1965 Lotus Elan S2 Drophead Coupe
Single ownership since 1969

Registration No: FXC 898C
Chassis No: 26/3986
MOT: Exempt

• One of just c.1,250 Elan S2s made
• The property of the current lady owner since 1969
• A highly original example, subject to a restoration in 1987 which still stands up well
• Previously fitted with a replacement Spyder chassis

"The Elan remains the definitive small-bore sportscar, the standard by which all others have come to be measured."—Car & Driver

Brainchild of Lotus design and development engineer Ron Hickman, the Elan was introduced at the 1962 Earls Court Motor Show. Based around a steel backbone chassis (a.k.a. the 'Chapman Bracket') clad with lightweight fibreglass bodywork, the newcomer boasted such niceties as all-round independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, pop-up headlights and integral bumpers. Powered by a 1,600cc (initially 1,500cc) twin-cam four-cylinder engine mated to four-speed (later five-speed) manual transmission, the diminutive Lotus rewrote the class rulebook in terms of ride, handling and performance. Arriving during Autumn 1964, the S2 was only in production until May, 1966, and accounted for approximately 1,250 units. Visually, the S2 retained the overall appeal of the earlier S1, but featured improvements such as a full width polished wooden dashboard, larger front brake callipers and redesigned rear lights.

Although registered in Solihull, our Elan’s history is known from January, 1968, when it belonged to one Keith Farrant of Headley Park, Bristol. In December that year it passed to David P. Stone of Yate, and then in October, 1969, it was bought by the present lady owner, who lived in Palmers Green and used it for daily commuting to B.A.E.’s London office. It was well-used, as it had covered 32,000 miles by the start of 1970. Up to 1975, servicing was carried out by the owner’s brother, and then by a friend up to 1977.

The Elan remained in occasional use, and in 1985 was treated to a new Spyder chassis by W. & R. Motors, but disaster struck in 1987 when a neighbour’s gable end collapsed onto the Lotus’s garage. It then languished until 1992, when it was taken to Lotus restoration specialist Mick Miller, who returned it to its former glory over the course of five years, also repainting it in the original White (it had previously been repainted Yellow). Ten years after the mishap, it returned to the road, but was out of commission again from 2000 to 2005 while the engine was being overhauled.

Regular maintenance continued until recently, with I. & J. Walker fitting new clutch master and slave cylinders in 2018. In 2023, over £3,000 was spent with Marco Falcini, who replaced the brake master cylinder, fitted all-round new discs and pads, renewed the offside front and nearside rear wheel bearings, and fitted a new stainless exhaust. A similar sum was spent in 2024 when Falcini fitted a refurbished clutch, replaced the engine mounts, performed an ignition service and reinstalled the engine after the head, valves and flywheel had been machined by Gosnay’s Engineering Co. Impressively retaining its original interior, this much-treasured Elan is sold with the green logbook from 1968, the current V5C, M.O.T.s from 1969 onwards, tax discs from 1997 to 2014, an original owner’s manual, and invoices running back to 1985.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430