1990 Lotus Elan M100

The seller bought the Elan last April from Classic Car specialists Hilton and Moss in Bishop’s Stortford. They are the sister company to Castle Sports Cars in Essex, who are renowned TVR and Lotus specialists.

The previous owner was a perfectionist who spared no expense keeping the car in tip top order, as can be seen from the extensive history file. He spent a fortune, so why he parted with the car is anyone’s guess.

Our seller has found that he is not using the car as much as he would like and once the world returns to normal, he will need a car for regular trips between London and Devon and feels this lovely classic deserves a gentler life in the slow lane.

He has endeavoured to continue the good works of previous custodians, spending time attending to various small jobs that needed doing.

The car is the extremely rare non turbo model, but it is still perky enough to have some fun behind the wheel.

We are reliably informed it drives well, handles like a dream and still has the ability to turn heads. No surprise there.

Low miles, just 49,746 and 3 loving owners, this must be one of the best examples still in existence.

Stunning colour! Not the most common but in our opinion, it suits the car just perfectly, drawing attention to the stunning lines, which have barely aged. 

The seller recently spent £500 dealing with a few minor body imperfections. So, perfect then? Well not quite and as it is our job to be picky, there are a few minor marks that we should mention.

The body-coloured hood cover sports a little damage on its leading edge and the driver’s side mirror has some marks to the plastic. The driver’s door has a small chip on its leading edge and the front bumper has a few light scratches on the right-hand side. Nothing that would worry us and let’s face it, this is a 30-year-old car. The body work still presents very well, and a good friend of The Market, who is very familiar with these Elan's, commented how rare it is to find one as good as this. 

The wheels are in excellent order, with just the tiniest of marks visible on very close inspection and tyres boast plenty of tread front and back.

The hood, original we think, is perhaps a little past its best. The plastic screen is remarkably clear, which is unusual and shows years of careful folding, but the rubber seals around the edges are showing signs of age. 

The seller always garaged the car but did report that the hood is not completely watertight. He purchased a car cover for the odd occasions he had to leave the car out overnight.

If this is to be a fine day car, then this is a job for a later date. After all, who wants to drive a convertible with the roof up?

Other than a few minor imperfections (we really are being picky here), this Elan is likely one of the very best available. These cars went through a phase of being a remarkably cheap way into Lotus ownership, meaning that many were neglected, this one has stood the test of time very well indeed. It is ready to be enjoyed this summer, or added to any car collection. 

It is always easy to identify a car that has been cared for. Interiors are often the giveaway, with many owners lavishing their attention purely on the outside.

The cloth seats defy their age and still look good and will be warmer on a cold day that leather offerings. They hold you in place better too and in a car that handles this well, that is imperative.

The plastics look to be in good order and the carpets and mats clean and presentable.

A rather fancy aftermarket stereo has been fitted and this somehow incorporates a pop-out screen for a reversing camera. It also plays DVDs, though we assume not whilst you are driving! We might be tempted to try and find an original Blaupunkt Montreux to put back and dig out those old cassettes.

We have noticed some untidy wiring under the dashboard, which would certainly be easy enough to tuck away.

In the boot, the spare wheel and tools are present and correct.

Always a good place to start is the MoT history which has never shown any advisories for corrosion. There are some areas, visible in the photographs, that show surface rust so we would be inclined to get the wire brush out and get undersealing. Easier to do with a ramp, so maybe entrust this to the professionals.

You will also notice a stainless steel catback exhaust system has been fitted.

The engine has been well serviced in its lifetime and runs sweetly and we are told the clutch and gearchange are fine. The engine compartment itself is exceptionally clean, always a good sign. Check out the photos if you don’t believe us!

Let us start with the MoT history. Firstly, there is a plethora of old certificates for your delectation, but a quick check on the DVLA’s website shows the Elan has covered just 10,000 miles in the last decade.

Of more interest is the lack of anything significant ever reported. The odd tyre issue, a little lacking in the squirty water department… Anything mentioned doesn’t appear again, so attention to detail seems to have been the buzzword with this car. The current certificate is valid until 1st June.

Wade through the pile of invoices in our pictures section and you will see bills aplenty for routine servicing, carried out in spite of the low miles covered.

The seller informs us that the cambelt was changed by the selling dealer just before he bought it, a good sign.

The service book is present and correct and positively brims with stamps and the car’s original handbook is also present and correct.

The Elan is a comparatively rare car and this one is almost completely original. Low miles, sparkling paintwork and a shed load of history should encourage the would-be buyer.

A car to suit the keen driver and one that undoubtedly stands out even more so today than when it first went on sale, we envisage a lot of interest especially as summer is not far away and our personal freedom is set to return. Imagine, a warm summer evening, roof down, wind in the hair, a country pub the destination….

We envisage the Elan selling for between £7,000 and £10,000.

Inspection is always encouraged, within government guidelines of course. The car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon. To arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Please feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.