Lot details
Registration No: KOM371E
Chassis No: 36/6985
Mot Expiry: T.B.A.

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

Brainchild of Lotus design and development engineer Ron Hickman, the Elan was introduced at the 1962 Earls Court Motor Show and will thus be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year. 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 1600cc (initially 1500cc) '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 September 1965, the S3 was only in production for two-and-a-half years and like its siblings has become increasingly sought after of late.

H&H are indebted to the vendor for the following description:

`KOM 371E' has had just three registered keepers and is believed but not warranted to have covered a mere 47,000 miles from new. Entering the current (third) registered ownership some twenty-seven years ago, the Lotus joined a collection which already included several important Bentleys. A firm favourite because of its continued ability to raise a smile, the Elan is only on the market due to its long-term custodian being rather less supple in his 70s than he was in his 40s!

Starting life as a S3 Fixed-Head Coupe (Type 36), `KOM 371E' was fitted with a new / old stock chassis and new / old stock Drophead Coupe body as part of a `ground up' professional restoration completed circa 7,000 miles ago. With future competition usage in mind, work also included the installation of a Type 26R rollover bar and side impact bars (the latter running through the sills) not to mention a thorough overhaul of the original engine (new pistons etc) and other mechanical components.

The past year or so has seen `KOM 371E' undergo a Type 26R body conversion with all parts being supplied by Tony Thompson Racing. The result is a dual-purpose car that can be driven to and from track days / hillclimbs etc or used to cruise down to the south of France in comfort. Although, with much of the hard graft already done a future owner might wish to complete the conversion to Type 26R specification and go racing!