Case histories
We test the classics that you can buy
LOTUS ELISE 1.8i Year of manufacture 1998 Recorded mileage 32,405 Asking price £16,250 Vendor Paul Matty Sports Cars, Bromsgrove; tel: 01527 835656; www.paulmattysportscars.co.uk WHEN IT WAS NEW Price £18,990 Max power 118bhp Max torque 122lb ft 0-60mph 5.8 secs Top speed 126mph Mpg 39
This well kept S1 Elise, with leather trim, driving lights and metallic paint, has had four former owners, the last since 2010, and judging by the date codes he fitted a new set of tyres as soon as he got it, less than 5000 miles ago. There’s a comprehensive service history, showing that it’s had several cambelt changes and various new balljoints and track-rod ends – always a good sign with an Elise. There are eight stamps in the service book to 31,113 miles in March 2016, along with supporting bills, and it will be serviced again at sale.
The unusual Nautilus Blue paintwork shows only a few tiny, touched-in stone-chips on the nose. The rear wheels have a couple of kerbing marks on the rims, and the fronts have some scratches on the spokes; they’re shod with well-treaded Avons all round. A can of Tyreweld remains in the front compartment, with nearby pipework still showing its original zinc plating. Underneath, the floorpan is not scuffed or grazed.
Inside, the seat leather is only lightly worn on the driver’s side, hardly at all on the passenger side. The aluminium sills are barely scratched and the oftendamaged side trims are unworn. As usual, the silver paint on the steering wheel spokes is wearing slightly, but the rim isn’t worn shiny and the dashboard plastics are perfect, as is the fabric top.
The K-series motor is very clean, with coolant like new and oil to the right level, though these will be renewed. It last had a cambelt and water pump at the previous service, two years and 1300 miles ago.
The engine starts instantly and behaves just as it should – revvy and willing, with a gearchange that’s slightly more precise than in the MGF it came from. The chassis is free from any squeaks, creaks or rattles, with a typically firm ride and smooth, quiet brakes that are running iron discs instead of the aluminium metal-matrix items of the earliest cars, which are no longer available. The temperature settles at 84ºc. The Lotus will be sold with a new MOT, spare keys, and three months’ parts and labour warranty.