1962 Lotus Elite S2

Very pretty second-generation Type 14 in great colours. The Lotus Elite Type 14, when first launched in 1958, put Colin Chapman and Lotus cars very firmly on the map. It utilised a monocoque construction which meant there was no separate chassis and the body was load-bearing, and whilst this was becoming accepted practice, the Elite was the first time it had been attempted in glass-fibre. When combined with independent sporty suspension, a ZF gearbox, disc brakes, a Coventry Climax all-aluminium engine and a very low drag coefficient of just 0.29, it made for a great drivers car, so much so that by production end in 1963 over 1,000 had been produced and Lotus was now a credible British sports car manufacturer. Offered here is an Elite SE, the higher performance variant with twin SU carburettors, a fabricated exhaust system giving 85bhp, the ZF Gearbox and Lucas PL700 headlamps. With a change of colour to red in 1990 and the roof painted silver, it has created a very pleasing combination that suits the lines of this pretty coupé, enhanced by the addition of chrome wire wheels in 2008. The S2 cockpit is slightly less spartan than the early cars, and in this case it's furnished in black leather with blue carpets and fitted with Willans harnesses. The history file shows that #1912 benefitted from a reconditioned steering rack in 2002 together with front and rear wishbones. The differential was overhauled with new bearings and seals, together with a dynamo rebuild and new rear brake pads have been fitted. The history file contains a number of old invoices and some old MOTs. Minimalistic and with great looks, Colin Chapman knew he had another winner back in the 1950s with the Coventry Climax-powered Elite, which still looks fresh and sharp today.