1971 Lotus Elan

The Elan on offer was delivered new to the USA in 1971 and is currently part of a French collection. The car is in overall decent condition with a nice patina to bodywork and interior and is presented in what is believed to be its original colour combination of dark green over black. The car has the desirable SE option, which stands for Sports Equipment and included centre lock wheels and a more powerful 118hp engine.

The Elan’s fibreglass bodywork is nice and straight without major dents or damages visible. The paint, which looks well-used, especially in the front where quite a lot of stone chips can be seen, features a nice patina that will appeal to collectors on the lookout for a car that they intend to use often. Apart from the stone chips, the paint has the usual scratches and chips on the doors and bonnet lids. On the rear left-hand side fender, the paint is cracked and the bodywork slightly dented. Perfectionists might want to consider a full repaint, but we think the condition of the bodywork forms a nice uniform appearance and suits the car much better than a perfect ‘as new’ appearance. Suffice to say that rust is a non-issue on a Lotus Elan.

The lenses of the indicators and lights are in good condition and the same can be said about the front and rear bumper that certainly have traces of the occasional parking contact but are still looking good. The pop-up headlamps appear to be functioning as intended.

The steel rims have some rust, and even though they go well with the overall patina of the car, a respray in silver would probably make the car look nicer overall. The tires appear to have a good amount of thread left, but we do not know how old they are. To be on the safe side, the buyer might want to consider replacing them altogether with period correct examples that are readily available from specialised dealers.

The hood, made of black faux leather appears to be in very good nick and is a snug fit when lifted. The rear plastic windows are not tarnished and still guarantee good visibility out of the back.

There are a few chrome parts on this car which include the rear-view mirrors, door hinges and fuel filler and all are in a good state of conservation.

The inside of the car is covered in black Skai leather and black carpet. The seats, featuring a basketweave pattern in the middle of the seating surface, are in very good condition and do not appear to be damaged or torn. The same can be said about the door panels that are in a very good state of preservation, but still with a nice degree of patina. Some basic safety equipment has been fitted to this car such as a battery cut-off switch and fire extinguisher behind the seats. The floors are covered with a black carpet that is inscribed Lotus and is in good condition overall.

The middle console appears to be intact. The wooden dashboard is in decent condition, but the lacquer has some defects on the passenger side around the glovebox compartment. The rest of the dashboard looks nice and this includes the instruments. The rocker switches in the middle of the console are slightly tarnished, and the radio has been removed with the opening covered with a wooden plate. The ignition has been moved from underneath the fuel gauge to the steering column, a change that could easily be reverted as the whole of the ignition is still present in the dashboard.

Overall, we can say that the interior is in original condition but reflects the signs of age and use that can be found outside the vehicle.

From what we can see underneatht the car, the chassis which is usually a weak point on the Elan, seems to be in fair nick overall. Of course we would recommend lifting the car to have a complete inspection performed.

Also present in the gallery is an expert report from 2016 that confirms the car is in correct condition underneath without deformations or major rust. The bodywork at the front is scratched, though this is only visible from underneath. The drivetrain is in decent condition, and the car drives well without suspension rattling or other noises that should not be there. The report is from 2016, but since the car has only done approximately 9.000 miles since the report was done, one could expect those conclusions still to be valid. However, the buyer should be aware that on a classic car, some repairs or maintenance work could be necessary. Some recent maintenance work from 2019 is documented and included works to the brakes among some other minor jobs.

The engine and gearbox are leaking oil, but not more than what we would consider normal for a car that is more than 50 years old. The engine bay appears largely original and in good condition. The double overhead camshaft engine is fed by two Stromberg carburettors.

In the trunk, you will find a spare wheel, tools, the battery, the fuel tank, and enough space for some luggage for you and your lucky passenger.

Little is known about the history of the Elan on sale. The car was built for the US market and at some point, made its way back to Europe. It is sold by a French collector and is registered in France.

Some work has been performed on the car by the son of the owner who is a student in classic car restoration, parts and hours are shown in the gallery in the form of an excel tabler.

The Lotus Elan is a very collectible sports car that convinces with superb handling and timeless looks. Its lightweight construction method, coupled to its rev-happy four-cylinder engine also make it a particularly quick car on the road. The vehicle on offer is presented in a nice colour combination with the right amount of patina. If you are looking for a car that is not perfect and that you want to drive without being scared of stone chips, then this could be a car worth serious consideration.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is with the vendor in Paris. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our “Frequently Asked Questions”.