1999 Lotus Elise

The Elise is a driver-orientated car, which means it wouldn’t be surprising to find these modified in some way to aid track driving. Unless you’re looking for a track-focussed one, a stock example will obviously be a good start. A well-maintained Elise S1 won’t just allow you to enjoy one of the finest modern Lotus cars ever built but will open a new world of finesse in handling and overall balance that it offers especially in the stock form.

Like this 1999 Lotus Elise S1 here. An unmodified example, this Elise S1 has zero former keepers, full-service history, and only 21,500+ miles on the odometer. It was specced with a few optional extras ticked like the extra driving lights and the hardtop, which make the car more practical. The vendor mentions that it’s free from any issues, and apart from some marks on the paintwork, it’s an exceptionally clean car.

Part of the reason why the Elise is regarded as revolutionary is the way it was made; it was an aluminium space frame with the bodywork attached to it. In simpler words, the panels were glued to the chassis. And its design was equally praiseworthy. It had everything from the Ford GT40-like air ducts up front, and neatly curved surfaces that do their bit in making the Elise look more like a supercar. Also, how can one overlook the side intakes! It’s not surprising that this car, designed by Julian Thompson, went on to become so popular that Lotus, who had planned a humble production run of a thousand cars a year, went on to produce the Elise for the next 25 years rather successfully.

This blue example is more than two decades old, and both its paint and bodywork have aged well. There are age-related marks on the paintwork, some stone chips at the front, a few scratches at the rear and on the hardtop. None of this isn’t expected on a car that’s been used, but on the whole, it has been cared for, and the overall condition is a testament to that. It’s far from a Concours-ready example, but honestly, it won’t take you too long to turn it into one. Its cloth roof seems to be in perfect shape, too. The vendor says, ‘This car is a head-turner. Most people have never seen one and it still looks stunning. It is in excellent condition for its age.’

Unlike cars like say Caterhams, the Lotus Elise benefitted from more functional doors and a proper roof. This makes it more practical and protective, but without losing the overall driver-focussed appeal of the car. Otherwise, the dashboard layout is pretty simple and the optional radio is possibly the only thing that breaks the monotony of the plastic-intensive unit. The meters are pretty legible, the steering is devoid of any buttons, the seats are fairly thin, and getting in the car might need some practice — it’s a fairly low-slung sports car. All of it is made to offer unadulterated driving pleasure, and the Lotus Elise S1 delivers.

The 1999 Elise S1 was specced with a few optional extras or aftermarket/dealer fitments like leather upholstery, aluminium gear knob, aluminium window winders, a radio (which needs a new fascia), etc. In terms of its condition, one mustn’t forget that it hasn’t been used much, with under 1000 miles every year on average, which means it’s not surprising to see how well it’s aged. The light use-related marks you’d find are on the dashboard and the seats. The only bit apart from the radio fascia that needs replacing is the rear-view mirror. The vendor mentions that the original’s stem broke and the current is a make-shift suction-attached mirror.

At the time of Elise’s launch, Lotus was dealing with some fairly successful but old cars like the Espirit and a slightly unusual Lotus Elan (2nd generation). The latter was a front-wheel-drive car, which while worked well as a small sports car, lacked the fun nature of what only a rear-wheel-drive sports car could offer. With the Elise, Lotus achieved that, and thanks to its unique construction which had an aluminium tub and bodywork attached with the help of a special resin/glue; it turned out to be a unique car. Despite its age, it’d be hard to not have onlookers appreciating the Elise, especially the Series 1.

Re how it is to drive, the owner says, ‘This is a very lively, light and agile little sports car. The acceleration is thrilling, and I never tired of doing the boy-racer bit of accelerating hard away from traffic lights.’ He continues, ‘The car holds the road securely at speed, and on the country roads of Berkshire or Oxfordshire, it always gripped the asphalt. The ride is firm — but over unmaintained, cracked and potholed roads, you do feel most of it. The top speed is in excess of 120 mph, on a good surface.’

According to the owner, the car has never broken down, and he’s not aware of any rust or mechanical faults. Regularly serviced, this Elise S1 has always been garaged and not driven much in winters. The front tyres are the original ones that came with the car, so not due to mileage but age, they’d require replacing. One of the rear tyres was changed recently, after suffering its first-ever puncture, about a fortnight ago. As on the outside, the underside looks clean but with some signs of surface rust.

Bought new, more than two decades ago, this Lotus Elise S1 comes with a service history booklet, original invoices, etc. It has never been SORN-ed and has been in ‘continuous use with an MoT since registration’. It was serviced either by the original dealer, a Lotus specialist, or a local dealer. You can check out the relevant documents in the photo gallery below.

The Elise S1 was last serviced in July this year; it was a regular service and there was no requirement of a repair of any kind. Accompanying the aforementioned paperwork are two sets of keys. The car has also had a Thatcham immobiliser + alarm fitted to it. The current MoT certificate expires in December this year.

‘I bought the Elise as a present to myself for passing my Masters’ Degree at the age of 44. It’s been a great toy. Now it’s time for someone else, with the flexibility of youth, to play with it,’ the vendor sums up when asked about this Elise.

The new owner won’t just be greeted by an exceptionally clean Lotus Elise S1 but also one that’s been well-maintained throughout its life. And that’s before you consider its low mileage and overall originality. The long service history and zero past accidents make this Elise one of the best ways to relish unadulterated performance motoring.

At an estimated £18,000 - £28,000, that’s a nearly museum-quality Lotus Elise S1 offering more driving fun than almost all new cars in that price range. But then what else do you expect from a revolutionary Lotus like this one?!

Viewing is always encouraged and as stated this car is located at THE MARKET headquarters near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and 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’.