Description
1997 Lotus Elise Series 1 Presented in Midnight Blue Metallic with Charcoal Leather Upholstery- Original Low Mileage Example
- Desirable S1 'Lightweight' Variant
- Composite Brake Discs
- Aluminium Engine Cover
Supplied new by Oldbury Cars, has remained totally standard, and is apparently 3 of 4the third of just four 1997 UK-market examples to be finished in the pleasing combination of Midnight Blue Metallic bodywork teamed with Charcoal-coloured leather upholstery.
Just 27,400 miles to date. Moreover it is one of the highly desirable 'lightweight' versions, that featured composite brake discs and an aluminium engine cover in the true Chapmanesque-style quest for the lowest possible kerb weight.
Factory fitted options include: auxiliary driving lamps, Blue cloth soft top; interior stowage kit; Cobra alarm; passenger footrest; boot kit; and radio fitting kit (though a radio has not been installed).
Recently been serviced, complete with Lotus Certificate of Provenance and an MOT valid to March 2025.
The Julian Thomson-penned Series 1 version of the Elise entered production in September 1996. Thanks to its deliberately low kerb weight, it was able to accelerate from 0-60mph in a supercar humbling 5.8 seconds, despite the relatively modest power output of 118bhp from its Rover K-Series engine. A markedly low centre of gravity ensured the road-holding of this mid-engined two-seater was equally impressive. The car's contemporary construction comprised a hand-finished fibreglass body mounted to a bonded extruded aluminium chassis. The Elise name was inspired by Elisa, the granddaughter of Romano Artioli, who was the chairman of both Lotus and Bugatti at the time of the little Lotus' launch.