Lotus Elan SE Turbo S2 (M100)

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The M100 Series Elan was always going to divide opinion as the original ‘60s Elan was so widely loved and admired, it would be a tough act to follow. 

Following on from the launch of the M100 in 1990 with the 163bhp turbo 1.6 litre four-pot, the Series 2 Limited Edition came out in 1994 and was made for one year only. Using the same brilliant engine but developing slightly less power (155bhp) due to new emission control requirements, only 800 were made. All retained the Elan’s excellent road-holding, with punchy performance, great looks and front-wheel drive dynamics.

This 1994 example has been in the current lady ownership for the last 12 years and has been looked after throughout that time by Lotus specialist Paul Matty.  Number 171 of the 800 built, it is finished in bright red with a grey leather interior and has covered only 66,800 miles from new.  It boasts a fruity stainless exhaust and benefitted from a replacement clutch at 58,000 miles in 2009, a new cambelt and oil cooler pipes at 61,000 miles in 2011 and was last serviced in July 2016 at 65,736 miles, having seen little use since. 

Driving beautifully on test and sounding great on its sports exhaust, it would benefit from some light cosmetic refreshment to a few areas of paint that have suffered lacquer peel, but otherwise looks very much the part with its cool five-spoke wheels and wide, low-slung stance.

Supplied with an MOT valid until July 2019, the history file also contains a service book with 15 stamps, a folder of invoices and 16 old MOTs.  There is also a spare (and hard to come by) oil sump included just in case – potentially quite handy as it is a low car. As with all Lotus models, M100 prices have begun to rise of late so get in quick while you can!