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Lotus Elan SE Turbo

Lotus Elan SE Turbo

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Lotus Elan SE TurboLotus Elan SE TurboLotus Elan SE TurboLotus Elan SE TurboLotus Elan SE Turbo
Lotus Elan SE TurboLotus Elan SE TurboLotus Elan SE TurboLotus Elan SE TurboLotus Elan SE Turbo
Lotus Elan SE TurboLotus Elan SE TurboLotus Elan SE TurboLotus Elan SE TurboLotus Elan SE Turbo
Lotus Elan SE TurboLotus Elan SE Turbo
Lot number 105
Hammer value £2,700
Description Lotus Elan SE Turbo
Registration H130 PNO
Year 1991
Colour Blue metallic
Engine size 1,588 cc
Chassis No. SCC100ZT1MHD16869
Engine No. 029872
Documents V5C; MOT August 2016; 3 old MOTs

Over the years there has been a long list of major players who have had a crack at owning Lotus. From 1986 General Motors had a go, their interest in the Norfolk-based minnow lasting until 1993 when it became Romano Artioli’s turn to open his piggy-bank.

Almost all have attempted to get some sort of volume production going. GM tried a mid-range front-wheel-drive sports car in the form of the M100 Elan, using the tried and tested formula of a steel backbone chassis and fibreglass body, a concept which had made its debut in the original Elan of 1962. Peter Stevens (of McLaren fame) worked his usual magic in the styling department and Isuzu were chosen to supply the engines and transmissions - two outputs being offered, basically the same DOHC 1,588cc unit supplied with or without a turbocharger.

With 165bhp on tap for the Turbo model, it was to be Lotus’ one and only foray into front-wheel-drive and although highly praised for its precise handling, this radical (for Lotus) layout managed to get the traditionalists a bit hot under the collar.

Costing £19,850 for the top-of-the-range SE model, it never quite matched its market potential, partly due to the prevailing economic climate, the recent launch of Mazda’s MX5 not helping matters much either. In the end, just 3,855 Elans in total were to leave the Hethel plant.

This 1991 Turbo SE model was purchased by the vendor in 2009 having spent the previous five years in storage. Recommissioned for the road, it has been fitted with new Cobra seats (the originals are included in the sale) and treated to a £1,400 respray by Body Beautiful in 2010. Also in that year, Templar Windscreens fitted a new screen and a Powerflow exhaust was added too.

In 2011 the speedometer was replaced (the original showing 96,984 miles is included in the sale) and the brakes overhauled over the following winter, the car having covered just 975 miles since the work was undertaken. Sadly there is insufficient paperwork to confirm if the combined mileage is correct.

Bidders are advised that the personalised number in the photographs is not included in the sale, the car now wearing the number H130 PNO. It also appears on the insurance register with a Category D Insurance classification from April 2000 (damaged, repairable), but has long since been fixed and put back on the road.

The vendor, now in his late 70s, has reluctantly decided to reduce his fleet to just one car due to recent poor health. Requiring a modest amount of TLC to reach its full potential, it is due to carry a fresh MOT by the time of sale and looks like one of the most affordable and usable Elans that we have seen for some time.
 

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