Lotus Elan Sprint, 1973
Lotus Elan
Lotus Elan•
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Chassis No.: 73020662E
Registration: UUU 694M
Sold for an undisclosed fee
- Fully nut and bolt restored
- The last FHC Sprint registered
The Lotus Elan was introduced in 1962 and would go on to become one of the most successful sportscars of all time. It was the first Lotus road car to use the steel backbone chassis with fibreglass bodywork embodying Colin Chapman’s minimum weight design philosophy, weighing in at just 1,600Ibs. Powered by a 1558cc, twin-cam four-cylinder engine, the Elan adopted several other firsts for a Lotus road car including four-wheel disc braking, rack and pinion steering and four-wheel independent suspension.
Lotus debuted the Elan Sprint in 1970 at the Earls Court Motor Show with the official launch following in February 1971. The Elan Sprint went on to become the most desirable of the early Elans. The power was subsequently increased to 126bhp, this in turn offered a top speed of over 120mph and a 0-60mph time of just under eight seconds. These impressive performance figures were achieved through an increased compression ratio, big valve head and high lift cams.
This stunning example of the Lotus Elan Sprint Fixedhead Coupé is presented in its original Cirrus White with Aztec Gold bumpers and contrasting black trim and signature wood dash. This was one of very last fixedhead Elan Sprints produced (fourth from the end) and the last in Cirrus White. Details from Lotus archivist Andy Graham, state that the date of manufacture was 23rd February 1973 to UK market specification with build number D514, it was then sold by Bell & Colvill Ltd. on 18th July 1973 to a Mrs S Fatharly, making this the last Fixedhead Coupé Sprint to be sold. This is confirmed with a supplied letter from Andy Graham coupled with a Lotus certificate of vehicle provenance.
Our vendor purchased this car in 2021 from a good friend who had bought in July 2000 with the intention of fully restoring the car, sadly this had not progressed and in 2021 our vendor took ownership and began a, truly fantastic, full body off restoration and engine rebuild to original big valve Sprint specification with improved water pump housing on this matching numbers example. Having restored cars previously including a TR4 and a rare Mk. I Jamaican body fitted onto a TR4A to production car standards, his first thought was originality, however some aspects of the build required small mods to enhance and provide a ‘better then new’ finished project, a case in point would be a look at the shut lines and doors which unlike any Sprint we have seen, are perfect.
A few eagle-eyed enthusiasts will notice the optional upgrades applied to the car - high backed seats (Federal), heated rear screen and a full-sized spare wheel. The suspension is uprated with solid drive shafts and couplings, and many ancillary items are chrome plated rather than original zinc. In the history file there is a photo taken before a drip rail was added and chromed and the nasty alloy air vents have also been chromed. The engine is in theory still being run in. The original badges are supplied with the car, our vendor simply preferring his own decals using the original Sprint type font. Upon reviewing the history, we find that a previous owner, Rob Ford, wrote an article about this car in summer 1992.
Supplied with a documented history of ownership from new (eight owners from new), original service booklet with 16 stamps and warranty card, Elan workshop and service manual, a folder full of previous MoT test certificates including a current MoT test certificate until April, a V5 registration document and two folders of maintenance and parts invoices from both the restoration post 2021 and previously.
This is an example of a car frankly…over restored, to the credit of our vendor and to the advantage of any buyer of this beautiful Sprint. Condition and provenance in one small but mighty package, the sprint has long been a purist’s driving car but in this condition, it can tick every collector’s box… drives well YES, present well YES, provenance YES! Viewing is certainly highly recommended. Consigned by Mathew Priddy
