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| Lot number | 134 |
|---|---|
| Hammer value | £1,800 |
| Description | Lotus Elite 501 S1 |
| Registration | PSU 849P |
| Year | 1976 |
| Colour | Black |
| Engine size | 1,973 cc |
| Chassis No. | 75120676A |
| Engine No. | X751112318 |
Lotus began the difficult and expensive task of replacing its model range in the early 1970s. The Elan and Europa were beginning to look a little dated and the Ford-Lotus engine had reached the peak of its development.
Colin Chapman decided to move up-market and the result was the smart Type 75 Elite, a shooting brake with a practical hatchback luggage compartment, and the similar fastback Eclat, both arriving in 1974. The glass-fibre reinforced polyester body was produced in two horizontal halves by the Lotus patent ‘Vacuum Assisted Resin Injection Process’, the two halves being bonded at the waistline. Steel door beams and a roll-over bar made sure that it had good crash protection, aided by the massive steel-backbone-chassis in true Chapman tradition.
The new, all alloy 1,973cc Lotus designed engine had first been seen in the Jensen-Healey. It was on a slant to keep the car’s nose low, had 16-valves and produced 155bhp breathing through its twin Dellorto 45 DHLA carburettors. True to form, the basic car weighed in at a whisker over 1,000kg (contemporary sports car makers take note) which gave it a very respectable turn of speed - 0-60 in 7.2 seconds with a top speed of 131mph. Just as well, as it was the most expensive 4-cylinder car on the market at the time.
Elite production ceased in 1982 after just 2,535 had been made, DVLA records showing that only 416 are still UK registered today. Rare and distinctively of their period with that flamboyant wedge shaped styling, we can't help feeling that they are somewhat undervalued in the current market.
First registered in January 1976, this particular Elite is the base 501 version which did not have the air conditioning of the 502 or the power steering of the 503. At the time of cataloguing we had very little information about the car other than the fact that it has covered around 79,000 miles, is in good running order and in “tidy condition” and will have a new MOT in time for the sale.
