Lotus Elan S3 Coupé, 1968
Lotus Elan
Lotus Elan•
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Chassis No.: 7749
Estimate: £28,000 - £36,000 GBP
- Three owners from new
- Well documented history
- Fewer than 20,000 miles from new
- Stylish British Classic
The Lotus Elan was produced between 1962 and 1973. Styled by Ron Hickman, the Elan embodied Colin Chapman's design philosophy of keeping weight to a minimum: "Start with lightness, add simplicity and remove weight". The Elan was produced in four series, plus the Sprint: this fine example is an S3 and weighs 689kg (1,517lb). McLaren F1 designer Gordon Murray, owner of two Elans, has stated that in his opinion the Elan is the one of the best-handling cars of all time and that he used it as the benchmark for the F1's handling. Murray said his only regret about the McLaren F1 was that he failed to match the quality of the Elan's steering.
An Elite-type glassfibre monocoque having proved insufficiently rigid for an open car, Lotus boss Colin Chapman came up with a simple but effective steel backbone frame for the company's new Elan sports car. Suspension was independent all round with unequal-length wishbones at the front while a wide-based lower wishbone and modified Chapman Strut, as used in Lotus Grand Prix cars, was employed at the rear. The Elan's engine was a highly modified 1,498cc (later 1,558cc) Ford Cortina unit topped with Lotus's own twin-camshaft cylinder head, and both the gearbox and differential came also from Ford.
With the introduction of the improved S3 model in September 1965, the Elan became available as a fixed-head coupé for the first time, having previously been sold only in drophead form with a separate hardtop optional. Other civilising improvements included electric windows, a redesigned dashboard and better interior trim. Powerful, light in weight and endowed with exceptional roadholding and handling, the Elan proved an immense commercial success for Lotus, slightly fewer than 9,000 being sold by the time production ceased in 1973.
This S3 was purchased new by a Mr David Penney of Dorking as a kit, from Gemini Cars, and built by Walker Racing Shop. After circa 19,850 miles had been covered, the car was placed in heated storage, remaining there for 30-or-so years before being re-commissioned around 2002. The tyres, brakes, shock absorbers, exhaust system and suspension 'donuts' were replaced at this time.
In 2005 Mr Penney sold the Elan via Bonhams' Beaulieu auction where it was acquired by the second owner, joining his large collection of British cars. Prior to that sale it had benefited from re-commissioning that included works on the carburettors, brake callipers, master cylinder, clutch reservoir, flexible hoses, front suspension bushes and donuts. The current owner purchased the Elan at Bonhams' Goodwood Sale in June 2015, since when it has been professionally stored and not used (the odometer reading remains 19,934, the same as in 2015). Later knock-on drilled wheels and a metal-sprayed exhaust system are the only listed deviations from factory specification.
Finished in blue (a stock Lotus colour) with black interior, the car is offered with its purchase invoices; all bills for subsequent work; an owner's handbook; and a V5C Registration Certificate. The Lotus Elan is rightly regarded as one of the finest British sports cars of all time and the S3 Coupé is arguably the most beautiful of the early models, making this little-used example all the more attractive to enthusiastic owner/drivers and collectors alike.
https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/26110/lot/112/1968-lotus-elan-s3-coupe-chassis-no-7749/
