and paired with a mid-mounted Rover K-Series engine. Weighing around 725kg, the Elise demonstrated that extraordinary performance and involvement did not require huge power. Instead, its remarkable agility, precise steering and exceptional feedback made even modest speeds genuinely entertaining.

Around 10,500 Series 1 examples were produced before the Series 2 arrived in the year 2000, making the original Elise a pretty rare car today.

More than simply a successful sports car, the Elise represented a return to Lotus’s core principles. Its purity, simplicity and engineering ingenuity have ensured that the S1 is now regarded as a modern classic and one of the defining driver's cars of its generation.

Summary

The Elise S1 is now receives a cult following thanks to its purity of purpose. A very significant chapter in the history of Lotus, its success surely a key reason ensuring that Lotus is still around today. This example has all the right hallmarks to ensure it is the one to pick: a staggering service history, impeccable presentation and beautifully original and unmodified. Please get in contact should you have any questions or wish to arrange a viewing.

About Ranmore

Ranmore was established in 1983, originally known as Royce Service & Engineering. For over 40 years, we have been independent masters, specialising in the sale, maintenance and complete restoration of classic Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars.

More recently, we have broadened our offering to include the sale of eclectic and interesting sports cars, predominantly British but not exclusively, but always special.

Most recently, Ranmore has also become an Official Morgan Retailer. Morgan is a wonderful British manufacturer that represents 21st-century coachbuilding, an intoxicating blend of tradition and technology that sits perfectly alongside our other offerings.

Our showroom is located in Betchworth, in a glorious setting in the Surrey Hills and perfect territory for enjoying the special motor cars we offer.

For the well driven.

Mileage is stated as recorded on the vehicle's odometer and is not independently warranted unless specifically stated.

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