Quentin on the Elan

Like a handmade suit the little Lotus feels part of you, touching every bit of your body. And it’s that total sensory connection that makes the Elan so intoxicating. The steering is the most precise in history, the tiny twin-cam spins willingly and there’s a purity of chassis and handling balance that no other car has. But ironically, the tiny size and 1600lb weight has held the Elan back from mainstream appreciation. This isn’t a macho machine but a dainty ballerina of a car that dances its way along the road with feline poise. There should be a price premium for all that prodigious delicacy but you can still buy a good S4 convertible for £30k – which we think is on the low side. While big-valve Sprints and early round-arch cars are making £50k, the very original and well maintained ’69 S4 DHC for sale with UK Sports Cars in Kent for £30k looks top value. Most cars will now have had replacement chassis, the GRP bodywork isn’t that difficult to restore and even new twin-cam cylinder heads are being manufactured. Expect niggles – the Elan never won any build-quality awards – but we reckon the S4 Elan deserves to be much more expensive than it is.