Lotus Elan SE
(1966 - 1992)
Car articles about Lotus Elan SE by year
Did Colin Chapman build the Lotus Super Seven simply for the sheer joy of it? In any case, the rough-legged fun roadster looked somewhat out of place next to the relatively distinguished Elite and Elan production cars. However, far from being suitable for everyday use, the roadster weighing less than 500 kg showed unexpected talents ... even in city traffic, if the driver was able to adapt to the dimensions of the car. This historical test report is dedicated to the 100 hp Super Seven with Cosworth engine.
The Lotus Elan is one of those vehicles that every car enthusiast should have driven at least once in their life. This is the only way to understand what a small four-cylinder engine with an automotive lightweight of less than 600 kg can achieve. From 1962 to 1973, the Elan was built as a convertible and later also as a coupé, and it is still one of the most popular British exotics today. Even Emma Peel drove one in the TV series "With umbrella, charm and bowler hat". This driving report attempts to explore the appeal of the Lotus Elan and shows a coupé in many current and historical pictures, as well as in eight (!) sales brochures from back then.
The English sports car manufacturer produced not quite 3000 Lotus Seven and Super Seven cars between 1957 and 1973. They were aimed at sports drivers who needed a vehicle suitable for everyday use during the week and for club racing at the weekend. The simply built Seven, which could be assembled by reasonably talented DIY enthusiasts in their own garage, offered just that. The fact that it continues to be built in various versions to this day proves how right Colin Chapman was with this concept. This driving report describes the history of the Lotus Seven and shows it in current and historical photos, as well as in the sales literature of the time.
From 1962 to 1973, Lotus built the Elan, a car with a plastic body and legendary handling. In 1971, Dieter Stappert was given the opportunity by the magazine "powerslide" to test drive the final version of the Elan, the "Sprint". This article reproduces the original wording and shows the Lotus Elan Sprint in historical pictures.
The Lotus Elan was continuously developed for 11 years, and the S1 finally became the Sprint with the "Big Valve" engine, which gave the sports car 25 percent more power and made it fit for the battle with its competitors Jaguar V12 or Fiat Dino. The most famous Elan driver was Emma Peel from "Umbrella, Charm and Melon", but she still had to make do with an S3 and do without the powerful four-cylinder engine. This driving report tells the story of a very special Lotus Elan Sprint DHC that has been used intensively throughout its life and is still unrestored.
When Lotus presented a new Elan in the fall of 1989, many fans turned up their noses. Front-wheel drive, a transverse engine from Japan and an ultra-modern design led to criticism, especially as Mazda was simultaneously reviving the original Elan of the sixties with the MX-5. In order to compete with the much cheaper Japanese model, the Lotus had to be significantly better. It was, but it still wasn't enough. And so it remained a rare milestone that is still a lot of fun to drive today. This driving report tells the story of the Elan SE/S2 of the nineties in detail and shows it in many pictures. There is also a sound sample.
Current market prices for Lotus Elan SE
null, 116 PS, 1558 cm3
null, 116 PS, 1558 cm3
null, 116 PS, 1558 cm3
null, 116 PS, 1558 cm3
null, 106 PS, 1558 cm3
null, 106 PS, 1558 cm3
null, 106 PS, 1558 cm3
null, 106 PS, 1558 cm3
Convertible, 106 PS, 1558 cm3
null, 126 PS, 1558 cm3
null, 126 PS, 1558 cm3
null, 120 PS, 1558 cm3
null, 120 PS, 1558 cm3
null, 126 PS, 1558 cm3
Convertible, 158 PS, 1588 cm3
Coupe, 180 PS, 2156 cm3
Roadster, 75 PS, 1498 cm3
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Auctioned vehicles of Lotus Elan SE
| Brand | Model | Year | Status | Auction name | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus Elan SE Turbo 1991 Sold H&H Classics Donington Park (February 24, 2016) |
Elan SE Turbo | 1991 | Sold | H&H Classics Donington Park (February 24, 2016) | |
| Lotus Elan SE Turbo 1990 Not Sold Barons British Heritage, Classic and Sports Cars (June 4, 2016) |
Elan SE Turbo | 1990 | Not Sold | Barons British Heritage, Classic and Sports Cars (June 4, 2016) | |
| Lotus Elan SE Turbo 1990 Sold Richard Edmond Chippenham (March 4, 2017) |
Elan SE Turbo | 1990 | Sold | Richard Edmond Chippenham (March 4, 2017) | |
| Lotus Elan SE 1969 Sold Gooding & Co. Geared Online Mai (May 3, 2021) |
Elan SE | 1969 | Sold | Gooding & Co. Geared Online Mai (May 3, 2021) | |
| Lotus Elan SE Turbo 1990 Not Sold H&H Classics The Donington Park Motor Car Auction (July 28, 2016) |
Elan SE Turbo | 1990 | Not Sold | H&H Classics The Donington Park Motor Car Auction (July 28, 2016) | |
| Lotus Elan SE Turbo 1990 Sold SWVA Dorset Sale (April 24, 2015) |
Elan SE Turbo | 1990 | Sold | SWVA Dorset Sale (April 24, 2015) | |
| Lotus Elan SE M100 Turbo 1991 Sold H&H Classics The Rockingham Castle Auction (June 15, 2013) |
Elan SE M100 Turbo | 1991 | Sold | H&H Classics The Rockingham Castle Auction (June 15, 2013) | |
| Lotus Elan SE 1991 Sold Anglia Car Auctions Kings Lynn Auction (April 9, 2016) |
Elan SE | 1991 | Sold | Anglia Car Auctions Kings Lynn Auction (April 9, 2016) | |
| Lotus Elan SE Turbo 1990 Sold CCA Classic Car Sale (March 19, 2016) |
Elan SE Turbo | 1990 | Sold | CCA Classic Car Sale (March 19, 2016) | |
| Lotus Elan SE Turbo 1992 Not Sold Brightwells Leominster Sale (June 23, 2016) |
Elan SE Turbo | 1992 | Not Sold | Brightwells Leominster Sale (June 23, 2016) |
Query all auctioned vehicles of Lotus Elan SE
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